Paleo Apple Crisp: this grain free apple crisp recipe yields a SUPER CRISPY topping over warm, gooey apple filling. The best gluten free paleo apple crumble: fall dessert YUM! Grain-Free, Gluten Free, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar Free, Healthy.
Who’s ready for ALL the fall-inspired desserts? Today, I’m sharing a reader-loved Beaming Baker recipe for Paleo Apple Crisp… with updated photos, slightly revamped recipe and more!
Are you ready for it? Let’s do this!
Let’s welcome fall with open arms, open mouths (what a visual), and open forks (how one does that, we might never know). Just… get ready to spear that fork right into a nice, warm, gooey, crispy-topped Paleo Apple Crisp made with coconut and pecans!
Paleo Apple Crisp with Pecans & Coconut!
This paleo apple crisp recipe started pretty innocently as a regular ol’ gluten free apple crisp. There were oats involved, hopes for a beautiful crumble top that even Betty Crocker would give me the stinkeye for in a local bake-off.
As if she would stoop to my level.
Anywho, oats were involved and things looked promising. But (isn’t there always a big old butt??), that ol’ jerk wonderfully versatile ingredient named coconut oil reared its difficult head. Dagnabit.
Truth is, coconut oil just doesn’t work like butter. There. I said it. In the case of making a deliciously crispy apple crumble topping, it was not to be. At least not with the ingredients I knew were traditionally expected.
So after Erik and I peeled apples til our eyes were crossed joyfully reveled in the delight that is peeling and coring 20 apples for those sanity questioning incredibly educational apple crisp trials, I decided to change directions.
The Making of This Grain Free Apple Crisp
Sometimes, you just have to scrap everything you know and start fresh.
Once Erik begrudgingly bemoaned playfully and happily agreed to help peel more apples with me, we began again. One thing I learned from the previous apple crisp trials was how little added sugar I could use to still create a gooey and perfectly sweet apple filling.
Now that I had the grain free apple crisp filling nailed down, all I needed to figure out was the topping. I went around the internet, searching for the most negative feedback on traditional apple crisp recipes.
One thing I learned: people really don’t like a non-crispy topping.
As such, one of my top goals was: Make a Crispy Topping.
After some soul searching, a few semi-snide passive aggressive comments lovingly traded between me and Erik, then a few be-cool-guys-don’t-let-the-apples-get-to-you BB team talks, I had an epiphany.
Grain Free Apple Crisp
Let’s make this apple crisp PALEO.
YES!!! Throw away the flour, throw away the grains, and start fresh. But, don’t throw stuff away because it’s expensive and that’s wasteful. Just… throw it away figuratively.
I used elements from my super crispy, grain free paleo granola to create the lovely paleo apple crumble-worthy topping for this delicious paleo apple crisp!
Which has now become one of my top paleo recipes!
TL;DR: Gluten Free Paleo Apple Crisp
Let me tell you about this out-of-this-world grain free paleo apple crisp. It’s:
- so deliciously crispy on top, you can legit tap it with a spoon and hear it!
- filled with warm, cozy grain free apple filling
- vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, PALEO
- bursting with nutty goodness
- refined sugar-free & flourless
- made with the simple, healthy ingredients you love
- tested like crazy so you don’t have to
I can’t wait to hear what you think of my grain free paleo apple crisp! Let me know in the comments below if you try it. 🙂 As always, I’m so grateful to be here with you, sharing in these tasty kitchen adventures! ‘Til the next one…
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
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. Did you make this paleo apple crisp recipe? Take a pic & share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it! .
Paleo Refined Sugar Free Desserts
- Dark Chocolate Paleo Snack Bars
- Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Paleo
- Ultimate Chewy Paleo Coconut Cookies (Vegan, GF)
- Vegan Gluten Free Blueberry Crisp (Paleo option)
Paleo Apple Crisp with Coconut & Pecans (Grain Free, Vegan, Gluten Free)
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 servings 1x
Description
Paleo Apple Crisp: this grain free apple crisp recipe yields a SUPER CRISPY topping over warm, gooey apple filling. The best gluten free paleo apple crumble: fall dessert YUM! Grain-Free, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Healthy.
Ingredients
Paleo Apple Crisp Filling
- 3 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced* (4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon blanched almond flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons water (optional)
Pecan Coconut Crisp Topping
- ¾ cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes or raw coconut chips
- ¼ cup blanched almond flour
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with coconut oil. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add all Filling ingredients: apples, coconut sugar, maple syrup, almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla extract. Using a rubber spatula, stir and fold until apples are fully coated and sugar has dissolved. If your mixture isn’t very wet, add in water—you’ll want to see 1-2 tablespoons liquid at the bottom of your mixing bowl. I used 1 ½ tablespoons water in mine.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared baking pan. Use the spatula to smooth apples into an even layer.
- Add all Topping ingredients to a medium bowl. Using a fork, stir and fold until crumbles form. Gently spoon evenly over apples, making sure to keep crumbles intact.
- Bake for 40-60 minutes. Mine took 45 minutes. It’s done when the topping is a deep golden brown and the juice around the filling has thickened. To test, use a spoon to carefully lift up a corner of the crisp to see the juices. If it’s still watery, bake for another 5 minutes.
- Allow to cool for 10-15 mins. Serve warm with a scoop with dairy-free ice cream on top. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
More Gluten Vegan Fall Recipes
Equipment
Blanched Almond Flour, Finely Sifted 1lb
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Notes
- *I like to use a mix of apples: Braeburn, Fuji, Gala, and Granny Smith.
- Best served right away–the topping will be extra crispy! If needed, here are… Refrigerator storing notes: Cover with foil, or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Reheat before serving.
- Room temperature storing notes: Cover with foil and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. The topping is more likely to stay crispy if stored at room temperature.
- To freeze: place in an airtight, freezer-friendly container for up to 2 weeks. Heat in 30-second increments until the filling is warm.
- Where to Buy Ingredients: Pecans | Blanched Almond Flour | Coconut Sugar | Raw Coconut Chips
- Special Tools: 4 Event Timer | Apple Corer & Slicer | Fruit Peeler | 4oz Prep Bowls
- Category: Dessert, Fall
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: paleo apple crisp, paleo crumble, grain free apple crisp, paleo apple crumble
© beamingbaker.com. All content and images are protected by copyright. Please do not use my images or recipe without my permission. Please do not republish this recipe, instead, include a link to this post for the recipe.
Best Tools for Yummy Vegan Paleo Apple Crisp!
- Blanched Almond Flour – one of my favorite ingredients for paleo baking. Super fine blanched almond flour: the perfect way to make this grain free apple crisp!
- Coconut Oil – a paleo vegan + gluten free baking staple in my pantry.
- Large Coconut Flakes – one of the key ingredients in my paleo apple crisp. They crisp up like woah!
I’ve made this twice now. My hubby and I love it. I leave out the coconut sugar and we think it’s sweet enough. Our favorite thing to do is put a scoop in a bowl and drizzle NUTPODS French Vanilla creamer over it.. it’s a match made in heaven!
★★★★★
That’s so wonderful to hear, Lara! 🙂 Oh my goodness, that french vanilla flavor must just take this paleo apple crisp over the top. I’m so happy you and your hubby enjoyed my recipe. Happy baking!
Instead of coconut sugar, what other sweetner would work? We are in Covid lock down and I don’t have coconut sugar, plus trying to avoid all sugar. I have monk fruit, stevia, yacon syrup & yacon powdered. Just wondering if you have used any if those and have recommendations.
Hi Martha! Hm, if you have granulated monkfruit that might work, though I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t say for sure. Let me know how it goes!
We love this dessert and use coconut aminos instead of the sugars in it. It takes so sweet!
★★★★★
Ooh that’s so interesting to hear! Really glad you enjoy the recipe Ashley!
Could another Flour be,used. I am allergic to almond, oat and wheat flours.
Hi Jan! I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t say for sure, but you could try sunflower seed meal. Let me know how it goes! 🙂
HI! There is an ad right at the ingredients for the topping, so I want make sure that the last one is, indeed, maple syrup. Thank you!
Hi Erin! Yep, last ingredient in the topping is maple syrup. Hope you enjoy the recipe! 🙂
I’m planning on making this for Thanksgiving and I was wondering if I can mix it up the day before, then bake it after I pull the turkey out of the oven? This is my first time hosting and I’m trying to map out my game plan!
Hi Natalie! Oh how exciting to host your first thanksgiving! Well, if you cut up the apples too far in advance they’ll start to dry out and brown, which will affect the final taste and texture. You can fully bake it before hand, freeze it, and then heat it up when you’re ready to eat. Or make it the morning of. Hope this helps, and happy baking! 🙂
Have made this two times dh loves it. I used whatever nuts we had, walnuts and cashews, YUM! Thanks for this great recipe.
★★★★★
Wonderful! I’m so glad that you two enjoyed my paleo apple crisp, Pat! 🙂 Love that you were able to use whatever nuts you had on hand. Happy baking (and eating) to you both!
Hi
I didn’t use the sugar. And didn’t have pecans so used almonds chunky bits. I did what I could with what I have.
Excellent !! I love it and good for Hubbies diabetes. Ps in Europe no ice cream like that. Don’t need the extra calories .
Thanks !
Ps looking for an apple paléo type cupcake ???
★★★★★
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed my paleo apple crisp recipe! 🙂 Love that all your changes worked out. No apple paleo cupcake yet… but I have some plans for apple treats for next year. Stay tuned! 🙂
Hi Demeter! I know you made this as dessert, but it was breakfast this morning. So delicious! And quite crispy after 45 minutes. I should be embarrassed to admit this, but instead of the 12 to 16 servings you noted we are only getting 4 out of it—but hey, that was our breakfast!
I know you said it could be left out at room temp for a couple of days—and I’m assuming you did that and lived to tell the tale, but I’m too chicken to leave it out, so into the fridge it went. I’m sure it will still be good even if not as crispy.
Hi Ellen! Oh my goodness, YES, on making this as breakfast!! Actually, my sister Jenny asks me to make this as a breakfast for her for special occasions. . As for the serving size: you do you! Hehe. Hope you enjoyed it straight out of the fridge too. Thanks for reporting back, as always. .
Tried this for dinner last night. I loooooved it! The nutty coconutty topping gives it a real earthiness that I love. Next time I’m going to try peaches. I think that variation could be really good too. Thank you for sharing the recipe! It’s going on my weekly rotation!
★★★★★
Woohoo!!! Kathy, it’s so wonderful to hear that you loved my recipe! 🙂 Love how you described this apple crisp as earthy! Peaches would be fantastic. Let me know how it turns out. Happy baking!!
This is such an amazing flavor combo!! Would love to try it!
★★★★★
Oh it must definitely is! You’ve totally gotta give it a try! .
What a delicious dessert! This is worthy of a restaurant, indeed!
★★★★★
Aww you’re too sweet Sara! ☺️
A delightful fall crisp! So easy to make and so comforting!
★★★★★
I know, this recipe is so seriously comforting! .
That pecan coconut topping is SO DELICIOUS!!! Perfect for fall!
★★★★★
Yeah!!! I’m so glad you like it!! 🙂 🙂
Such a faaantastic apple crisp!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!! YUM!!!
★★★★★
Thank you Katerina! .
The perfect fall dessert is this apple crisp!
Couldn’t agree more Melanie!
I salute you for all that apple peeling you did! I hate it so much haha. almost as much as separating eggs… But so worth it when you get to eat this amazing apple crisp with no butter! This is a keeper.
★★★★★
Haha!!! YES!! It’s quite… arduous. LOL! Totally! Hope you enjoy.
I didn’t peel my apples – why waste all that nutrition and fiber! (Plus it takes too long 😉 ) I sliced them thin and they were perfect! I love this recipe so much, and so does my family. Super fast, amazing flavor, and just so darn easy to make. I’m getting ready to try it with peaches right now!
★★★★★
Done & Yum!! I used very ripe peaches and thin sliced them, but not as thin as the apples. And again, I left the skin on. The only thing I changed in Demeter’s recipe, I left out the nutmeg and only baked for 30 minutes and Oh. My. Goodness!! Delicious! Thank you sooo much for an amazing recipe, Demeter!!! Apples or peaches, this one is definitely a keeper!
★★★★★
Oh I’m so glad to hear the peach version worked for you! Thank you for taking the time to update me on the success, and share the kind words. 😊
How wonderful Jackie! So glad you’re enjoying it—and I know Erik would agree on the time it takes to peel the apples. 😂 Can’t wait to hear how the peach version turns out for you!
Oh my gosh, I”m totally drooling over my keyboard right now. Hard to believe this is healthy!
★★★★★
LOL thanks Emily! .
That looks amazing. Super comforting and perfect for autumn.
★★★★★
Absolutely! There smells as this comes out of the oven are just the best!
This is such a yummy breakfast and surely a must try recipe. Thanks
★★★★★
You’re so welcome Veena!
THIS is going into my staple collection of crisp recipes. That Pecan Coconut Crisp Topping is EVERYTHING. Thanks for sharing 🙂
★★★★★
Woohoo! That’s so wonderful to hear Traci! . The crisp topping is my favorite part too! .
This was amazing and made SUCH a good breakfast this morning in wintery UK. Thank you!
★★★★★
Yay! . I’m so thrilled to hear it Rowena!
So glad I happened upon this recipe through a Google search! I made it for a church dessert potluck yesterday…the only Paleo dish on the table…and it was GONE!!! It was a huge hit. Can’t wait to make it again…and it’s definitely on my Thanksgiving menu!! Karen~
★★★★★
Oh wow!!! Don’t you love it when yours is the only one that people usually shy away from (paleo, vegan, dairy-free, etc), but it’s irresistible anyway? 🙂 I’m so pleased to hear that my recipe will make it into your Thanksgiving table! Amazing. Big hugs to you, Karen!! ❤️
Perfect timing. I just found your site and am making this for a girls night this weekend. A quick question. Do you add a drizzle of butter (love your comment on coconut oil in place of butter .) on the topping before baking?
Love your site (and cross out words .). So glad I found it
Mary
Hi Mary! No need to drizzle butter on top. It’ll be crispy—just make sure to serve it within a few hours. I’m so pleased that I could elicit a few giggles from ya. . Can’t wait to hear what you think!! P.S. Have a fantastic girls night!!! Xo
Can this recipe be double, and still use the same cooking time?
Hi Ilene! You’d most likely have to increase the baking time, but I’m not sure by how much. Start with an extra 5 minutes or so and check it regularly. Good luck!
We did a “Thanksgiving in August’ last night for family since my entire family won’t be together for the holiday. A handful of people are trying to watch their sugar intake so I wanted to make something that fit their dietary needs. And then there were people who are die hard apple pie lovers, and I wanted to make sure they enjoyed it too. Needless to say, it was a hit! Next time, I would add maybe one or two more apples to make it “heartier” since there’s no grains in this. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe!
★★★★★
Omigosh, Thanksgiving in August sounds like so much fun!! What a great idea to celebrate the holidays early since you’re all together. 🙂 So happy everyone enjoyed it!
Pinning!! I’m going to try and use this with summer berries and peaches!! Woot:)
Fantastic! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out. Also, you might enjoy my blueberry crisp recipe too: https://beamingbaker.com/vegan-gluten-free-blueberry-crisp-paleo-gf-v-dairy-free-refined-sugar-free/ ☺️
I will be trying this recipe! Would you have a sense of calories/nutritional info? If it’s on here somewhere, I apologize, I didn’t see it. Thanks
Fantastic! No apologies needed. 🙂 I’m actually slowly but surely going through the process of adding nutritional info across the site. Thank you for bearing with me! Hope you enjoy the crisp. 🙂
Thanks for sharing! can I make it very far ahead of time?
You’re very welcome Vanessa! ☺️ I wouldn’t recommend making it too far in advance, as it tasted best the first day. Hope this helps!
Yum! This looks so good! I cant wait to try it!
Awesome! Hope you enjoy Suzanne!
Looks great! But, I’m allergic to nuts (as in can’t use almond flour….. ugh.) .. what would you suggest to substitute???
★★★★★
Thank you! Try sunflower seed meal! 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I am currently on a non-dairy, non-gluten, non-refined sugar dairy and was so thrilled to find this recipe. I make a mean apple crumble (albeit with butter and brown sugar and flour). But your recipe hit the spot. It is fantastic. You don’t even notice that the usual ingredients are missing. Awesome job! Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Emily, thanks so much for your comment! 🙂 I tested and re-tested, and re-wrote this recipe countless times until I felt like it could really stand up to a traditional apple crisp. So it’s wonderful to hear your positive feedback! Good luck with going non-dairy, non-gluten and refined sugar free–you’ll find plenty on the site that fits! 🙂
I’ve had this recipe bookmarked for at least 2 months and I finally made it. It was great!I like this one better than a crisp with oatmeal. And it is just sweet enough to satisfy the sugar cravings.I didn’t use the ice cream either. I used walnuts instead of pecans because that is what I had. The last time I bought nuts at the bulk bin the walnuts were on sale for about $5.00 a pound and the pecans were $10.00 a pound. Easy choice for me.
★★★★★
Hi Lisa, so happy to hear you finally whipped this up! (And especially that it did not disappoint!) 🙂 Walnut vs. pecans: oh, I totally feel you! Sometimes it makes much more financial sense to swap the nuts. Thanks for reporting back. Enjoy!
Is there anyway to substitute the pecans with walnuts??
Hi Amy, subbing the pecans with an equal amount of chopped walnuts should work just fine. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear how it turns out!
This looks absolutely delicious. I have an allergy to almonds. What would be a good substitute for almond flour? Possibly just gluten free flour? I think coconut flour is to heavy compared to almond. I used a lot of almond flour before I found out about the allergy.
Thanks!
Hi Andrea, the closest possible substitute would probably be cashew meal. The texture is pretty similar–but I haven’t tried it, so I’m not 100% sure. You can also try sunflower seed meal (for a nut-free option). Good luck! 🙂
I have to avoid nuts due to a breastfeeding elimination diet. Could I substitute coconut flour in place of almond flour and add extra coconut flakes instead of pecans?
Thanks in advance, this looks delicious!!!
Hmm… this might be a bit tricky, Jillian. You could possibly try the following (no guarantees on the results though): sub the almond flour with equal amounts sunflower seed meal (hopefully seeds are okay), then sub the pecans with coconut. Good luck! P.S. I definitely would not recommend using coconut flour. It’s very unpredictable.
Thanks for this delicious crispy apple crisp. I have tried several recipes but I am one of those who prefers the crispy, crunchy topping and you nailed it with this recipe. I was short on pecans so I mixed in chopped walnuts. I love the coconut and maple syrup added to the topping. Thank you for FINALLY providing a great Paleo Grain Free recipe!
★★★★★
Hi Sheri! I’m so happy that you enjoyed my recipe. 🙂 Actually, it was one of my TOP goals to achieve that crunchy top. I literally tapped a spoon on the top as the ultimate test (dorky, I know haha): if I could actually hear how crunchy is was, then my recipe was done! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to let me know the spoon test works! 😉 Happy Paleo Baking!
I really love apple and cinnamon, and with a dash of vanilla, it’s my favorite flavor. And this turned so much better than I expected. Thank you for sharing.
★★★★★
So glad to hear you enjoyed this, Ashley! 🙂
Apple crisp is one of my all time favorite desserts! I love the addition of coconut and pecans, can’t wait to try it in my next batch!
★★★★★
Oh yeah!! Can’t wait to hear what you think–coconut and pecans are big around these parts! 😉 Enjoy!
Can’t wait to try this! Due to gluten sensitivity issues, I have been trying to bake on the healthier side using a few different flours and gluten-free oats (thank you Trader Joe’s) so I truly appreciate your recipes and their simplicity (not crazy or costly ingredients.) I have loved every thing I have made from your site! Thank you so much.
Hi Maria, thank you so much for taking the time to leave your wonderful comment. 🙂 It’s always been my goal to create tasty, healthier recipes that don’t require tricky/insanely hard-to-find ingredients (who has the time or inclination for that, right??). Your words motivate me to keeping going, and to create even better recipes. 🙂
It is absolutely my pleasure to create allergy-friendly treats for you. Hugs!
I’m so glad this apple crisp recipe turned out in the end, and it sounds and looks wonderfully delicious! The topping does look incredibly crispy, too! 😉
★★★★★
Thanks so much, Marsha! It really was trickier than expected. Haha. It’s SO crispy–woohoo!!! xoxo
Made this when my In-Laws were visiting. This was super easy and it is absolutely delicious!! My MIL even asked for the recipe!! Thank you for sharing this recipe is definitely a must have! FYI I didn’t cover mine with tin foil and it turned out awesome! Also, the more variety of apples you can use, the better!!
★★★★★
Oh, when your MIL asks for the recipe, that’s when you KNOW it’s a winner! 😉 So happy to hear that you and your in-laws enjoyed this. So much YES on the variety of apples. Happy Baking!
That looks amazing! I will have to try that when I’m done with my Whole30.
Thanks so much, Kim! Good luck with Whole30. I can’t wait to hear what you think! 🙂