A Healthier & Rustic Apple Crisp that Won't Ruin Your New Year's Resolution

Dessert should taste delicious. It is what it is-- a treat. I don't like desserts that you have to qualify: "Well, it's, uh, pretty good for a healthy dessert." That just won't do for me.

Recently, I brought this simple, rustic apple crisp to dinner at my friend's house. It just doesn't seem like a healthier dessert because the natural flavors shine through. This apple crisp had to be healthier because I wanted my friend to enjoy it. I knew she was watching what she ate. She wanted to start the new year off right after all the holiday eating.

First, I bought apples that were flavorful and sweet so that I could use less butter and sugar than the typical recipe. It was helpful to buy the apples at the farmers market because I could taste them before I bought them. Next, I needed a recipe. I couldn't find one online that matched exactly what I had in my mind. So I experimented in the kitchen until I came up with this version. I figured out the proportions by look and feel. Just to be sure, I tasted each layer raw, and then I knew I nailed it.

So here you have it: a homestyle, rustic apple crisp filled with warm apples, a hint of cinnamon, and a crunchy oat topping. And this one is easy on the sugar and fat, but still long on comfort and flavor. Everyone at the dinner enjoyed this dessert guilt-free, and I hope you will too.

A Healthier & Rustic Apple Crisp that Won't Ruin Your New Year's Resolution

Recipe type: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Dana @ FoodieGoesHealthy.com

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

For the Topping:

1 cup rolled oats
3 tablespoons brown sugar
⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
2 pinches sea salt
3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

For the Apple Mixture:

4 large apples (like Fuji) peeled, cored, and diced in ¾ inch pieces
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon white whole wheat flour
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Ice cream for serving (I like So Delicious Vanilla Almond Milk Ice Cream.)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
To make the topping: In a small bowl stir together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Slice the room temperature butter into small pieces and place on top of the oat mixture. With your fingers, pinch the butter and oat mixture together until the butter is well-distributed and all the oats are moistened. Set aside.
To make the apple mixture: place the cut apples in a flat 10 cup baking dish (or 9" square dish or 7" x 11" Pyrex pan). Sprinkle the sugar, flour and cinnamon over the top. Stir to combine well, then spread the apples out flat and evenly in the baking dish.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of the apples.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until the apples are soft and the topping is golden brown. If the topping isn't quite brown, place under a broiler for 1-2 minutes. Watch carefully so it doesn't burn. Serve warm with ice cream.

Notes:

This dish can be made earlier in the day, and then reheated in a 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Place under the broiler for a couple minutes if necessary to crisp up the topping.