I’m calling this the ULTIMATE apple crisp because it’s actually made with healthy ingredients, but still tastes just like the flour, butter, and sugar packed desert that you know and love. You can even eat it for breakfast because, guess what? It’s refined sugar-free. It’s also gluten-free and vegan, but those are just some extra benefits. So, make this apple crisp if you want your house to smell amazing and your taste buds to get happy. Also, apples are in season for us Canadians and I’m all for buying and supporting local ingredients, so let’s use ’em while we can!

The Ultimate Apple Crisp

INGREDIENTS

Apple Filling:

6 to 7 peeled and chopped baking apples

1 Tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch

1/3 cup coconut sugar

1 Tbsp chia seeds

1 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Topping:

1 cup gluten-free rolled oats

1 cup sliced almonds

1/3 cup almond meal

1/4 cup organic ginger syrup (I use this syrup by The Ginger People whenever possible, but you could also use pure maple syrup)

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease an 11 by 9-inch baking dish.
2. To make the apple filling, place the apples in a large bowl and sprinkle with the arrowroot powder on top. Toss until combined. Stir in the sugar, chia seeds, and cinnamon. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared dish and smooth it out evenly.
3. To make the topping: In a large bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, almond meal, syrup, melted coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt until thoroughly mixed.
4. Sprinkle the oat mixture all over the apple mixture in an even layer.
5. Cover the dish with foil and poke a couple of holes in the foil. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the apples are tender. Uncover the dish and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, until the topping in golden.