RUSTIC APPLE & PEAR CRISP (HEALTHY + VEGAN)
Apple & Pear Crisp – Naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup, this healthy fruit crisp is super easy to make and will be ready in under 1 hour! Gluten-free and easily customizable for different diet types.
I’ve always loved apple crisps, or crumbles as they are referred to in the UK and Australia. They’re just one of those simple pleasures that I’ve never tired of.
Something about the soft apples, cinnamon and crispy oatmeal topping that I just love. And with the abundance of apples and pears this time of year, it seems the perfect time to enjoy these fall fruits together.
It’s even kid friendly and was a hit with my daughter who said she’d like to have this around the house more often. Looking forward to making more of these fruit crisps in the days to come!
Ingredients You’ll Need
In this recipe we’ll be baking spiced apples topped with a naturally sweetened oatmeal topping creating a tender center and crisp golden crust. Perfect for breakfast and dessert!
Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Apples
- Oatmeal
- Walnuts
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Coconut Oil
- Cinnamon
- Lemon
- Vanilla
- Coconut Sugar
- Salt
Pick your favorite apples and pears. I love Fuji apples for their sweetness and crispness. You could also add a granny smith for tartness and variation. Pears can be a variety or simply a few of the same.
To peel or not is up to you. I call this ‘rustic’ because I have left the apple peels on. They add fiber and make prepping a little easier. Feel free to peel if you prefer.
How To Make Apple & Pear Crisp
- Wash, core and dice your apples.
- Mix the apples and pears with lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon, mix well (above left). Tip: You can also mix this right in your baking dish making for one less dish to wash.
- Combine the oat crumble topping (shown above right).
- Layer the apples in a baking dish (below).
- Top with granola mixture (below right).
- Bake in oven at 350 for 35 – 40 minutes.
And now all you have to do is enjoy, and share the love!
How To Store Your Fruit Crisp
Refrigerator: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, in a covered container.
Reheat: Warm in the oven at 250 degrees for 10 – 15 minutes. Alternately, warm individual serving sizes in the microwave using 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through.
Adjusting For Dietary Needs
- Oil-free: Omit the oil. The topping will be a little dryer, but still delicious!
- Nut allergies: Omit using any nuts in the topping.
- Low-fat: Omit the nuts and/or oil.
Serving Suggestions
Pair your fruit crisp with a scoop of vanilla non-dairy ice cream and extra cinnamon sprinkled on top.
Alone this crisp is healthy as can be, and not only does it make a great dessert but can double as a nice breakfast idea as well. I can literally sit and eat this all day long!
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
- Apple-Cranberry Crisp
- Healthy Skillet Cinnamon Apples
- Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp
- Chunky Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
- Vanilla Chia Pudding
If you make this healthy fruit recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintHEALTHY APPLE & PEAR CRISP
An old favorite made healthy without losing any flavor. I could eat this all day long! I have left the skin on the apples and pears here but feel free to peel yours. Enjoy this classic!
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6 generously 1x
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: Vegan, American
Ingredients
- 3 medium apples, cored and chopped (peel if you prefer)
- 3 medium pears, cored and chopped (peel if you prefer)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sugar (coconut or organic pure cane)
- 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
Topping
- 1 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup almond meal or flaxseed meal, optional
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 – 4 tablespoons coconut oil (at room temp)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon mineral salt
- cinnamon, to garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Wash apples well. Slice, core and dice apples and pears.
In a large bowl (or right in your baking dish), combine apples, pears, lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and layer into a 9 x 9 baking dish.
In a medium size bowl, combine oats, almond meal, walnuts, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla and salt, mix well. Spread oat mixture evenly over the apples and sprinkle with a little cinnamon.
Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until apples and pears are fork tender. Let cool 5 – 10 minutes before serving.
Serves 6 generously
Notes
Make gluten free by using gluten free oats.
Feel free to use almonds, pecans or other nuts and seeds of choice in place of the walnuts.
Peel your apples if you prefer. I leave the skin on for the fiber and less work. Plus I love the rustic look and different colors the skin brings to the dish. If serving for everyday I don’t bother to peel the apples but if serving for company I may consider peeling them. You may also like to dice your apples a little smaller than shown or cut them into thin to medium slices.
Make this oil free and omit the coconut oil. Your crisp top will be a little bit dryer but still good!
Add fresh cranberries for a splash of color. This is especially nice around the fall & winter holidays.
Change the recipe to just be an apple crisp if you like, or vice versa.
Updated: This Apple Pear Crisp was originally published in November 2013. It has been retested and updated with new photos and helpful tips in January 2020.
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No other crisp recipe need apply; this is AMAZING! I used a simple combination of organic Gala or Fuji apples and organic Bartlett pears. I omitted the almond meal and used pecans. Fresh cinnamon likely helped (thanks, bulk foods spice section!), but your crisp ingredients make the perfect topper for the tender fruit below. Thanks for my new favorite recipe! This means I’ll have a lot more time to bake since my search for the perfect recipe has ended with this champion!
So glad you loved this one. It’s tops with me too, so simple and delicious. And, your subs sounds wonderful! Cheers :)
i made this last weekend and i'm still enjoying it! i did not have maple syrup, so i used organic wildflower honey. also, i omitted the almond meal and the sugars-and i substituted cashews for the walnuts. it was very yummy, but i did top it with cool whip-since i cannot find a suitable substitute for that! thank you for all these great recipes, it's made a world of difference for me!!
Kudos to The Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine, love how they stand for in the way of health & animal rights, thank you. Fuji apples are pretty tasty, I also love Brabeburn apples, they are really tasty in curried kale salads. Such beautiful rustic apple & pear crisp, thank you for sharing a wonderful autumn recipe!
Looks like a good Thanksgiving option! Thanks for the great ideas!
OMG; this is such a simple yet genius idea, I'm in love with it and can't wait to try it out soon. It's time for this comforting hearty treats. Thank you and congratulations, loving the pictures! :-)
just popped it in the oven …thanks so much for passing along the recipe, I did not add the sugar to the apples , keeping my fingers crossed that it will still be yummy !!
Gloomy day here in Chicago, so luckily I had all these ingredients. The smell wafting through the kitchen when the kids come home from school will be so welcoming! Thanks for today's timely post!
I love the way you expressed that. The smell is wonderful…I have it wafting through the air as I type. I hope everyone loved it! Cheers :)
I think this is commonly called a crumble(?) Whatever, I love love love crumbles. This looks utterly lovely.
Yes, in the UK and Australia, this would be referred to as a crumble. Here in the US and Canada it's commonly known as a crisp. Thank you! It's really delicious. :)
That selection of fruit is so pretty! I've never seen a pear that lovely purple colour before.
Of course I love a crisp, especially using maple syrup :)
Thank you! I've never seen the purple pears until a few years ago myself. It's really good too!
Thanks for info on PCRM, looks like a really worthwhile organization!
Plus the recipe of course :)
Your welcome! Very worthwhile indeed. :)