Paleo Apple Crisp Recipe (GAPS, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free)
This comforting paleo apple crisp recipe is fast and easy to make and a perfect GAPS diet dessert that satisfies. The honey can be omitted to make this Whole30 compliant as well!
See more Paleo and GAPS diet dessert recipes here.
What is a “Paleo” Apple Crisp?
Sometimes only a yummy apple pie recipe will do! I have always enjoyed apple crisp made with oats over a pie crust. When our family started the GAPS diet protocol, we temporarily omitted oats to optimize healing from allergies. Thus, this paleo, gluten-free, and sugar-free apple crisp recipe was born! Paleo refers to eating the whole foods our early ancestors did. See this post for more information on ancestral eating.
Paleo Apple Crisp Without Oats Recipe
The “crisp” or “crumble” topping on this paleo apple crisp recipe is a blend of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits, rather than oats. And a generous amount of fat and honey -yum! One thing I love about this recipe is you can use any nuts, seeds, or dried fruits you have on hand! Some of our favorite combinations are walnuts, pecans, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and raisins.
Pre-soaking Nuts and Seeds (+ Why This Is Important)
Soaking nuts/seeds before consuming them helps to remove phytic acid and other compounds that make these food groups more difficult to digest.
Paleo Apple Crisp Recipe
Paleo Apple Crisp (GAPS, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free)
This comforting paleo apple crisp recipe is fast and easy to make and a perfect GAPS diet dessert that satisfies. The honey can be omitted to make this Whole30 compliant as well!
Ingredients
- 8-10 apples, chopped
- 1 cup each pre-soaked and chopped: walnuts, pecans, cashews, pumpkin seeds, raisins
- 1/2 cup raw honey (or to taste; omit for whole30)
- 1/2 cup butter, melted (butter is not strictly paleo, but it is GAPS friendly). See recipe notes for dairy-free fat options.
- 2 tablespoons organic cinnamon
- Homemade ice cream (optional topping!). You can find the recipe in the Notes section.
Instructions
1. Chop apples and place in a 9x13 pan
2. Mix melted butter, honey, and cinnamon together
3. Pour 3 tablespoons of butter, honey, and cinnamon mixture over the apples and stir to coat all apples
FOR CRISP TOPPING:
1. Add nuts, seeds and dried fruit to a blender and pulse until ground to preferred texture
2. Mix nuts, seeds, and dried fruit with the remaining butter, honey, and cinnamon mixture
3. Cover the apples with the crisp topping, smoothing uniformly over the apples
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until apples are soft and crisp is golden brown
Notes
How to Soak Nuts and Seeds?
- Pour nuts or seeds into a glass container, such as pyrex (which we use for literally everything!), leaving room for the nuts and seeds to expand. I recommend filling the container about half full.
- Cover the nuts or seeds completely with water and a few pinches of sea salt or a squeeze of lemon. I add about 1 inch of additional water above the submerged nuts/seeds.
- As the nuts/seeds soak up water, you may need to add more.
- Allow the nuts/seeds to soak for 12-24 hours.
- Strain and rinse the nuts/seeds with fresh water.
- You can leave nuts/seeds/dried fruits whole or grind them slightly in a blender to make a more chopped or "oat-like" consistency.
- Feel free to use any nut/seed/dried fruits you have on hand. Our favorites are walnuts, pecans, cashews, raisins, and pumpkin seeds
- Substitute coconut oil, grass-fed lard, or another animal fat for a dairy-free option
- We also enjoy substituting the apples for pears or other seasonally available fruits
- Homemade ice cream recipe here.
Do you enjoy apple crisp, or are you a pie fan? I would love to hear from you below!
Resources
Posts
What is the GAPS Diet? An Easier Explanation
GAPS Diet Desserts
How To Cure A Dairy Allergy or Sensitivity With the GAPS Diet
How to Start an Ancestral Diet (without Overwhelm)?
Shop This Post
- pyrex
- sea salt
- organic walnuts
- organic pecans
- raw cashews
- organic pumpkin seeds
- organic raisins
- raw honey
- organic cinnamon
- 9×13 pan
- coconut oil
- grass-fed lard
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I love how you have used nuts to replace oats in this Paleo Apple Crisp. Genius! And I’m going to pin this for later. Thank you!
This looks delicious! My husband can’t have grain so I’m always looking for grain free recipes. I’m definitely saving this one! Thanks!
This looks so good & healthy! Can’t wait to try it! I also love that you are minimal in the amount of info in your post, let’s just get cooking!
Yum! Gonna have to try this sometime!