Controversial as it may be, in almost all cases I prefer crisp to pie. There are certainly outliers here, I love Key Lime Pie or Lemon Merengue Tart for instance, and if I had a Black Bottom Oat Pie delivered from Four & Twenty Blackbirds, I’d never turn it down… but when it comes to standard fruit fare I usually go the route of a crisp, crumble, or cobbler.
Not only are they so much easier to make, but they are much easier to customize. I like a crisp that is just sweet enough with lots of texture, and one that you can feel just fine about eating for breakfast or brunch (as I often do). This one checks all of those boxes.
No dairy, no gluten, and no refined sugar it’s loaded with good stuff – coconut, oats, almonds, spices and of course apples. It’s my kind of fall dessert, cozy and delicious without sacrificing flavor. Â
Enjoy!


No-Peel Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 3 medium-large apples cored and sliced thinly
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 lemon zested
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp arrowroot powder can sub 1.5 tsp corn starch
Topping
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup sliced raw almonds
- 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup Grade B maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, softened at room temperature
Instructions
To Make the Filling
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium bowl, gently toss sliced apples with the rest of the ingredients until combined, then pour into a pie plate or cast iron skillet and spread evenly. Set aside.
To Make the Topping
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix with your hands until it starts to clump together. This will only take a 30 seconds or so.
- Arrange the topping evenly on the apple filling and bake for 40-45 minutes until the fruit is soft and bubbling and the top is golden brown.
- Serve warm with coconut whipped cream, as I do, or with ice cream or regular whipped cream. Leftovers make a delectable breakfast!