Apple Cranberry Crisp (Healthy, Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Apple Cranberry Crisp is a healthy version of a classic apple crisp with the addition of tart cranberries and juicy pomegranate. It's also gluten-free and dairy-free and comes together quickly with just a few simple ingredients!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Gluten-free
Keyword apple crisp, cranberry crisp, gluten-free crisp
4Granny Smith applescored, skin on and chopped into 1-inch cubes
½cupfresh cranberries
3tablespoonspomegranate arils
2tablespoonswater
½orangejuiced
⅓cupcoconut sugar
1teaspoonchai spiceor cinnamon
¼teaspoonkosher salt
For the crisp topping:
1 ½cupsrolled oatsgluten-free
½teaspoonchai spiceor cinnamon
½teaspoonkosher salt
¼cupmaple syrup
¼cupalmond butterroom temperature
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350F and grease a 10-inch pie plate (baking dish or cast iron skillet work too).
Add the chopped apples to the pie plate along with the cranberries and pomegranate arils. Add the water, orange juice, sugar, chai spice and salt. Toss to coat the fruit.
In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the oats, chai spice and salt. Add in the maple syrup and almond butter and stir until everything is combined and the mixture is sticky. (If your almond butter is still too hard at room temperature, just soften it in the microwave).
Spread the oat mixture evenly over the top of the fruit mixture and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the apples are soft and the topping is golden brown.
Remove from oven and let it sit for a few minutes before serving warm with dairy-free ice cream or coconut whipped cream.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days.
Notes
I leave the skin on the apples but you can peel them if you prefer. They soften as they bake so you really don't notice the peel.
If you don't have fresh cranberries, you can use frozen. Just let them defrost in the refrigerator first. And if you don't have fresh pomegranate, you can use pre-packaged or frozen arils, or leave them out altogether.
You can substitute brown sugar for coconut sugar.
This crisp is tart, so if you want it a little sweeter just add a bit more sugar to the apple mixture.
To keep this recipe gluten-free, use oats and spices that are certified gluten-free.
If you don't have almond butter, you can use another nut or seed butter but it will change the taste of the crisp topping.
You can use honey as the liquid sweetener in the crisp topping instead of maple syrup, but the recipe will no longer be vegan.