Simple Vegan Apple Crisp

Make this Simple Vegan Apple Crisp in under an hour! Sweet apples, a spiced oat topping, and no dairy, this is the perfect fall dessert.

If you’re looking for the ultimate cozy fall dessert, this Simple Vegan Apple Crisp has you covered.

It’s everything you want in a fall or winter treat: tender, cinnamon-spiced apples bubbling under a golden oat topping that’s crisp, sweet, and just the right amount of crunchy.

Best of all, it’s dairy-free, easy to make, and uses simple pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand.

This recipe is perfect for so many occasions! As a quick afternoon dessert, a warm breakfast on a chilly morning, or a crowd-pleaser at your holiday gathering.

Unlike pie, there’s no need to fuss with a crust; you get all that nostalgic apple dessert flavor with half the effort. Plus, it’s flexible: swap in different fruits, adjust the spices to your liking, or add nuts for extra crunch.

In short, this apple crisp is:

• Easy and beginner-friendly
• 100% vegan and dairy-free
• Comforting, cozy, and perfect for sharing
• Ready in under an hour!

Once you take that first spoonful, and especially if you top it with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream, you’ll see why this is a recipe worth making again and again!

Let’s gather the ingredients!

Simple Vegan Apple Crisp ingredients

This recipe keeps things simple with pantry staples and fresh apples. Here’s what you’ll need:

For the apple filling:

• Apples: Use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or whatever you have at home – you can even use different kinds of apples! Apples bring natural sweetness, moisture, and a soft, jammy texture once baked. Want to switch it up? This recipe will also work with pears, plums, peaches, or mixed berries!
• Sugar: Enhances the fruit’s sweetness and helps create a syrupy filling as it bakes. Use regular granulated sugar, or swap with brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup… if your apples are extra sweet, you can even skip it altogether!
• Lemon juice: Balances sweetness with acidity, keeps apples from browning, and brightens flavor.
• Cinnamon & ground cloves: Classic warm spices that pair perfectly with apples. You can also try with other spices, such as pumpkin spice blend, allspice, or cardamom, for a twist.

For the crisp topping:

• Rolled oats (gluten-free, if needed): Add chew and texture for that signature “crisp” topping. You can also use quick oats for a finer texture, chopped nuts for crunch, or quinoa flakes for a gluten-free variety.
• All-purpose flour: Helps bind the topping and creates a crumbly structure. If you’re gluten-free, try replacing it with almond flour, oat flour, or gluten-free all-purpose flour.
• Brown sugar: Sweetens the topping and adds a subtle caramel-like depth.
• Cinnamon & Salt for flavor
• Vegan butter: Binds dry ingredients, adds richness, and helps the topping crisp up golden and crunchy. Don’t have vegan butter? You can try swapping with coconut oil, olive oil, or vegan margarine. Nut butter (like almond or cashew) also works for a different flavor and extra richness.

The beauty of this Vegan Apple Crisp is how forgiving it is: as long as you keep the balance of fruit + sweetness + acid + warm spice + crunchy topping + fat, you’ll end up with something delicious!

Now let’s get baking!

How to make this Vegan Apple Crisp

This recipe comes together in just a few simple steps:

1. Prepare the apple filling,
2. Mix up a crumbly oat topping,
3. Then bake until golden and bubbling.

Here’s how to do it quickly & easily:

Prepare the apple filling

First, preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

Wash and slice your apples, removing the pit and core. You can peel them if you like, but the peel gives you extra fibre.

Slice apples evenly (about ½ cm thick). Too thin = mushy, too thick = undercooked. Aim for uniform slices so they bake evenly.

In a large mixing bowl (or even directly in the baking pan), combine the apple slices, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.

Taste the raw apple mixture. If your apples are very tart, add an extra spoonful of sugar; if they’re sweet, reduce it slightly.

Transfer the apple mixture into a greased baking dish (round or 9×9-inch). Spread into an even layer.

Lightly greasing your baking dish prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier. You can use vegan butter or neutral oil.

Pro tip: If your apples are very juicy, add a teaspoon of cornstarch. This will help thicken the sauce. If your apples are on the dry side, leave the cornstarch.

Make the crisp topping

In a separate bowl, mix together the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

Add the cold, cubed vegan butter. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingertips, rub the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Keep the butter cold, as this helps create a crumbly, crisp topping instead of a greasy one. If it melts too fast, chill the mixture for 5 minutes before baking.

Top the apples

Evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the apple filling, covering it completely but without pressing down. Don’t pack it tight! A loose, uneven crumble gives you more crunchy, golden bits.

Bake

Place the assembled apple crisp in the preheated oven and bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling up around the edges.

If the topping is browning too quickly, loosely cover with foil for the last 10 minutes.

Once baked, remove from the oven and let it sit for at least 10 minutes. This helps the filling thicken a little and makes serving easier.

Serve warm.

Serving ideas

This Apple Crisp is best served warm, or warmed up.

You can enjoy it as is, on top of yogurt, or topped with some vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle with chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds) or a pinch of cinnamon for extra aroma and crunch.

Other serving ideas:

• Assemble the apple crisp in individual ramekins and bake it up for a single-serve option.
• Make apple crisp parfaits! Layer baked apple crisp with vegan yogurt or coconut cream in a glass for a visually appealing parfait. Top with granola, fresh berries, or a sprinkle of cinnamon for a brunch-ready treat.
• Use a muffin tin to make single-serve portions for parties. Perfect for kids or buffet-style serving.
• Spoon warm apple crisp over oatmeal or overnight oats for a spiced breakfast. Add a drizzle of maple syrup or a handful of seeds for texture.
• Portion into mason jars for a portable dessert or snack. Layer apple crisp, a little coconut cream or yogurt, and granola for travel-friendly servings.

Storage tips

Here’s how to store your Vegan Apple Crisp to keep it fresh and delicious:

Room temperature:

• If serving within a few hours, cover the baking dish loosely with foil or plastic wrap. The crisp topping may soften slightly, but it will still be tasty.
• Warm individual portions in the microwave for 20–30 seconds or in the oven at 175°C (350°F) for 5–10 minutes to restore crispiness.

Refrigeration:

• Cover the dish tightly or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for 3–4 days.
• The topping will soften in the fridge. To crisp it back up, reheat in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for 10–15 minutes.

Freezing:

• Portion into freezer-safe containers or cover the baking dish tightly with foil and plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 2 months.
• Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the oven at 175°C (350°F) for 15–20 minutes until warmed through and topping is crisp.

Meal prep:

• If making ahead, you can prepare the filling and topping separately. Store them separately in the fridge and assemble just before baking to keep the topping extra crisp.

 

Similar recipes:

Easy Vegan Apple Crisp

Vegan Baked Oatmeal with Apples

Vegan Cinnamon Baked Apples

Apple Cinnamon Buckwheat Porridge