Vegan Apple Crisp

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This mouth-watering vegan apple crisp is full of cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar flavors! Topped with a sweet, buttery oat crumble.

Is there anything better than biting into a juicy, crisp apple?

Yes, yes there is. Enter: apple crisp! Warm, soft apples spiced with cinnamon and other tasty flavors topped with a crunchy oat and brown sugar crumble. Add a scoop of vegan ice cream and OH MY GOD. The ultimate fruity, comforting dessert.

Fortunately for us apple lovers, apple crisp is so easy to make. In my opinion, it is one of the easiest desserts, period! There are two components: the apple filling and the topping.

Because this dessert is basically fool-proof, feel free to add your own spin! For example, you can make it gluten-free by just using GF flour. Or, add walnuts to the topping for an additional crunch.

What's the Best Type of Apple to Use

Any apple will work in this recipe but keep in mind they all taste a bit different. Some apples are tart, some are super sweet.

Many choose a tart apple like a Granny Smith that pairs well with all the sweetness of the brown sugar. I love a "sweet-tart" apple, like Honeycrisp or Cripps Pink. If you're at the store and unsure, check out this apple guide.

How to Prep the Apples

I prefer peeling and chopping the apples, so the recipe is written that way. However, apple crisp is a forgiving recipe that isn't quite an exact science like many desserts. So, you can leave the peel on if you wish!

You can also slice the apples instead of cubing them. Regardless, make sure to cut around the core and discard it.

Toss the apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 baking sheet. Then make the topping!

Buttery Oat & Brown Sugar Topping

The topping is as simple as mixing all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Once you've mixed all of the dry ingredients (oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt) pour in some melted vegan butter. Mix until the butter is fully incorporated, then sprinkle atop the apples.

Slide the apple crisp into the oven and bake until the top is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbly.

Serve warm with vegan vanilla ice cream, yogurt, or whipped topping. They add a lovely contrast to the warm apples!

Can I Make This Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can prepare this apple crisp a day ahead. But, I recommend baking the day-of. Prep the apples and topping as directed in the recipe below, but store the components separately in the fridge for up to 1 day. The lemon juice should prevent the apples from oxidizing and turning brown.

Ready to bake? Assemble in a baking dish and bake as directed.

Want more apple recipes? Try this apple lentil salad!