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Last Updated on December 11, 2023

Who doesn’t love apple desserts? Apple crisp is a delectable dessert that captures all the delightful flavors of a traditional apple pie (but takes much less time to make!). This AIP apple crisp recipe is sure to be a favorite, especially when you serve them up in little jars for the holiday season.

AIP Apple Crisp

Desserts can be a little tricky when you have food restrictions. Back in the day, I used to LOVE a good apple (or cherry) pie with a rich, flaky crust. Apple crisp was another favorite of mine (I heart all things oatmeal). Unfortunately, since going on the paleo autoimmune protocol, I haven’t had success coming up with a typical apple pie or crust recipe.

This AIP Apple crisp has a delicious crumble topping made with tiger nuts, dates, and some other simple ingredients that gets layered in. It’s the perfect dessert to serve at a dinner party!

Oat-Free Crust for Apple Crisp

Instead of using the traditional oatmeal that’s normally a part of the crumb topping, I use tigernuts. Tigernuts are not actually a nut, but a tuber (think sweet potatoes) and have a wonderful nutty, oatmeal-y taste and texture.

I’ve been working on this crisp topping (or base) for awhile now and am very happy with it. These Apple Pie Pots are completely AIP-friendly for those with autoimmune diseases and are a layered apple crisp of sorts. I have served them to family and friends – some with dietary restrictions and some without – and they have received rave reviews, even from those who love traditional crisps made with oats.

AIP Apple Crisp Ingredients

This healthy paleo apple crisp uses some basic apple pie-style ingredients. It’s just easier because you’re making a crumble instead of a regular pie crust.

To make this coconut-free, see the notes below. Here’s what you’ll need:

Apple Crisp Filling

chopped, peeled apples (learn about the different type of apples you can use below.)
coconut oil
ground ginger
ground cinnamon
sea salt
pure maple syrup (optional – depends on how sweet apples are)

AIP Apple Crisp Crust

Here’s what you need for the topping ingredients:

Medjool dates, soaked in hot water if dry
tigernut flour
coconut flour
cinnamon
sea salt (I use Himalayan pink)
sliced tigernuts
coconut oil

What Apples are Best for Apple Crisp?

I recommend using at least two different types of apples when making this filling. My preference is half Granny Smith and half Gala apples or Fuji. The logic is to use an apple that will keep it’s shape while being a tad on the tart side and then balance it out with a sweeter apple that will break down and create a nice, moist filling.

I do not recommend using Red Delicious apples for baking as they tend to become overly soft and mushy when cooked.

Whether it’s apple season or not, thankfully you can find apples all year round!

Granny Smith Apples

Granny Smith apples have a bright, tart flavor with a hint of sweetness. They are known for their distinctive tanginess, which adds a refreshing element to recipes. These apples are excellent for baking as they maintain their tartness even after being cooked.

Fuji Apples

Fujis are a juicy apple with a crisp texture and a balanced sweet and tart flavor. They are known for their exceptional sweetness, making them one of the sweetest apple varieties available. They hold up well in baking due to their dense flesh.

Golden Delicious Apples

Golden Delicious apples have a sweet and mellow flavor with a hint of tartness. They are mildly sweet compared to other varieties. When it comes to baking, Golden Delicious apples hold their shape fairly well and add a pleasant sweetness to baked goods.

Gala Apples

Gala apples are known for their crisp texture and sweet flavor. They have a mild sweetness that is not overpowering. In baking, Gala apples retain their shape but tend to soften slightly. They work well in recipes where a touch of natural sweetness is desired.

Honeycrisp Apples

Honeycrisp apples are crisp and juicy with a unique blend of sweet and tart flavors. They are notably sweet, often described as having hints of honey or brown sugar. While Honeycrisp apples can soften slightly when baked, they still retain their delicious flavor profile.

Braeburn

Braeburn apples have an aromatic flavor with both sweet and tangy notes. They are moderately sweet with hints of spice, making them versatile for various applications, including baking. When cooked, Braeburn apples become tender but still hold their shape reasonably well.

Cortland

Cortland apples have a mildly tart flavor with some underlying sweetness. Although not as sweet as other varieties, they are still enjoyable to eat. In baking, Cortland apples hold their shape and add a subtle tartness to recipes.

Empire

Empire apples offer a pleasing balance of sweetness and tartness. They have a juicy texture and a moderately sweet flavor. When used in baking, Empire apples hold up well and provide a nice combination of sweetness and acidity.

Pink Lady

Pink Lady apples have a distinctive sweet-tart taste with notes of citrus. They are known for their crisp texture and refreshing flavor. In baking, Pink Lady apples soften but retain their unique flavor profile, adding brightness to baked goods.

How to Make this Delicious Apple Crisp

This is a pretty straight-forward apple crisp recipe. While I am using jelly jars (because they are so cute!), feel free to use a single square pan instead.

AIP Apple Crisp Filling Instructions

Start by heating eat a large saute pan with straight sides or a dutch oven on medium low. When hot, add 2 tablespoons coconut oil and swirl in pan.
Add apples to pan and sprinkle the ground ginger, cinnamon and salt on top. Stir well.
Cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for about five minutes.
Uncover the pan and continue cooking until apples are tender.
Taste and determine if the apple filling needs to be sweeter. If so, add up to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.

AIP Apple Crisp Crumble Instructions

Preheat oven to 300F. Remove the pits from the dates and coarsely chop. Add dates, tigernut flour, coconut flour, cinnamon and salt to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until dates are small in size and mixture looks uniform.
Add tigernut flakes and pulse again until flakes are smaller in size.
Add melted coconut oil and pulse. Mixture will come together and get a little clumpy.
Transfer mixture to an 8×8 glass pan (or smaller rectangular pan works too). You do not want mixture to be in too thin of a layer or it will burn.
Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven then stir.
Bake another 5-10 minutes, keeping watch so it doesn’t burn or dry out.

How to Assemble Apple Crisp

Place about 2-3 tablespoons of crust in the bottom of each jar.
Spoon apple mixture on top of crust.
Add another layer of the crust and finish with the apple filling.
Top with whipped “cream” and serve.

Whipped Cream

The whipped “cream” is very simple to make. I’m currently working on perfecting my own recipe, but the Coconut Whipped Cream from Danielle Walker would be delicious.

How to Serve AIP Apple Crisp

I layer these beauties in 8 oz. jelly jars. I enjoy this apple crisp with AIP ice cream (YUM!). If you top with whipped coconut cream, you can sprinkle some coconut sugar or maple sugar on the top to make it pretty.

You can serve this healthy apple crisp warm or at room temperature (or heck, even eat it cold!).

Can AIP Apple Crisp Be Made Ahead?

If you want to serve the AIP apple crisps warm using the same type of jars, it’s best to enjoy them right away. This is due to the fact that the glass jars are not oven-proof.

You can, however, use an 8×8 square pan to assemble the apple crisp instead of glass jars. Reheating it is simple since you can just pop it back in the oven for a few minutes.

Can I Make This Recipe Coconut-Free?

To make this AIP apple crisp without coconut, all you need to do is swap organic palm shortening for the coconut oil and use cassava flour in place of coconut flour.

Can I Use Honey Instead Of Maple Syrup?

The use of pure maple syrup to sweeten the filling is completely optional. I’ve found that sometimes the apples are sweet enough on their own, and sometimes they need a little help. So you can use any natural sweetener, like honey to sweeten at your discretion if you prefer.

Can I Use This Topping For With Other Fruits?

You can make other fruit crisps with this recipe. Simply follow the instructions for making the crumble topping and swap out the apples for other fruits.

How To Store AIP Apple Crisp

Allow the apple crisp to cool completely before storing it. This will help prevent condensation and maintain its texture.
Transfer the apple crisp to an airtight container or wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Make sure there are no openings or gaps where air can enter.
Place the container in the refrigerator to keep the apple crisp fresh. The cold temperature of the refrigerator helps slow down the growth of bacteria and keeps the dessert from spoiling quickly.
If you prefer, you can also freeze the apple crisp for longer storage. To do this, wrap it tightly with multiple layers of plastic wrap or place it in a freezer-safe container. Label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness.

How Long AIP Apple Crisp Lasts

Well, if your family is like mine, you won’t need to worry about this because there will be no leftovers! But if you have some leftover, here’s what you need to know:

In the refrigerator: Homemade apple crisp can last for up to 3-5 days when stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
In the freezer: When stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in the freezer, homemade apple crisp can last for up to 2-3 months.

Easy AIP Apple Crisp with Grain-free Crumble