Easy healthy apple crisp stacks are a fun twist on a dessert favorite, and it’s ready in about 30 minutes!
Check out my newest VIDEO on how to make this fun dessert:
So confession: I’m not an apple pie person.
I was a junior in high school before I ever even had apple pie.
(My mom wasn’t anti-dessert. She just wasn’t a baker and it wasn’t something at our holiday table.)
So, my high school math teacher found out I’d never had apple pie — long back-story there, so just go with it — and she decided to make me one. Because hers was amazing.
And it was. It was delicious! I’ll never be able to eat a short-cut apple pie after knowing how good the real thing is.
But still, I wasn’t really a convert. You’ll never see me order apple pie at a restaurant and I just can’t get that excited about it, even in the fall when I’m ALL about apple everything.
But an apple crisp? That calls to me. I love any kind of crisp, really. I make a delicious individual peach and blueberry crumble in the summertime with the fresh fruit and we literally cannot get enough.
All year long, really, I use whatever fruit is seasonal, add that amazing crumb topping and we dive in. With ice cream, of course. (And shh, sometimes with Greek yogurt for breakfast ;))
So for my ALL-APPLES-ALL-FALL tribute we’ve been having here on the blog — check out my homemade applesauce with fruit add-ins, my sautéed chicken and apples with rosemary and my easy slow cooker apple butter with no sugar added — I knew I had to make an apple version of one of my favorite desserts.
But I also wanted to get a little creative with it, make it a little more interesting, a little more fun.
So I used apple slices, topped them with the crumble and stacked them up. Baked them off then stacked ‘em up again. And added ice cream. #winning
Easy healthy apple crisp stacks. It’s kind-of like a stacked up crustless apple pie. It’s kind-of like a deconstructed apple crisp tower. It’s kind-of like a skinny version of baked apples, made a little crazy.
And it’s kind-of like delicious. And so quick and easy!
I love that I can just do a single apple and make a treat for the kids. Or just do one or two for a late-night snack for the hubs and I. (Or maybe just one all for myself in the morning when everyone’s out the door!)
And when I’m feeling really indulgent? I just stack them higher and dig in!
A few notes on this easy healthy apple crisp:
- I use a sharp knife and slice right through the core. Then I remove the inner circle. See the video above for a visual.
- I make my slices a hefty 1/4-inch thick. They get completely cooked through in the oven but still hold their basic shape to be able to stack them up.
- I’m white whole wheat flour kinda gal, but you can use regular all-purpose flour or substitute a gluten-free flour blend to make this a gluten-free recipe.
- You can make these vegan! Just substitute a vegan butter. (Make sure it’s cold and hard – freeze it if necessary.) You could try this with coconut oil but I haven’t tested that and can’t vouch for it.
- I’ve used Gala and Red Delicious apples before and both work great. Any baking apple would be fine here.
- You can easily halve the recipe or just use one apple and 1/4 of the streusel mixture for a smaller batch.
- You can also make a full batch of the streusel mixture and just keep it, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, to make smaller batches of these again and again and again. (She says from experience.)
I hope you’ll join me in this new-found apple fun. Stacked apple pie, baked apple slices, easy healthy apple crisp stacks – whatever you want to call it, it’s a must-have for fall.
Enjoy!
~ Kathryn
This quick and easy healthy apple crisp recipe is a fun twist on a dessert favorite! Iβve used Gala and Red Delicious apples before and both work great. Any baking apple would be fine here. I use white whole wheat flour, but you can use regular all-purpose or substitute a gluten-free flour blend. You can easily halve the recipe or just use one apple and 1/4 of the streusel mixture for a smaller batch.Easy healthy apple crisp stacks
Ingredients
For the streusel:
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 549Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 116mgCarbohydrates: 77gFiber: 5gSugar: 49gProtein: 5g
Dawn @ Girl Heart Food says
I was never really a big apple fan either, nor is hubby. I enjoy apples, but it is not my first pick. My brother, on the other hand, loves ’em! But these are a total game changer. When you add that crisp in there with the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, now you’re talking π And who doesn’t love a healthier dessert that still feels indulgent?? I wouldn’t even mind eating too π Pinning! Hope your week is going great! xoxo
Kathryn says
Yes Dawn! This is definitely a whole remake and even if you don’t like apple pie, I bet you’ll LOVE this!! XO
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I’m not a pie person…period. But these FUN stacked apple crisps!? O my goodness, such an awesome DELICIOUS idea!
Kathryn says
Right?! It’s similar but aso so different and all kinds of delicious this way!
Chelsey Amer, RD says
What a great idea!!! Love stacking anything and everything!
Kathryn says
Haha, me too Chelsey π
Adina says
Such an original dessert. It looks so delicious!
Kathryn says
Thanks so much Adina!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Well your teacher sounds like she was SUPER nice! I never had a teacher make me a dessert! I hope she also gave you an ‘A’! π While I DO like apple pie, I totally prefer an apple crisp, so we are definitely on the same page there! These stacks are super cute, Kathryn!! And I LOVE that they are healthy! AND easy!! This is the perfect, fun fall dessert, girlfriend! Love your creativity! Cheers! <3
Kathryn says
Haha, I think I did get an A π Thanks friend! XO
Mona says
Beautiful and undoubtedly delicious! I love how you can see the red peel of the apple – not to mention the extra fiber you get from eating the peel.
Kathryn says
Thanks Mona! And yes — I love the WHOLE apple π