Can I make this healthy apple crumble ahead of time?

Need this for a particular day? Make it ahead of time, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Then, bake as directed when ready to serve.

What are the best types of apples to use for this recipe?

Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious work great.

Do you have any serving suggestions?

Yes, I do. This easy, healthy apple crumble recipe is quite irresistible, but if you want to make it a real treat, serve it with a scoop of your favorite ice cream on top—highly recommended. I have somewhat of a weakness for a butter pecan flavor, or go for the dairy-free vanilla bean ice cream or your favorite scoop of vanilla ice cream. A little bit goes a long way. It's one of those crumble recipes that's healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast. In that case, top it with some (dairy-free) yogurt . A few spoons of warmed-up Rhubarb Compote on the side is always a winner.

Best Healthy Apple Crumble (Paleo, Vegan, Gluten-free)

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This delicious gluten-free paleo apple crumble recipe bursts with fresh flavors and has a perfect grain-free crumble topping.

The combination of sweet apples, juicy cherries, and a hint of rosemary makes this a delightful dessert for any occasion, especially during the holiday season.

Healthy Paleo apple crumble with cherries served on a plate.

This paleo apple crumble is a healthier take on a classic dessert, easy to prepare, and perfect for sharing with loved ones. Like my Fudgy Paleo Brownies and Chocolate Pistachio Coconut Bites, it's filled with wholesome ingredients and a rich mix of flavors that satisfy every sweet craving.

It's not too sweet or heavy, uses healthy fats, and has enough flavors to make it warm, utterly comforting, and amazingly delicious. And like my rhubarb muffins or yogurt almond flour coffee cake, this bake is healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast. Let's make it!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Notes
How To Make It
Top Tips
Variations & Substitutions
Storage
Recipe FAQs
More Healthy Desserts To Try Next
📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Dietary Info: This grain-free apple crumble is dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, and paleo-friendly.
Simple Ingredients: The recipe uses pantry staples, fresh fruit, and frozen cherries, which are easy to find in local grocery stores or online.
Delicious Dessert: The combination of apples, cinnamon, ginger, and rosemary adds that comforting holiday season flavor we all love.
Perfect Texture: The crumbly topping turns golden brown, with a mix of crunchy nuts and chunks of apples.

Ingredients & Notes

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Most of my baked goods are easy to make, and this recipe is no exception. But before starting on this healthier paleo apple crumble, you must gather some simple ingredients, and then everything comes together quickly. Let's have a look:

Sweet apples, large dates, plant milk, frozen cherries, plant milk, and vanilla extract displayed on a table.

Fresh Apples: I recommend using a mix of sweet Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or pink lady apples. These varieties hold up well during baking and provide a wonderful sweetness without added sugar. Get some extra to make my Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe.
Cherries: The frozen cherries add a juicy flavor that complements the apples beautifully. Use frozen pitted cherries. If in season, you could go for fresh ones.
Medjool Dates: These provide natural sweetness to the apple filling without refined sugars. Blended with cashew milk, they create a creamy, light brown paste that perfectly coats the apple and cherry mixture. Go for large, pitted, soft Medjool dates, and use any extras to make my Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies.
Cashew Milk: I imagine any other plant milk will do, but I usually go for creamy nut milk.
Vanilla Extract: It boosts a subtle depth of flavor.

Coconut oil, coconut flakes, chopped walnut & pecans, almond flour, cinnamon, ginger, dried Rosemary, Cassava flour, coconut sugar displayed on a table.

Coconut Sugar: In the crisp topping, coconut sugar gives a caramel-like sweetness. I'm just adding enough to enhance the fruits' natural sweetness. Replace it with monk fruit sweetener to make it sugar-free.
Almond Flour and Cassava Flour: These gluten-free flours create a delicious grain-free topping that's nutty and slightly sweet.
Coconut Oil: A great source of healthy fats, it helps bind the dry ingredients and creates a golden crumble topping. Briefly melt the coconut oil in a small pan over the lowest heat setting or microwave for a few seconds if it is still solid.
Coconut Flakes: They add a subtle and natural sweetness to the healthy crumble mix and become very crispy once baked. Any leftovers can be used to make kale and coconut chips. So good!
Nuts: Usually, I go for a mix between pecans and walnuts. They're deliciously crunchy; you'll get a nice blend of sweet, buttery, and earthy.
Spices and Herbs: A small amount of cinnamon powder, freshly minced or grated ginger, and crumbled dried rosemary needles pair so well with the sweet flavors of apples and cherries. They add warmth to this healthy apple dessert.

How To Make It

See the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card.

Let's make this paleo apple crumble:

A series of steps to make a healthy apple crumble.

Step One (Picture 1 above) - Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.

Step Two (Picture 2 above) - Arrange apple slices and pitted cherries in the baking dish. You do not need to defrost the cherries. Just briefly rinse them under running water.

Step Three (Picture 3 above) - Blend the dates, vanilla extract, and milk until you get a light brown paste.

Step Four (Picture 4 above) - Stir the date paste into the apples and cherries until everything is slightly coated. Set aside.

A series of steps to make an apple crisp without oats.

Step Five (Picture 5 above) - Place the chopped nuts, coconut flakes, cinnamon powder, rosemary, almond flour, cassava flour, and coconut sugar in a separate bowl.

Step Six (Picture 6 above) - Stir until well combined.

Step Seven (Picture 7 above) - Pour in the melted coconut oil and add the grated ginger. Stir until everything is barely coated.

Step Eight (Picture 8 above) - Divide an even layer of the topping over the apple mixture in the baking dish. Bake until the top is golden brown, the apples are soft, and the fruit liquids are bubbling.

Top Tips

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your coconut oil is melted but not hot to prevent clumping when mixing with other ingredients.
Peel the Apples: Peel them—yeah, it's a bit more work, but you'll get no tough surprises. Any leftovers can be used to make this Apple-Carrot Salad.
Avoid Granny Smith Apples: A lot of the natural sweetness comes from the fruit, so I would avoid using them in this healthy apple crisp and leave them to make my Kale Apple Salad.
Perfect Crumble Texture: To achieve the ideal crumbly topping, mix just until the dry ingredients are coated—you want some texture.
Serving Suggestion: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of coconut cream, or a few spoons of Rhubarb Compote for an extra special treat.

Variations & Substitutions

Cherries: Substitute with fresh cherries when they’re in season for an extra burst of freshness. Make sure to remove the pits.
Rosemary: Swap dried rosemary with fresh needles for a more aromatic flavor. If you're not a fan of rosemary, try adding a sprinkle of apple pie spice.
Sweetener: For a sugar-free version, use monk fruit sweetener instead of coconut sugar to lower the sugar content.
Vanilla Extract: You could swap this for maple extract.
Plant Milk: I prefer cashew milk, but hazelnut or almond milk are also great options.

Storage

Store any leftover apple cherry crisp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

You can reheat individual servings in the microwave or stovetop for a few minutes until warm. If you’re in a hurry, it’s just as tasty cold, but I recommend warming it up if you can.