Healthy Apple Crisp Dessert Recipe

Healthy Apple Crisp Dessert

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC

Updated on July 08, 2021

(38 ratings)

Total Time: 55 min

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 30 min

Servings: 6

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

197 calories

10g fat

28g carbs

2g protein

Show Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	197
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10g	13%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Cholesterol 15mg	5%
Sodium 197mg	9%
Total Carbohydrate 28g	10%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 17g
Includes 7g Added Sugars	14%
Protein 2g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 23mg	2%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 158mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

This lightened-up apple crisp recipe offers a healthy dose of fruit and less fat and calories compared to traditional versions. While many recipes use more butter and add up to 500 calories or more per serving, this version comes in at less than 200.

The lightness of it this dessert is perfect if you experience heartburn and still want to satisfy your sweet tooth. You'll also gain some health benefits that are associated with key ingredients. For instance, apples are a good source of potassium and beta carotene. They also provide an antioxidant called quercetin which is associated with a lower risk of certain cancers such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer.

Ingredients

4 medium apples (peeled, seeded, and diced)
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp lemon zest (freshly grated)
2 tbsps sugar
3 tbsps unsalted butter (cold, diced into small pieces)
2 tbsps all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
2 tbsps light brown sugar (packed)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
6 tbsps 100% apple juice

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350F.
Spray six (5-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, combine apples, cornstarch, cinnamon, lemon juice, lemon zest, and sugar.
Toss well and set aside for 10 minutes.
In a separate bowl, combine butter, flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and walnuts for topping. Mix well to combine.
Spoon apple mixture evenly in to prepared ramekins, then sprinkle with topping.
Top each serving with a tablespoon of apple juice.
Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

Variations and Substitutions

Try this recipe with berries or peeled peaches instead of apples. You'll take in an impressive amount of inflammation-busting antioxidants and still get plenty of sweetness.

Instead of walnuts, you can also add crunch with chopped pecans, slivered almonds, or shelled pistachios. For a hint of extra spice, add a 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom to the topping.

Cooking and Serving Tips

Instead of individual servings in ramekins, you can also make a large batch of this apple crisp in an 8x8 square baking dish.
It may seem like a silly ingredient, but don't skip the apple juice; it adds flavor and prevents the topping from drying out as it bakes.

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