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Home » Dessert

Healthy Apple Crisp for Two

Published: Oct 16, 2020 · Modified: Jan 30, 2021 by Ash, The Grocery Addict · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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If you're looking for something sweet to share with your honey tonight, look no further than this delicious and healthy apple crisp. With less than two tablespoons of sugar per serving and loaded with whole grain oats, wheat germ and fresh apples, you could even eat this dessert for breakfast!

mini apple crisp for two in a cast iron pan with 3 apples and cinnamon sticks in the background

All the beautiful fall colors and the chillier weather has been making me want to snuggle up and engage in all things hygge. Part of the beauty of the season, to me at least, is turning on the oven, filling the house with cozy scents and eating warm and comforting meals. This healthy apple crisp for two fulfills all of those autumn checklist items.

Table of Contents

  • So what makes this apple crisp "healthy?"
  • How to make this healthy apple crisp
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How should I serve the apple crisp?
    • Can I make this apple crisp vegan?
    • Is there an alternative for the corn starch?
    • Can I make this gluten free?
  • Want more healthy eating inspiration? Check out these other lighter recipes:

So what makes this apple crisp "healthy?"

Can a dessert ever really be healthy? While I definitely used a bit of granulated and brown sugar in this recipe, I'd argue that it's pretty dang healthy. In fact, the total added sugar per serving is a mere 20 grams, well within the American Heart Association's daily sugar recommendation.

On top of that, each serving has a whopping 8 grams of fiber. According to the AHA, we should be shooting for 25-30 grams of fiber per day from food. This dessert gets you almost ⅓ of the way there!

3 gravenstein apples, 1 lemon, a whole nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar and cornstarch as mis en place for apple filling

Finally, with nearly a third of the daily recommendations for both Vitamin A and Vitamin C, I think we can all agree that this indulgence definitely at least verges on the healthy side of things. I honestly wouldn't feel guilty about eating one for breakfast, especially when I used to consider a vanilla iced coffee and a chocolate chip cookie an acceptable morning meal.

I also would like to offer the argument that since this is a dessert made for two, the fact that there are no leftovers likely to tempt anyone into overindulging also contributes to the overall "healthiness" of the recipe.

rolled oats, toasted wheat germ, butter, minced pecans and brown sugar as mis en place for crisp topping

How to make this healthy apple crisp

First up, peel and dice your apples. Sprinkle them with the granulated sugar and spices and toss to coat. Allow to macerate for 20-30 minutes, or until juices have been released from the fruit. This will create a yummy syrup for the crisp.

apples that have been peeled, diced and are tossed with spices and sugar

While the apples are macerating, make your crisp. Use a fork or a pastry cutter to mix all dry ingredients together, then cut in the butter. If necessary, you can use your hands to rub the butter into the dry ingredients to get a crumbly texture.

healthy apple crisp topping in a grey pasta bowl with a silver fork on a white marble background

TIP: Some wheat germ comes pre-toasted. If your wheat germ is raw, toast it in a dry pan until it smells nutty. This will majorly enhance the delicious flavor that wheat germ brings to the table.

Apples that have been properly macerated in sugar in a metal bowl being tilted by a hand to show juices

Once the apples have released their juices, toss in the lemon juice, lemon zest and cornstarch. Butter your pan(s), then divide the apple filling evenly. Top with crisp topping and bake for about 30 minutes, or until your house smells heavenly, the apple syrup is bubbling and the tops are golden. Voila!

apples that have been macerated in sugar and spices with lemon zest in metal bowl

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I serve the apple crisp?

While it's perfectly acceptable to serve this delicious dessert as is, I highly recommend that you a.) serve it warm, and b.) dress it up with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of frozen yogurt.

Can I make this apple crisp vegan?

Sure thing! Just sub vegan butter or coconut oil for the butter.

healthy apple crisp for two in two mini cast iron skillets on a sheet tray ready to bake

Is there an alternative for the corn starch?

Sure! Just swap in twice the amount of either AP Flour or Tapioca Starch for the corn starch.

Can I make this gluten free?

Sure thing. While you'll miss out on the yumminess that is wheat germ, you can totally substitute an equivalent amount of ground flaxseed.

hero shot of two mini apple crisps in tiny cast iron skillets on a white background with three honeycrisp apples and three cinnamon sticks in the background and a gold and maroon autumn themed tea towel in the foreground

Want more healthy eating inspiration? Check out these other lighter recipes:

  • Homemade Pumpkin Spice Lattes
  • Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs

If you tried this recipe, please be sure to rate and review it below to let me know how it turned out. If you're looking for more recipe inspiration in your inbox, be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook for more yummy food ideas in your feed.

hero shot of two mini apple crisps in tiny cast iron skillets on a white background with three honeycrisp apples and three cinnamon sticks in the background and a gold and maroon autumn themed tea towel in the foreground

Healthy Apple Crisp for Two

If you're looking for something sweet to share with your honey tonight, look no further than this delicious and healthy apple crisp. With less than 2 tablespoons of sugar per serving and a crisp loaded with whole grain oats and wheat germ, you could even eat this for breakfast!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Macerating Time 20 mins
Total Time 1 hr
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 321 kcal

Equipment

  • Chef's Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Mixing Bowl
  • 2 Small Cast Iron Pans ~or~
  • 6" Cake Pan

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Apples firm and tart variety
  • 2 tablespoon Sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg freshly grated is preferred
  • 1 tablespoon Corn Starch
  • ½ Lemon zested and juiced

Crumble Topping

  • ¼ C Rolled Oats
  • 1 Tbsp Wheat Germ toasted
  • 2 teaspoon Brown Sugar
  • 2 teaspoon Butter cold, + more for greasing pan
  • 1 tablespoon Pecans minced

Instructions
 

  • Peel and medium dice the apples. In mixing bowl, sprinkle them with sugar and spices, then mix to coat. Allow apples to macerate for 20-30 minutes, until they have released their juices.
  • Make crumble by mixing together all ingredients with a fork. If necessary, use your hands to rub into crumbly pieces.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Butter your cooking pan. Add lemon juice, lemon zest and starch to apples. Stir to coat. Evenly distribute between pans. Top with crumble topping.
  • Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes, until top is golden and apples syrup is bubbling. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a squirt of whipped cream. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Vegan? Swap out coconut oil or vegan butter
  • Allergic to corn? Swap out ground flaxseed for the cornstarch
  • Any apples will work, but I prefer tart, firm varieties such as Fuji, Honeycrisp or Gravenstein

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 62gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 362mgFiber: 8gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 247IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Date Night, Dessert, Easy, Fruit, Healthy
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
« Sheet Pan Sausage with Fennel, Apples and Root Vegetables & a Creamy Dijon Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash and Apple Soup »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ChristinaS1 says

    September 28, 2022 at 5:43 pm

    Question: are you discarding the juice after maceration?

    Reply
    • Ash, The Grocery Addict says

      October 01, 2022 at 6:03 pm

      No ma'am! Keep all the yummy juices intact. 💛

      Reply

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Hey y'all! My name is Ashley, and I'm the Grocery Addict. I'm here to share my best time saving tips, money saving tricks and store bought grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. All of my recipes are designed for real, busy people - like you! - who want to eat healthy, homemade food on a tight budget. I can't wait to see you in the kitchen!

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