Low-Calorie Apple Crisp

Low-Calorie Apple Crisp on a plate

The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings

The tart Granny Smith apples in this low-calorie baked apple crisp are complimented nicely by a sweet crumb topping. The crisp Granny Smith variety of apples is used in this recipe because they hold up well during cooking and their tartness is a good foil for the other ingredients in this classic dessert.

If you don't have Granny Smith apples available, other alternatives that hold up well in this recipe include Honeycrisp, sweet and tart Pink Lady apples, or Jonagold apples. Try out a few different types of apples to see which work best for you.

This apple crisp makes a superb fall treat when apples are at their peak and are their freshest. Be sure to serve the apple crisp immediately after removing it from the oven. Top with a bit of cool and creamy vanilla frozen yogurt for a little contrast.

“I really enjoyed this healthier version of an apple crisp, and would recommend making it in season to get the most flavorful apples. Feel free to add your own spice blend to it, any warm spices would do well to make this unique and delicious.” —Tracy Wilk

apple crisp/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • 4 cups peeled, cored, coarsely chopped Granny Smith apples, about 3 to 4 medium apples

  • 3/4 cup rolled oats

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Low-Calorie Apple Crisp ingredients

    The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 350 F. Coat an 11 x 7-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

    baking dish greased with cooking spray

    The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

  3. Place the apples evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

    apple pieces in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

  4. In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, melted butter, granulated sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt until the mixture resembles cornmeal.

    crumble topping mixed in a bowl

    The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

  5. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.

    apples covered in the topping in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

  6. Bake the crisp until the topping becomes lightly browned and the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 30 minutes. Remove the crisp from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes until it is easy to portion out of the baking dish. Serve warm.

    Low-Calorie Apple Crisp in a baking dish

    The Spruce / Tara Omidvar

Recipe Variations

  • To make this crisp gluten-free, swap the flour for a gluten-free flour blend or almond flour. Make sure you use gluten-free oats.
  • Try adding a few other spices like nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.
  • If you'd like a sweeter crisp but want to keep the added sugar low, use a sweeter variety of apple like Honeycrisp.
  • You can swap the sugars for natural, sugar-free granulated sweeteners.

What Can You Substitute for Butter in Apple Crisp?

Vegan butter or margarine is a good swap for butter in an apple crisp, making the dish dairy-free and oftentimes vegan. You can also substitute coconut oil for the butter, which acts in a similar way to butter but adds a bit of tropical flavor. For a healthier option, swap up to half of the butter for canola oil.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
118 Calories
4g Fat
20g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 118
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 75mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 104mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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