I know what you’re thinking. The best apple crisp, really?

Friends, I know this is a big claim, but I’ve had a lot of apple crisps in my life and know this one tops them all! I have a discerning palette when it comes to dessert, trust me.

I cannot wait to share this recipe with you. It’s perfect for fall and winter and will make you so many friends if you bring it along to holiday gatherings. Let’s get to it!

This recipe is simple, requiring just 1 bowl to prepare and simple ingredients you likely have right now. Since September, I’ve had a bowl of apples lying around constantly, which is a little dangerous now that I have this recipe on hand.

Think apple crisp once a week. Yeah, that’s probably going to happen all winter long.

This isn’t the healthiest apple crisp, but it does have some pretty amazing things going for it.

For one, it’s naturally sweetened with muscovado and coconut sugar. It’s also vegan butter-free, and uses coconut oil (or olive oil) instead.

It’s also gluten-free optional when you use a gluten-free flour blend in place of the unbleached all purpose.

The filling is perfect. Apples are generously coated with coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh ginger. Apple juice adds extra sweetness and helps cook the apples to tender perfection, while arrowroot and cornstarch help create a thick, caramel-like sauce.

The topping is amazing as well with plenty of texture from rolled oats, almond meal, and chopped pecans. Muscovado and coconut sugar add sweetness, while cinnamon adds warmth and autumnal flavor.

Friends, this truly is the best vegan apple crisp! It’s:

Tender

Warm

Comforting

Perfectly sweet

Subtly spiced

Perfect for fall + the holidays

& Insanely delicious

I made this for the first time for a group of friends and everyone was silent as we savored those first few bites. Imagine tender, perfectly sweet apples in a caramel-like sauce, under perfectly crisp, pecan-oat topping. I can barely describe how delicious it is. You absolutely must experience it for yourself!

One friend, who considers himself an apple crisp aficionado, admitted that this version was better than his mom’s famous recipe. That’s a high compliment if you ask me.

If you give this crisp a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!