Gluten Free Apple Pecan Crisp

This gluten free apple pecan crisp is one of my favorite fall desserts. It’s warm, sweet, and comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients.

The filling is made with Honeycrisp apples, which are naturally sweet and hold up really well when baked. A little maple syrup and cinnamon bring everything together perfectly.

The topping is the best part though. It’s made with oats, almond flour, and chopped pecans, so it gets perfectly crispy and golden in the oven.

And yes, this recipe is 100% gluten free. No wheat flour needed at all. If you’re avoiding gluten but still want a dessert that feels like a classic, this one is for you.

It’s great on its own, but even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Just saying.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s Naturally Gluten Free – This apple pecan crisp uses rolled oats and almond flour instead of regular flour, so you get all the comfort of a classic crisp without any gluten. No weird substitutions or hard-to-find ingredients needed.

Honeycrisp Apples Make It Extra Special – Honeycrisp apples are the perfect choice here because they hold their shape while baking and bring a sweet-tart flavor that pairs beautifully with the cinnamon and maple syrup filling.

The Pecan Topping Is Irresistible – Chopped pecans add a rich, buttery crunch to the oat topping that takes this crisp to another level. Once you try it, you won’t want an apple crisp without pecans ever again.

Sweetened with Maple Syrup – The filling uses real maple syrup instead of loads of refined sugar, which gives the apples a warm, natural sweetness that tastes so much better than the overly sugary versions out there.

Ingredients

For the Filling

• 5 large Honeycrisp Apples
• 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

For the Topping

• 1 cup Gluten Free Rolled Oats
• 1/2 cup Almond Flour
• 1/2 cup Chopped Pecans
• 1/3 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cup Cold Unsalted Butter

How to Make

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375F and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.

Step 2

Peel, core, and slice the honeycrisp apples into thin wedges. Toss them in a large bowl with maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice.

Step 3

Pour the coated apples evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Step 4

In a separate bowl, combine the gluten free rolled oats, almond flour, chopped pecans, and brown sugar.

Step 5

Cut the cold unsalted butter into small cubes and use your fingers to rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 6

Sprinkle the oat and pecan topping evenly over the apples in the baking dish.

Step 7

Bake for 35-40 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp and the apple filling is bubbling. Serve warm.

Helpful Tips

Use Certified Gluten Free Oats

Regular oats are often processed in facilities that also handle wheat, so they can have traces of gluten in them. For this recipe, make sure the rolled oats you grab are labeled certified gluten free on the package.

This is especially important if you’re cooking for someone with celiac disease or a serious gluten sensitivity. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference.

Slice Your Apples Thin and Even

Try to cut your apple wedges to about 1/4 inch thick and keep them roughly the same size. If some slices are thick and some are thin, the thin ones will turn to mush while the thick ones are still crunchy in the middle.

Even slices means everything cooks at the same rate, so you end up with apples that are soft and tender all the way through but not falling apart.

It takes a few extra minutes, but it’s worth it for a filling that actually comes out right.

Keep the Butter Really Cold

The butter needs to be cold when you work it into the dry topping ingredients. If it’s soft or room temperature, it will melt into the oats and almond flour and you’ll end up with a paste instead of a crumbly topping.

A good trick is to cut the butter into small cubes and put them back in the fridge for about 10 minutes before you start rubbing them into the dry mixture. This way the butter stays firm while you work with it.

That cold butter is what creates those chunky, crispy crumbles on top once it hits the oven.

You Might Also Like

• Gluten Free Caramel Apple Skillet Cookie
• Gluten Free Caramel Pecan Turtle Bars
• Gluten Free Maple Pecan Blondies
• Gluten Free Peach Cobbler
• Gluten Free Maple Pumpkin Bread

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different type of apple instead of Honeycrisp?

Yes, you can use other firm apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, or Pink Lady. Honeycrisp apples are recommended because they hold their shape well during baking and have a nice balance of sweet and tart flavor.

Try to avoid softer apples like McIntosh or Red Delicious, as they tend to turn mushy in the oven and won’t give you that satisfying bite in the filling.