Sugar-Free Vegan Apple Crumble
This sugar-free vegan apple crumble is a delightful dessert that combines tender, spiced apples with a crispy, golden topping, all without any dairy, eggs, or refined sugar. It’s a comforting, guilt-free treat that’s easy to make and perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth with wholesome, plant-based ingredients.
This is such a simple healthy apple dessert recipe that I’m betting you will be making it on a regular basis. Delicious and served as breakfast or even dessert, this sugar-free apple crumble is going to be a new favorite.
We have other delicious healthy recipes on this website like my easy blueberry peach crisp, this dairy-free and egg-free pumpkin pie, and our amazing applesauce dairy-free muffins.
Reasons you will love this dessert
- Naturally Sweetened: This sugar-free vegan apple crumble is naturally sweetened with fresh apples and dates, offering a perfectly sweet treat without any refined sugars.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this vegan apple crumble is easy to prepare, making it a perfect choice for a healthy breakfast, delicious dessert, or a cozy weeknight treat.
- Warm and Comforting Flavor: The combination of tender, spiced apples and a crunchy oat topping creates a warm, comforting flavor that’s perfect for any season, especially fall.
Ingredients you will need
- Apples- My favorites are Red Delicious, Gala, and Pink Lady. Green apples are also great and will make this tartier.
- Medjool dates- They provide a rich, natural sweetness that enhances the flavor without the need for refined sugars. They also add a hint of caramel-like flavor and contribute moisture, helping to create a soft, chewy texture in the crumble topping.
- Oats- Add a hearty, chewy texture and a delicious crunch that contrasts perfectly with the soft, tender apples.
- Banana- Provides a creamy texture and enhances the crumble’s flavor with a subtle hint of fruitiness, making the dessert both nutritious and delicious.
- Spices- Cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla create a warm and delicious flavor.
How to make sugar-free vegan apple crumble
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
STEP #1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Choose 3 large apples to use and dice them into 1″ chunks. Once they are diced, they should equal approximately 5 cups but don’t fret if it’s a little under or over.
I am often asked which knives I use personally, and I have to say that it is Victorinox. They are the same company that makes Swiss Army Knives and the quality is excellent.
STEP #2: To make date paste, simply place 5 large dates in about 1/2 cup of warm water in your blender and process until smooth.
If you don’t have a higher-power blender such as a Vitamix, you might want to soak the dates for about 30 minutes first.
STEP #3: The filling for this recipe is as simple as placing all of the filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stirring well to coat the apple chunks well with the spices and sweetener.
STEP #4: Once the apples and raisins are covered nicely with the other ingredients, pour them into a baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
STEP #5: To make the oat topping, you will only need a few ingredients–vanilla, shredded coconut (optional), cinnamon, nutmeg, oats, and salt (optional).
Begin by using a fork or potato masher to mash up a very ripe banana. Next, stir in the other topping ingredients and mix thoroughly.
STEP #6: Add the oaty mixture to the top of the apple filling in the baking pan and spread it evenly. Don’t stir this up because you want the topping to actually stay on the top. Add a few extra slices of apple for garnish if desired.
Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, place a lid or foil over the top and bake for another 10 minutes. This means the total cooking time should be around 30 minutes.
Check it, and see if the apples are nice and soft. If they aren’t allow it to cook another 5-10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Serve when it is still a little warm.
If you love this crumble topping then I bet you’re a granola-lover like me. We have several terrific oil-free granola recipes on this website including this gluten-free granola recipe, our peanut butter granola cereal, and these healthy granola bars.
*Originally published September 2015
Your Questions Answered:
You could use any type of apples you have on hand. My favorites are Red Delicious, Gala, and Pink Lady. Green apples are also great and will make this tartier.
That’s a personal choice. I love to leave the peelings on to add even more fiber, but either way works.
I use a round 9″ glass pie pan. Other options would be 8″x 8″ or 9″x 9″ square pans or even an 11″x 7″ rectangle pan.
It will last for about 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To maintain its best texture, reheat it in the oven before serving to restore the crispiness of the topping. If you want to store it longer, you can freeze apple crumble for up to 3 months.
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Vegan Apple Crumble
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 large apples diced into 1" chunks
- 5 large Medjool dates chopped, (or 1/2 cup date paste. See notes above for making date paste )
- 1/4 cup maple syrup agave nectar, date syrup, etc.
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup walnuts chopped, (optional)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping
- 1 large banana very ripe
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 tablespoons shredded coconut (optional)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 1 cup rolled oats
Instructions
Filling
- Begin by preheating the oven to 350°F.
- Next, choose 3 large apples to use and dice them into 1″ chunks. Once they are diced, they should equal approximately 5 cups, but don’t fret if it’s a little under or over.
- Make the date paste. To make date paste, simply place 5 large dates in about 1/2 cup warm water in your blender and process until smooth. If you don’t have a higher power blender such as a Vitamix, you might want to soak the dates for about 30 minutes first.
- Making the filling for this recipe is as simple as placing all of the filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stirring well to coat the apple chunks well with the spices and sweetener.
- Once the apples and raisins are covered nicely with the other ingredients, pour them into a baking dish that has been lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Make the topping using the instructions below. Add the oaty mixture to the top of the apple filling in the baking pan and spread it evenly. Don’t stir this up because you want the topping to actually stay on the top. Add a few extra slices of apple for garnish if desired.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, place a lid or foil over the top and bake another 10 minutes. This means the total cooking time should be around 30 minutes.
- Check it, and see if the apples are nice and soft. If they aren’t allow it to cook another 5-10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Serve when it is still a little warm.
Topping
- Begin by using a fork or potato masher to mash up a very ripe banana. Next, stir in the other topping ingredients and mix thoroughly. Use to top the apple crumble in step #6 above.
Video
Notes
- Apples- You could use any type of apples you have on hand. My favorites are Red Delicious, Gala, and Pink Lady. Green apples are also great and will make this tartier.
- Pan size- I use a round 9" glass pie pan. Other options would be 8"x 8" or 9"x 9" square pans or even an 11"x 7" rectangle pan.
- Storage- It will last for about 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To maintain its best texture, reheat it in the oven before serving to restore the crispiness of the topping. If you want to store it longer, you can freeze apple crumble for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
The carbs are far to high for one serving 80
This is delicious! I doubled the recipe since we have a honey crisp apple tree. Followed the recipe in the exception of chopping up 3/4 of the oats so they were a little smoother. Yum, yum, yum! ? I wish I could post a photo! 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
How wonderful to hear! Thanks so much for the great comment, and I’m SO glad you enjoyed the recipe. 😀