This Paleo Apple Crisp Tastes Like Fall (Without the Guilt!)

If you’re craving a warm, cozy dessert but want to skip the sugar crash, this Paleo Apple Crisp is about to become your new favorite treat. We’ve ditched all the usual offenders—no wheat flour, no refined sugar—and swapped in wholesome, nutrient-packed ingredients instead.

The crisp topping? It’s made with a mix of almond flour and coconut flour, so it’s totally gluten-free, grain-free, and way more blood sugar-friendly than your typical flour. Instead of the usual overload of sugar, we use a smaller amount of coconut sugar, which has a little nutritional value (plus, it gives that perfect caramel-y flavor). No sugar bomb here—just delicious, satisfying goodness.

Here’s how to whip it up:

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

For the apple filling:

• 5 McIntosh apples (or your favorite variety)

• Zest of 1 orange

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice

• 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp ground nutmeg

For the topping:

• ¾ cup almond flour

• ¾ cup coconut flour

• ½ cup coconut sugar**

• ½ tsp sea salt

• ¾ cup organic coconut flakes

• ½ lb cold pasture-raised butter, diced

Optional twist: Toss in a handful of chopped pecans for a nutty crunch.

Lower-sugar option: Cut the coconut sugar in half and toss in a couple of stevia packets if you want to dial things down even more.

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.

2. Grease a 9×14-inch baking dish with butter.

3. Peel, core, and slice your apples into thick wedges.

4. In a big bowl, mix the apples with the citrus zest, juices, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into the baking dish.

5. In another bowl, mix the almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, salt, and coconut flakes.

6. Add in the cold diced butter and use a pastry cutter (or your hands, if you’re feeling rustic) to work it in until the mixture looks like little pea-sized crumbs.

7. Sprinkle that buttery topping evenly over the apples.

8. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the top is golden and the apples are bubbling.

Serve it warm… and if you really want to take it to the next level, top it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream (pasture-raised, of course).

I seriously love pairing a slice of this with my morning coffee—yes, dessert for breakfast is a vibe when it’s this healthy.