Healthy paleo apple crumble is the ultimate fall dessert. In this delicious version, walnuts and coconut sugar create a sweet, irresistible topping.
If I had to rate my favorite desserts, this healthy paleo apple crumble would be right up there in the top five (chocolate and cheesecake still win).
Every year, come October, I start making apple crumbles. Even if I didn’t like them, I would still make them, just for the amazing smell that fills my kitchen as they bake! Apples, vanilla, and cinnamon. These are the scents and flavors of fall. (Pumpkin too, of course.)
How do you make paleo apple crumble topping?
The classic topping is made of oats, flour, sugar, and cinnamon (my non-paleo apple crisp recipe topping contains oats). Cold butter is mixed in until the mixture becomes crumbly (hence the name of this dessert).
My version is easier and healthier. To achieve delightful crunch, I simply use chopped walnuts to top the apples. I mix the walnuts with melted butter, coconut sugar (which is optional, by the way, as I’ll explain later), vanilla and cinnamon. This crunchy topping is delicious and very healthy. Walnuts are a good source of good fats and of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols.
How to sweeten paleo apple crumble?
Classic recipes contain a lot of sugar. This is unnecessary. I think we’ve gotten used to adding tons of sugar to everything because it tastes good and it’s so cheap.
This healthy paleo apple crumble doesn’t even need to be sweetened. Unless you use tart apples (and you shouldn’t), the baked apples are very sweet, and the combination of their natural sweetness with the buttery topping is amazing. Apples are very healthy, and it’s a shame to spoil that with too much added sugar.
When I make this recipe, I often divide the mixture into two and make half with coconut sugar and half with no sugar at all. My husband and I find the unsweetened version much more palatable. But my kids do prefer the slightly sweetened version.
If you do want to sweeten your paleo apple crumble, 2 tablespoons of coconut sugar are plenty. You can also use brown sugar, honey, maple syrup or a low-carb sweetener.
What apples to use in this paleo apple crumble?
You should use fresh, crisp apples such as Fuji. Don’t use a soft apple variety such as Macintosh – they will become mushy when baked. And yes, you should peel the apples. The skin will interfere with the crumble’s texture.
How do you core an apple, anyway?
I admit that I own an apple corer (got it on Amazon). I’m not proud of it – I try to avoid buying kitchen unitaskers. But this is one gadget that I actually use quite a bit. If you don’t own an apple corer, simply peel the apple, cut it in half, then cut each half into two quarters, cutting around the core. Or use a small spoon to scoop the core out of each half as shown in method 3 here.
Paleo Apple Crumble
INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium Fuji apples, peeled, cored and sliced into ½-inch-thick slices
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar (or brown sugar/ honey/ low-carb sweetener*)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Layer the apple slices in a square 9-inch baking dish, in one or two layers. You can also use four individual baking dishes.
- In a medium bowl, using a fork, mix together the chopped walnuts, melted butter, cinnamon, vanilla and coconut sugar.
- Using a rubber spatula, pour the mixture over the apples, spreading it evenly.
- Bake the coated apples until the walnut topping is golden and the apples are tender, about 30 minutes.
- Divide the apple crumble among four plates. Drizzle with the pan juices and serve.
NOTES
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a healthy real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken 