Healthy Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

This Healthy Apple Crisp made in the slow cooker is a lightened up version of traditional apple crisp that is made right in the crockpot. It's easy, delicious, and I would venture to say can be eaten for breakfast or dessert.

Have you seen the honey crisp apples that are available right now? Around me they are amazing. Crisp and sweet and delicious. They are almost as good as the Macintosh apples I miss dearly from growing up in New England. And my favorite way to eat apples, apple crisp.

Normally apple crisp is loaded with butter – the recipes I looked at had over a stick – but this one is lightened up but still packed with flavor. This is a rift on a Weight Watchers recipe that ingeniously uses apple butter to mimic some of the richness from the butter and made a bit more healthy with whole wheat flour.

It also wouldn't be fair if I didn't tell you that I have been eating this for breakfast all week with yogurt. There is something so satisfying about warming up a bowl of healthy apple crisp, making a cup of coffee, and taking 15 minutes to relax and enjoy the morning. It's the perfect way to start the day and even though its a bit more sugar than I typically have in the morning, I balance it out with what I am eating the rest of the day.

Recipe Ideas for Healthy Apple Crisp

• When you are baking with apples, there are certain types to look for that will hold up better and not turn into mush. Generally, I look to use Honey Crisp, Jonagold, Braeburn, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Gala, Cortland, or Fuji.
• This recipe is delicious with pears, a combination of apples and pears, and even berries. If you decide to make a berry crisp, keep an eye on the cooking to make sure it doesn't completely disintegrate since berries cook faster than apples.
• This recipe can be made in the oven as well in the traditional way. Bake it at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes until the apples are tender and the liquid is bubbling.
• I love the richness that the apple butter adds to this recipe but you can leave it out if you don't have any on hand.
• Feel free to add nuts to the crisp if you like - pecans and walnuts are my favorite options. If you want to kick up the nutritional content a bit, you could also add some ground flaxseed or chia seeds.

How to Make a Healthy Apple Crisp Topping

There are a few different options when it comes to making a healthier topping for apple crisp. Since I still want all the classic flavor of a traditional crisp, I still like to make it with rolled oats, butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Basically, I just use less butter and sugar than is traditionally called for. The crisp topping still comes out crumbly and delicious, and you really want even miss the extra butter and sugar. 

Another option, if you want to make a crisp without refined sugars, is to substitute in maple syrup for the granulated white and brown sugar. The end product will have a delicious maple flavor but it will not be quite as crunchy as a version made with sugar.

For those looking to swap out the butter, my favorite substitution is to use coconut oil. You can use refined coconut oil if you don't want any coconut taste or unrefined if you want to taste the coconut flavor.

How long does apple crisp keep in the fridge?

Generally speaking, apple crisp will last 3-4 days in the fridge. Just store it in an airtight container. Reheat it in the microwave to warm before serving. It can also be frozen if you end up with extra leftovers. To defrost, just let it sit in the fridge overnight.

Looking for more healthy apple recipes?

• Low Carb Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
• Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
• Baked Apple Yogurt
• Apple Pie Smoothie

Here are some of the products I used when making this recipe.

• Slow Cooker: There are so many different slow cookers on the market but I personally use this one that allows me to brown, sear, or saute in the same pan. Plus I find the cooking temperature to be really even and consistent.
• Apple Butter: Apple butter is something I absolutely love so I usually buy this no-sugar added version since apple butter is sweet enough on its own. It's delicious with oatmeal, yogurt, toast, bagel thins, you name it. I also love cooking with it to make a simple apple sauce for pork and chicken dishes.

Calories 246, Total Fat 6g, Total Carbohydrate 49g, Protein 1g, Serving Size 1/8 recipe

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