Healthy Apple & Plum Crisp (Maple Oat Nut Topping)
Apples thicken, plums bring tang, and an oat walnut blanket turns bubbly fruit into a comforting healthy apple and plum crisp – easy, simple and without refined sugar. While rolled oats and nuts bake into a crunchy golden crumble topping, the maple sugar caramelizes the fruit inside. If you love fresh fruit desserts but prefer clean ingredients (easily customized into gluten and dairy free), this crisp is about to be your new end of summer/fall favorite.
Why This Apple & Plum Crisp is Worth Trying
- Oats = Crisp, Not Crumble: Rolled oats and walnuts give that signature crunchy texture.
- No Refined Sugar: Maple sugar makes it moderately sweet and lets the fruit’s flavor shine.
- Two-Fruit combination: Apples provide body, plums add falvorful tartness.
- Summer-to-Fall Sweet Spot: Great for enjoying juicy plums and apples, then to slide into other varieties with my Peach Crisp or a cozy Apple-Blueberry Oat Crumble.
- Gluten & Dairy Free Friendly: Easy swaps keep everyone happy.
Ingredients for the Fruit Filling
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gala apples (crisp texture and mellow sweetness) | 2 large, sliced thin | Any sweet-tart apple works. |
| Plums (black, purple, red, or yellow colored skin. They all work well. ) | 5–6 medium, sliced | Leave skins on for color. |
| Maple sugar (not syrup) | 4 Tbsp | Or coconut sugar/brown sugar. |
| Arrowroot flour (or any starchy flour) | 2 Tbsp | Thickens juices. |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp | Warm spice for flavor depth and aroma |
| Lemon juice | 1 Tbsp (optional) | Brighten if plums are extra sweet. |
Oat-Nut Topping Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Swap Ideas |
|---|
| Rolled oats (not steel cut or quick oats) | 1 cup | Use gluten free organic rolled oats if needed. |
| All-purpose flour | ⅓ cup | Use GF blend or almond flour. |
| Walnuts/pecans | ½ cup, crushed | Almonds work too. |
| Cold/frozen butter | 6 Tbsp | Coconut oil or Miyoko’s butter for dairy free/vegan. |
| Maple sugar (not syrup) | ⅓ cup | Coconut sugar or brown sugar works. |
| Cinnamon | ¾ tsp |
| Cardamom | ½ tsp | Optional but lovely. |
See detailed measurements and instructions in the recipe card:
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Make Oat-Nut Topping
- Before you start, place your butter in the freezer for at least 1 hour (for easy grating).
- Grate frozen butter into flour; add the spices, sugar, crushed walnuts and rolled oats, mix by hand or with a spatula until combined. For step-by-step instructions and extra tips see my crumble topping recipe. If you have a food processor (easier method): add the cold (frozen) butter and the flour to the bowl of the food processor and pulse the mixture until you have a chunky / crumb like mixture. Then add the rest and gently mix to combine by hand.
Pro Tip
If you prefer a clumpy crumble topping (instead of a sandy texture) then after mixing everything, let it sit at room temperature for 5-8 minutes ant then use your hand to clutch and squash the mixture. The heat from your hand will help create lumps.
Step 2. Prep Filling
- Peel and slice your apples and plums into thin pieces.
- Toss apple and plum slices with maple sugar, cinnamon, arrowroot, and lemon juice right in a 9-inch square baking dish (non-stick ceramic). Spread evenly.
Step 3. Assemble and Bake
- Scatter oat topping over fruit. Bake at 360 °F for 35–38 min until fruit bubbles and topping is golden.
Step 4. Cool and serve!
- Remove the apple and plum crisp from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving. This will help the flavors to meld together and the crumble to set a bit. Rest 10 minutes; enjoy warm or room temp with a scoop of ice cream. By the way I have a cherry-plum flavor of whole30 ice cream recipe – check it out!
- Serve with a glass of dessert wine/ a cool glass of homemade green tea lemonade or a hot cup of chamomile tea for a cozy, delicious after dinner treat.
Apple And Plum Crisp With Oats Recipe
Ingredients
Apple And Plum Filling
- 2 large apples - I used Gala
- 5-6 medium plums
- 4 tbsp maple sugar - or other granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp arrowroot flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice - optional (if the plums are too sweet)
Crumble Oat Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour - for gluten free see notes
- ½ cup walnuts or pecans - crushed
- 6 tbsp butter - for dairy free / vegan see notes
- ⅓ cup maple sugar - or your favorite granulated sugar
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cardamom
Instructions
Step 1. Make the crumble topping
- Before you start, place your butter in the freezer for at least 1 hour.
- If you have a food processor: add the cold (frozen) butter and the flour to the bowl of a food processor and pulse the mixture until you have a chunky / crumb like mixture.
- To the butter and flour mixture, add the spices, sugar, crushed walnuts and rolled oats, mix by hand or with a spatula until combined. For step-by-step instructions and extra tips see my crumble topping recipe.
- If you prefer a clumpy topping (instead of a sandy texture) then after mixing everything let it sit at room temperature for 5-8 minutes ant then use your hand to clutch and squash the mixture. The heat from your hand will help create lumps.
Step 2. Prepare the filling
- Chop the apples and the plums into thin wedges. In the backing pan (I used a non-stick 9-inch square pan) add the sliced apples and the plums, maple sugar, cinnamon and flour and and toss to coat. I used the same pan for mixing that I’m using for baking (to reduce the dirty dishes).
- Spread the apple and plum filling in an even layer.
Step 3. Assemble the apple and plum crisp and bake
- Preheat the oven to 360°F.
- Scatter the oat crumb evenly over the surface of the apple and plum layer.
- Bake in the oven for ~38-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown. Optional: Tent foil at minute 25 if topping browns too quickly.
- Once it’s crisp and golden remove from oven and let it cool.Serve it warm, cold or room temperature with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
What You Need
Notes
TIPS
- Make It Gluten Free: replace the flour with a gluten free flour mix and use gluten free oats.
- Make It Dairy Free And Vegan: use vegan butter / coconut oil;
- Make It Without Oats: just remove the oats from the recipe and add more flour and nuts to replace the oatmeal. Alternatively you can use whole grain flours like sorghum flour and brown rice, or almond flour for a grain free version.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Pro Tips for a Jammy Filling & Crunchy Top
- Slice apples thinner than plums so both fruits soften together.
- Tent foil at minute 25 if topping browns too quickly.
- For bigger clusters, press topping gently before baking.
Flavor Variations & Dietary Swaps
Gluten-Free Crisp: Replace flour with almond flour or 1:1 GF blend.
Nut-Free: Skip walnuts, add sunflower seeds/ flax seeds/tigernut slices.
More apple combos: Try my Blackberry & Apple Crisp for a darker, jammy variation.
Storage & Freezer Tips
| Method | How Long | Reheat |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge | 3-4 days | 300 °F oven, 10 minutes |
| Freezer | 2 months (unbaked) | Bake from frozen + add 10 min |
Baked This apple and plum crisp? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Tap ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ to rate it or leave a quick comment below! your feedback helps other readers (and keeps me creating new treats).
FAQs
No. The skin keeps the plums from disintegrating, especially when they are really ripe. Plus the skins soften in the oven and add color.
Sure, just remove the oats from the recipe and add more flour and nuts to replace the oatmeal. Alternatively you can use whole grain flours like sorghum flour and brown rice or almond flour for a grain free version.
A crisp includes oats or nuts; a crumble is typically just butter, flour, and sugar.
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I love how this recipe uses natural sweetener in moderate quantities without affecting your blood sugar. Thanks for inspiration!
You’re welcome! Enjoy more often then!
I had a ton of plums and now I know how to use them purposefully. They started to go bad and this is a perfect fruit dessert for using them. Loved it, thank you!
Thank you! I’m glad you tried it!