This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Healthy Apple Cobbler is easy to make from scratch and is the perfect for dessert! Made gluten-free and with no refined sugar, this dessert features fresh juicy apples and lots of naturally sweet flavor. Add a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on top, and you’re set!
The most delicious baked apple dessert
Who here is an apple dessert lover? I know for me, I’ll take anything and everything that includes ripe, juicy apples. Apple pies? Yes. Apple cakes? Yes. Apple cobblers? Double yes. If it has apples, I want to try it!
Though, I’m sure this is obvious as evidenced by the many apple recipes on my website (and yes, for those of you wondering, that includes many apple pie recipes).
For this recipe, however, I’m taking a note from childhood and whipping up a delicious apple cobbler that’s undeniably flavorful and delicious. It’s easy to make, consists of only two parts, and is totally worth every second of prep time. Grab your honey crisp apples, and let’s get started!
Ingredients in apple crumble cobbler
This recipe consists of two sections: the apple filling and the crumbly top layer. For each part you’ll use a number of ingredients chosen to provide the most flavor and the most nutrients. I stuck to ingredients that were as whole as possible in order to create a healthier apple cobbler option!
Apple Filling:
- Apples (I used honey crisp)
- Lemon juice
- Maple syrup
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Cobbler Topping:
- Rolled oats
- Almond flour
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Maple syrup
- Coconut oil (melted)
Tools needed for this recipe
Though a simple recipe, you will need a good number of kitchen tools in order to prepare all of the ingredients properly. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:
- Baking dish
- Nonstick spray
- Cutting board
- Knife (or vegetable slicer)
- Two mixing bowls
- Stirring utensil
- Aluminum foil
For measuring, you will need the following sizes: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make healthy apple cobbler
Healthy apple cobbler doesn’t require a baking degree. In fact, it’s so simple that when you make it once, you can probably make it again with your eyes closed! It essentially involves simply slicing the apples, mixing them with other ingredients, and making the crumble. Then, just bake!
First, preheat the oven to 350F and grease a baking dish. I used an 11×8 pan, but any size will work.
Next, peel, core, and slice the apples to about 1/8 inch thick per slice.
Toss the slices in a mixing bowl with the lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and arrowroot powder. Then, set aside while preparing the crumble.
In a bowl, mix the oats, almond flour, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Pour in the maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Stir until well combined.
Pour the apples into the greased baking dish, including the liquid in the bottom of the bowl.
Add dollops of the cobbler mixture onto the apples, evenly dispersing and covering as much of the top as possible.
Bake for 45 minutes. If the top starts to brown too early, cover with aluminum foil.
Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream!
What to serve with cobbler
We serve our healthy apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream. The coldness pairs perfectly with the warmth of the cobbler… it’s basically a cozy hug in a bowl!
Don’t forget to add whipped cream or even a caramel drizzle for extra happiness.
How to store leftover apple cobbler
I recommend enjoying apple cobbler within 4 hours of removing from the oven for the best taste! However, you may have extras. These leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator, either in a sealed container or in the original baking dish with aluminum foil on top.
For best results, heat up individual leftovers in the microwave before enjoying.
More apple desserts to try
Can’t get enough of apple dishes this time of year? I can’t either! Here are some delicious recipes to satisfy all of your apple cravings. Enjoy!
Healthy Apple Cobbler Recipe
Healthy Apple Cobbler is easy to make from scratch and is the perfect for dessert! Made gluten-free and with no refined sugar, this dessert features fresh juicy apples and lots of naturally sweet flavor. Add a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on top, and you’re set!
Ingredients
Apple filling
- 6 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced thin (I used Honeycrisp)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
Cobbler topping:
- 1 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 2 cups almond flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a baking dish. I used an 11×8 pan.
- Peel, core, and slice your apples about 1/8 inch thick.
- Toss slices in mixing bowl with lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and arrowroot powder. Set aside while preparing crumble.
- In a bowl, mix together oats, almond flour, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Pour in maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Stir until well combined.
- Pour apples into greased baking dish, including the liquid in the bottom of the bowl.
- Add dollops of cobbler mixture onto apples, evenly dispersing and covering as much of the top as possible.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, covering top halfway through with aluminum foil if starting to brown.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Casey Cruz says
Such a delicious recipe. My husband tried and it thought it had a ton butter in it because it tasted so good. Healthy and you would never know it! Thank you, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, so happy you both loved it! ๐
Rena says
Iโve made the cobbler 2x this year and WOW! Itโs such a delicious recipe. Also added raisins and chopped pecans to the filling and finished with DF vanilla ice cream on topโฆwhat a crowd pleaser. ๐คฉ
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rena, so happy you loved them and yum those additions sound so good!!
Joya Light says
This is absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS!!! I don’t eat wheat, dairy or sugar. The only sweetener I can use is Maple Syrup so this was a real gift!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Joya, so happy you loved it!!
Star says
I made this and it is delicious. Not sure what happened with someone else who said it wasn’t good, BUT I loved it. It’s deliciously healthy. Thanks so much for sharing.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi, so happy you loved it! ๐
Karen says
My GF family LOVED it even before we ate it. The aroma is intoxicating as it bakes. I used our neighborhood apples that were perfect and the almond flour added a richness to the cobbler topping that is is out of this world. โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Karen, so happy the cobbler was such a big hit!! ๐
Julie says
AMAZING! Had to stop myself from eating it all in one sitting!
Erin says
Hi Julie, so glad you loved it!!
Honestie says
Itโs ok- I made this based on all the reviews but itโs not that great. Just being honest
★★
Erin says
Hi, I’m sorry that you did not like the recipe! I’ve heard tons of good things about this one, bummed it didn’t work out for you!
tricy says
Um, can I rate this higher than 5 stars? My favorite part (besides the simplicity & use of whole, natural ingredients) was that thick, crispy crumble/crust/cobbley(?) layer on top. SO GOOD. I halved the recipe thinking itโd be plenty for my little family of 3, but I wonโt be making that mistake again since we pretty much polished off our 8×8 in one sitting. Ha. Thanks so much for sharing, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tricy, so happy everyone loved it so much!! ๐
Hannah says
I made this for Thanksgiving this year, and it was THE greatest hit I’ve had with healthier/GF/semi-paleo baking. The two people I can never seem to impress are my teenage brother and my husband. My brother had 3 servings in a row and asked for us to leave leftovers. My husband enjoyed the rest of the leftovers the next day and said it was the best cobbler he’s had. The only thing I did differently was substitute butter for the coconut oil because I didn’t have refined coconut oil and I thought it would go over much better with them – it did!
Looks like I’ve found a new dessert to throw into the mix for Thanksgiving!! Thanks so much for perfecting this, it truly is incredible.
Wondering if I can swap out the apples for pears/strawberries/blueberries for other occasions but leave the rest of the recipe as is?
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, I am thrilled you loved it so much and so did your family!! Thanks for your kind words and yes, you can definitely change out the fruit! Let me know how they all come out!
Sydney says
Made this for a friendsgiving and it was a huge hit! The apple to topping ratio is perfect, we served it with vanilla ice cream.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sydney, I am so glad everyone liked it! ๐
R Sokoloff says
Where does the make syrup go? Into the apple mixture or into the crumble mixture. It seems to be referenced 2 times in the instructions
Erin says
Hi, the syrup is required in both places for the apple filling and cobbler topping. Let me know how yours comes out!!
Kim says
I love this recipe- so simple and beyond delicious! I specifically appreciate that the topping covers the whole dish so you get crisp topping in every single bite!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kim, I am so glad you loved it!!
Mimi says
Itโs cooler now in SoCal so I was in the mood for a cobbler. This recipe doesnโt disappoint! So delicious!! I plan on making it for Thanksgiving โค๏ธ
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Mimi, so glad you loved it and great idea!! ๐
Emily says
One of the best apple cobblers I have ever made! We had so many apples left over so I decided to whip this recipe up and it was a hit in my family!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emily, so happy you and your family loved it!!
grace says
what can i use in place of arrowroot powder
Erin says
Hi Grace, you can use cornstarch instead. Let me know how it comes out!
Kendra Luciano says
10 out of freaking 10!!! The ingredients are so clean and SO delicious… Win Win!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kendra, so happy you loved it!!
Ali Davidson says
Such a good take on a classic fall treat! Super easy to throw together and it makes your house smell amazing (seriously amazing!!!)
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ali, so glad you loved it so much!!
Fawn Johnson says
Thank you for the great recipe, made it tonight and also added soaked raisins and added less maple syrup ( as I have issues with too much sweets in my diet…….. it was great, my whole family loved it ( I even doubled the recipe)…….. and its gluten free and low Carb. Perfect for my health issues.
Erin says
Hi Fawn, so happy you enjoyed it and great idea!! ๐
Ximena H says
It looks perfect, iโll make it soon, but can i substitute the coconut oil?
Thanks ๐
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ximena, yes! I haven’t used another oil but feel free to use whatever oil you’d like and let me know how your cobbler comes out!
Ana says
I made this apple cobbler a bunch of times now and my family and I LOVE it!
I do slice the apples in little cubes though, since I love how it turns out that way and if I don’t have maple syrup, I heat up 2/3 cup of coconut sugar with 2/3 cup of water until it dissolves and then mix it with rest and let it sit for about 5min, until the oats absorb the extra fluid. Just a kind recommendation, should someone need it. ๐
But seriously though, you must make this!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ana, I am so happy you and your family enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!!