My Healthy Apple Cobbler is a cozy, from-scratch fall dessert made with juicy cinnamon apples and a golden oat and almond flour topping, sweetened with just maple syrup. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and has no refined sugar, and it's a must-make every apple season right alongside my healthier apple crisp and best apple crumble.
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Easy Gluten-Free Apple Cobbler
There's nothing like the smell of cinnamon apples baking on a chilly fall night, and this healthy apple cobbler is the dessert my family asks for the second apple season hits. Thinly sliced Honeycrisp apples get tossed in maple syrup, cinnamon, and a squeeze of lemon, then topped with a buttery-tasting oat and almond flour crumble. That's it! No refined sugar and no all-purpose flour.
The best part? It tastes every bit as cozy as a classic cobbler, but it's made with simple, wholesome ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Serve it warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it disappear. If you love apple desserts as much as I do, you'll want to try my healthy apple pie bars too.
It's perfect for Thanksgiving, fall potlucks, or a cozy weeknight treat, and it feeds a crowd. And if you need more easy apple recipes like this one, you're going to LOVE my Healthy Mini Apple Pies or my Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No refined sugar. Maple syrup and sweet apples do all the work.
- Gluten-free and dairy-free. Almond flour, oats, and coconut oil keep it allergy-friendly without sacrificing flavor.
- Simple pantry ingredients. No fancy shopping trip required.
- Feeds a crowd. It makes 12 servings, perfect for holidays and potlucks.
- Classic cozy flavor. Warm cinnamon apples and a golden crumble topping taste just like the cobbler you grew up with.
Ingredients Needed To Make This Healthy Apple Cobbler
Here's a little bit about everything that goes into this healthy apple cobbler:
- Apples: Honeycrisp are my favorite because they're sweet, juicy, and hold their shape when baked. Slice them thin so they cook evenly.
- Maple syrup: Naturally sweetens both the apple filling and the topping; no refined sugar needed.
- Cinnamon: Gives the cobbler that classic warm, cozy apple pie flavor.
- Arrowroot powder: Thickens the apple juices so the filling isn't runny. Cornstarch works too.
- Rolled oats: Add a hearty, chewy texture to the cobbler topping. Use certified gluten-free oats to keep it gluten-free.
- Almond flour: Replaces all-purpose flour for a tender, gluten-free topping.
- Coconut oil: Melted coconut oil binds the topping and helps it bake up golden and crisp.
How to Make Healthy Apple Cobbler
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and greasing your baking dish. Thinly slice the apples, then toss them with lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and arrowroot powder. In a separate bowl, mix the oats, almond flour, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla, then stir in the maple syrup and melted coconut oil until it comes together.
Pour the apples and all those juices into the dish, then dollop the topping over the top, covering as much of the apples as you can. Bake until the apples are tender, and the topping is golden. Let it cool for a few minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream!
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 11x8 baking dish. Peel, core, and slice the apples about ⅛ inch thick.
- Step 2: In a mixing bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and arrowroot powder. Set aside. In another bowl, combine the oats, almond flour, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Step 3: Pour in the maple syrup and melted coconut oil and stir until well combined.
- Step 4: Transfer the apples and any liquid in the bowl to the prepared baking dish.
- Step 5: Dollop the cobbler topping evenly over the apples, covering as much of the surface as possible.
- Step 6: Bake for 45-50 minutes, covering the top with foil halfway through if it's browning too quickly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Erin's Expert Tips
From my kitchen to yours
- Slice the apples thin. About ⅛ inch thick helps them cook through evenly and turn perfectly tender.
- Tent with foil if needed. If the topping is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil halfway through baking.
- Let it cool before serving. A few minutes of rest helps the juices thicken, and it's best warm, not piping hot.
- Mix your apples. Combine sweet Honeycrisp with a tart Granny Smith for a more balanced flavor.
- Make it nut-free. Swap the almond flour for an equal amount of oat flour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions about this healthy apple cobbler.
Honeycrisp apples are my favorite because they're sweet and hold their shape when baked. Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Gala are also great options.
Yes! It's made with almond flour and rolled oats. Just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats, since regular oats can be cross-contaminated with wheat.
Cobbler traditionally has a biscuit or dough-style topping dropped over the fruit, while a crisp has a crumbly oat topping. This healthy version combines the two with a dolloped oat and almond flour topping.
Absolutely. Bake it up to a day ahead, store it covered in the fridge, and reheat in a 350°F oven before serving.
Honey works in place of maple syrup, though the cobbler won't be vegan. Coconut sugar can also be used in the topping.
It already is! The filling and topping are made with maple syrup, coconut oil, almond flour, and oats, so there's no butter, eggs, or dairy. Just serve it with dairy-free vanilla ice cream to keep the whole dessert vegan.
Storing leftovers
Store leftover apple cobbler covered in the fridge for up to 4 days, either in an airtight container or right in the baking dish with foil on top. To freeze, let it cool completely and freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, then thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or warm the whole dish in a 350°F oven until heated through.
If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!
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Healthy Apple Cobbler Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 large apples peeled, cored, and sliced thin (I used Honeycrisp)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats
- 2 cups almond flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅔ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut oil melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F and grease a baking dish. I used an 11x8 pan.
- Peel, core, and slice your apples about ⅛ 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.
- Slice the apples about ⅛ inch thin. This ensures they cook through evenly and become properly tender.
- Tenting with foil. If the topping starts browning too early, cover with aluminum foil halfway through baking to protect it.
- Let it cool before serving. It's best enjoyed warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, rather than hot straight from the oven.
Nutrition
Per serving. Nutrition is an estimate.
Leave a star rating below and tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Rate This RecipeRecipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
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! 🙂
Rena says
I’ve made the cobbler 2x this year and WOW! It’s such a delicious recipe. Also added raisins and chopped pecans to the filling and finished with DF vanilla ice cream on top…what a crowd pleaser. 🤩
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! 🙂
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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Erin says
Hi Karen, so happy the cobbler was such a big hit!! 🙂
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
It’s ok- I made this based on all the reviews but it’s 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 it’d be plenty for my little family of 3, but I won’t be making that mistake again since we pretty much polished off our 8x8 in one sitting. Ha. Thanks so much for sharing, Erin!
Erin says
Hi Tricy, so happy everyone loved it so much!! 🙂
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! 🙂
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
It’s cooler now in SoCal so I was in the mood for a cobbler. This recipe doesn’t disappoint! So delicious!! I plan on making it for Thanksgiving ❤️
Erin says
Hi Mimi, so glad you loved it and great idea!! 🙂
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!! 🙂
Ximena H says
It looks perfect, i’ll make it soon, but can i substitute the coconut oil?
Thanks 🙂
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. 🙂
But seriously though, you must make this!
Erin says
Hi Ana, I am so happy you and your family enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!!