Best Ever Healthy Apple Crisp With Ginger & Cranberries

This healthy apple crisp is pure cozy comfort for fall and the cold season. Tart and sweet, with warming spices and a nutty, crunchy topping.

If you love apple crisp and ginger like I do, you’ve got to give this dessert a try. A perfect combination of flavors and textures with warming spices that will feel like a big comforting hug on a blistery day. The scent alone will make you want to curl up with a blanket and get cozy in anticipation of this fantastic healthy and delicious treat. And did I mention that it’s super quick and easy and comes together in a hurry?

This clean eating treat is not too sweet and filled with wholesome ingredients, it’s great to eat anytime, even for breakfast. And you’ll support your health. 

Now’s the perfect time to bake up this awesome apple crisp and savor the scents that will fill your home and the flavors that will elicit delighted smiles from your loved ones!

If you love apples and healthy treats, you’ll love my Apple Pie Cheesecake Bars! For guilt-free indulgence give my Lemon Cheesecake Mousse a try. And for more fruity and healthy recipes, check out my amazing Blueberry Cheesecake Bars and Blackberry Cobbler, a purely cozy comfort food. For more healthy fall treats I recommend Sweet Potato Bread and Spicy Lemon Tahini Cookies. 

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Ginger Spice Healthy Apple Crisp With Cranberries

I recently got several bags of fresh apples from my awesome neighbor’s trees, and have been baking them up into delicious and healthy sweet treats. There is no way I could let apple season or fall pass by without making at least one batch of apple crisp. Apple crisp is so quick and easy and can fit neatly into even the busiest of days. The only thing that takes a bit of time is peeling and chopping the apples, but it certainly beats making a pie. 

And what communicates fall and apple season better than a delicious apple crisp with a scoop or ice cream or whipped cream. This will be a great treat for the months to come as the air gets chilly and the winds get blistery, snow starts to fall, and fires start crackling in fireplaces around the country (well, maybe not in Florida, but hey Southern friends, it’s awesome while you’re having a camp fire too, I promise!)

My Best Apple Crisp Recipe

So for many years I always used to make an apple crisp from my recipe box, that I originally found in an old Betty Crocker cookbook. And while it was delicious, there were a few things that I needed to change over time. First, it was way too sweet. Second, it was made with refined flour and sugar, and third, I wanted more flavor and texture.

So after making small changes here and there, I’ve arrived at my best apple crisp recipe that I’ll be sharing here. This is my favorite version and I think you will love it. I’ll also provide variations below, in case you can’t use one or another ingredient. 

This recipe is full of natural, wholesome ingredients, its subtle sweetness is not overpowering, but still makes this taste like a treat. My best apple crisp recipe uses unrefined sweeteners, fresh milled flour, and some gut-healthy and immune supporting ingredients.

This makes my apple crisp pretty healthy and qualifies it for being counted as a meal, like breakfast. And I don’t just say that to justify having it for breakfast now, lol. But seriously, it’s a lot healthier than a lot of conventional breakfasts out there. 

Why You’ll Love Ginger Spice Healthy Apple Crisp With Cranberries And Walnuts

• The most important reason is its awesome flavor! Call me biased, but I think this is the best darn apple crisp ever!

• It’s made with wholesome, unrefined, and healthy ingredients. 

• Apples are so great for your health, raw, baked or stewed. Apples are high in pectin, antioxidants, and fiber. You can leave the peels on for the most benefits. I had to remove mine, because they were kind of blotchy and not very appetizing, and I’d peel them too if they had been sprayed. Stewed apples are gut-healing, they are rich in polyphenols, vitamins and minerals to support your health and immune system. Apples can help control inflammation and protect from various chronic diseases. They can possibly support heart health, the digestive system, and protect the brain.   

• Ginger is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It is often used as a digestive aid and to help with stomach sickness. It is also a warming spice, which can be helpful during the cold season. I love to add ginger to my food and this was one of the first things I wanted to add to the basic recipe. Find more benefits of ginger in my articles Health Benefits Of Ginger Beer and Fermented Ginger Honey.

• Cranberries are known for their uterine tract support and they too are high in antioxidants and vitamins. Great for combatting chronic diseases and immune support. They contain proanthocyanidins, which can protect cells from damage by free radicals. Cranberries may help with heart health, digestive health, skin health, eye health, and may protect from cancer.

• Walnuts are high in omega 3 fatty acids, which can support the brain and cognitive functions and the heart. They are a prebiotic and rich in fiber, which can support gut health. They have anti-cancer properties and may reduce the risk for developing cancer. Walnuts have even been attributed with improving male reproductive health and increasing sperm quality. And they may help with anxiety and sleep disorders. 

• Oats are a good source of carbs and fiber, high quality protein, and essential amino acids. They are high in important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They may help with diabetes, lower cholesterol levels, might decrease childhood asthma, and improve gut health and digestion.

• Einkorn Flour adds a delicious nutty flavor, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and it can be tolerated by many who are sensitive to gluten. This ancient grain is low in gluten and the gluten does not contain the D-chromosome that causes problems in so many people. It is easier to digest and more useful for the body. Einkorn is lower in phytic acid compared with modern wheat, which makes the nutrients in the einkorn more bioavailable. It also contains higher levels of the phytase enzyme, which helps break down the phytic acid. So even without soaking or culturing, einkorn can be a super healthy substitute for modern wheat.

• Milling your own flour fresh at the point of use also ensures that it retains all the fiber, nutrients and vitamins to benefit your health. I can highly recommend grinding your own flour at home! Fresh milled whole grain has so many health benefits that are mostly stripped away when you buy pre-ground flour, even if it says whole wheat on the package.  

• Spices are not only great to improve the flavor of foods, they also are powerful agents of healthful substances. They are often high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, providing an additional boost for your immune system and healthy body functions. 

• Unrefined Sweeteners for more depth of flavor and for less detrimental effects on your blood sugar. We’ll use just a small amount here. I don’t like to dump a whole cup of sugar on a pan of already sweet apples. For one, it overpowers the natural flavor of the apples and other ingredients and it just adds an unnecessary burden on your body. If you find it not sweet enough, you can drizzle some maple syrup over it later or add a drizzle of caramel for a caramel apple crisp version.

• Salt often gets a bad rap, but unrefined sea salt actually contains essential trace minerals that are not found in many other foods. Salt is essential for our bodies and if we choose unrefined salts, we can be sure that we’re doing our health a great favor!

• This Apple crisp is a great way to appease your sweet tooth and sweet cravings without compromising your health and your health goals.

• Apple crisp is quick and easy. It’s a great excuse to bake a delicious dessert even when you’re busy. While you’re prepping your apples for canning, set aside a panful and throw the healthy oat and nut topping on it, stick it in the oven and it’ll be done when your apple jars are in the canner and getting preserved. Great time for a little sweet treat!

• Always a hit at parties and potlucks! You’ll be popular if you’re serving this at a party! And you’ll make the room smell so amazing and cozy! 

• Make your food count without giving up treats! If you love sweet treats but you’re trying to eat healthy, this is your way to have it all. No-guilt indulgence and knowing that your body benefits from this nutrient-dense dessert.

Sources: Walnuts, Cranberries, Apples, Oats

Disclaimer: The material and nutritional notes on this site are intended to be for general informational use and are not intended to constitute medical advice, medical diagnosis, or medical treatment. You should consult your physician or other health care professional before making any changes in your diet. All health claims are not to be used as facts and I am not responsible for misuse of this information. 

So let’s get into the recipe!

How To Make Ginger Spice Healthy Apple Crisp With Cranberries And Walnuts

Equipment

Baking dish – I used an an 8×10″ baking dish. But I often use a 7×11 instead. You can use a deep 8×8″ square dish too, or a 9 or 10″ cast iron frying pan. Just adjust your amount of apples to the dish you use if necessary.

Bowl – A medium size will work well to contain the apples for mixing and later the topping. I use the same bowl for both, less dishes to wash.

Knife – for coring and slicing the apples. I like my small victorinox paring knife for all of it.

Apple peeler – If I have small apples, I find it easiest to peel them with a regular apple peeler, I love this Linden peeler. For bigger apples and when I have a large amount to peel, I like to use my apple peeler slicer corer.

Ingredients

I recommend using organic ingredients to avoid excess toxins in the body, which can be detrimental to one’s health. Unfortunately conventional foods are not grown to be nourishing anymore, and are often devoid of nutrients and filled with undesirable GMOs, chemicals, and additives. Growing your own is a great way to assure clean food, and if that’s not possible, choosing organic whole foods, and especially produce from regenerative farming, will go a long way towards keeping us healthy and thriving. Apples are on the EWG’s dirty dozen list for 2025!

Filling:

Apples – 8 approximately. I used 10 small ones and had some blemishes to cut out too. Shoot for about 2 lbs of prepared apples. I ended up with almost 2 lbs after slicing to fill an 8×10 deep dish a little over half way.

Lemon juice – toss with the apples to keep them from browning. It is also intended as flavoring.

Dried cranberries – I used apple juice sweetened dried cranberries, but I prefer using fresh ones. Unfortunately I can’t get them around here yet and they don’t sell frozen ones in any stores near me. Now that I know that, I will sure put some up in my freezer this holiday season.

Crystallized ginger pieces – I love ginger and crystallized ginger is a bit of a weakness of mine. And they are so delicious in this apple crisp! These are organic and are sweetened with cane sugar. If you make your own, use that! You can also just chop fresh ginger if it’s young and tender, or grate older ginger for a great flavor. If you have fermented ginger paste, you can also stir 2 tablespoons of that into the filling instead.

Topping:

Old-fashioned rolled oats – Do not use the quick oats here, they get too mushy.

Fresh milled einkorn flour – In this recipe I’m using fresh milled einkorn berries. You can also purchase einkorn flour, or use all-purpose flour, but it will change the flavor and texture.

Walnuts, crushed or chopped – I put mine in a sandwich bag with the zipper closed and smashed them with a small sledge hammer. But I think a rolling pin will work too.

Panela sugar – Panela sugar (sucanat) is my favorite natural and unrefined granular sweetener. I’m using it in this recipe because it has a great depth of flavor that I don’t get from other sugars and it works really well in this recipe. But you could also use coconut sugar for a similar deep flavor, or natural evaporated cane juice crystals which has less flavor.

Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom

Ginger paste or dried or fresh grated ginger

Butter, melted – I like Kerrygold. You can use salted or unsalted. If it’s salted, don’t add extra salt to this.

Sea salt – I like to use Redmond’s Real Salt, or Himalayan pink salt.

Serve With

Vanilla ice cream – To keep my apple crisp dessert healthy, I use Alden’s or Strauss family organic icecream when I can find it. Or I make my own. I don’t have a recipe posted yet, but here is a healthy, nutritious homemade vanilla ice cream recipe that will complement your apple crisp beautifully.

Instructions For Making This Healthy Apple Crisp

Preheat the oven to 375℉

Grease your baking dish lightly (I use my butter wrapper)

Prepare the Filling

If your apple peels look a bit sorry or have been sprayed, peel your apples. Otherwise you can choose to leave them on for better nutrition. 

Quarter, core and slice the apples. If you have one of those nifty apple peeler slicer corer gadgets, you can use it for a quick and easy time with those apples. My apples were very small and kind of irregular with lots to cut out, so I just used a regular peeler and hand cored and sliced. It takes not that much longer. Toss your apple slices with the lemon juice to keep them from browning. You can cut them into your baking pan for measurement.

Mix in the cranberries and crystallized ginger pieces.

Dump the filling into the bottom of your baking dish. 

Prepare the Topping

I use the same bowl that had the apples in it to mix my crumbles. 

Add the dry ingredients, flour, oats, walnuts, panela sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and ginger to the bowl and mix it with a fork. 

Add the melted butter and mix it in with a fork or your hands. 

Crumble the topping over the top of the apple filling. 

Place your pan in the oven and cook at 375℉ for about 45 minutes or until the apples are soft. If the crumble is turning dark before the apples are soft, just cover with a bit of aluminum foil. 

Since I’m cooking in the BBQ grill, I use a springform rim to elevate the pan up a little. I find that two burners a little above minimum heat gives me the best results, but it usually takes about half as much longer than in a conventional oven. 

Serve while still hot or warm with a great big scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

If you’re serving it as a holiday dessert, it looks really nice when you drizzle with some caramel sauce. I used homemade goat caramel (cajeta) in this photo. 

Tips, Variations, and Substitutions

Nuts: If you need to consider nut allergies in your family, you can leave the nuts out. Or replace it with a nut that will not cause problems. Pecans, hazelnuts, or cashews would work great too. 

Ice cream: Conventional ice cream is a horrible food, and comes most often from GMO, hormone, and antibiotic fed dairy animals. Then it has a lot of weird things added to it to make it creamy, stabilized, fluffy and what have you, besides being enhanced with artificial this and that for flavor and sweetened with corn syrup. I had to give up ice cream once I became aware of this, but there are some good brands out there if you can find them. They are not normally found in grocery stores or walmart, but check your health food store. Strauss and Alden make good, clean, organic ice cream. You can also make your own. Here is a great healthy vanilla ice cream from scratch at a friend’s blog.

Flour: Instead of einkorn, use any grain you like. I prefer einkorn in much of my baking. It’s the original ancient wheat that was already mentioned early in the bible. It is so much easier to utilize by our bodies, because it’s genetic makeup works with our digestive system. Then humans decided to ‘improve’ for greater yields and ease of harvesting, and, over time, turned it into the hard to digest wheat that graces the grocery isle rows today. It’s very efficient for industrialized farming, but certainly not so great for our health. 

Cranberries: I used dried cranberries only because fresh ones aren’t available yet and my local stores don’t carry frozen ones. But I would prefer using fresh ones, so if you can get them, go ahead and use them. Increase the amount to 1 ½ cups or more if you like. When using fresh, unsweetened cranberries you can also add another tablespoon or two of sugar to the topping.

Ginger: In place of the crystallized ginger, you can chop some fresh, young ginger and use it instead. Or grate it if it’s not the freshest anymore. 

To make your own crystallized ginger, simmer some ginger slices or chopped ginger in 2 cups of water for 20 minutes, add 2 cups of evaporated cane juice sugar and keep simmering it for another 20 – 30 minutes without a lid, until the ginger is soft and the sugar water has thickened a little. Drain on racks. I love the crystallized ginger. 

Enjoy Your Awesome, Gingery And Healthy Apple Crisp With Cranberries And Walnuts

I hope you’ll give this apple crisp a go in your kitchen. It’s quick and easy and tastes fantastic. If you choose healthy ingredients, you can actually call it healthy too. And it will help support your health while satisfying your sweet tooth and your dessert cravings. I love to eat wholesome food that is nourishing and tastes good too. Enjoy your delicious apple crisp!

Have you made this recipe? I’d love to get your feedback and your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! And I’d love to hear your favorite ways to use apples. And please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments if you have any questions!

Join the Food For Life Garden Community for more great recipes and homestead tips and ideas. I’m always adding new content. Don’t miss any new posts and learn more about my off-grid farm life.

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Blackberry Cheesecake Streusel Bars – A must make dessert for blackberry season. Creamy, easy, and berry delicious!

Probiotic Ginger Paste – A convenient way to have ginger on hand when you need some, either as seasoning in cooking or baking, or to use this powerful ally in your daily health routine.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars – Creamy, with a buttery crust, this cheesecake dessert is bright, tangy, easy, and perfect for summer gatherings, or any sweet cravings!

Lemon Cheesecake Mousse – A decadent, delicious, super healthy lemon dessert made with honey & lemon curd.

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Classic German Cheesecake (Käsekuchen) – How to make an incredibly delicious German cheesecake using Quark. Must try this!

Awesome Strawberry Quark Cheese Mousse – A delicious German quark dessert with pureed strawberries.

Lemon Tahini Cookies – Delicious, healthy spice cookies with lemon and honey. These spicy cookies are radical, especially if you love bold, complex flavors and healthy treats.

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Grain mill
10″ round springform
8×10″ baking dish
Paring knife
Linden peeler
Peeler slicer corer.
Panela sugar
Evaporated cane juice
Coconut sugar
Redmond’s real salt
Himalayan pink salt
Celtic sea salt
Einkorn berries
Einkorn flour
Betty Crocker cookbook