Barley Free Ginger-Cardamom Apple Oat Crisp
Warm spiced apples bubbling beneath a golden, crunchy topping — this is the kind of dessert that makes your whole kitchen smell incredible. Fresh ginger and double-hit cardamom give the filling a bright, aromatic lift that feels a little unexpected in the best possible way, while cinnamon keeps things grounded and cozy. The topping leans on rolled oats, almond flour, and chopped walnuts for texture and nuttiness, all brought together with coconut oil and maple syrup — no refined sugars, no grain-based thickeners, and crucially, no barley or barley-derived ingredients hiding anywhere in the mix. Arrowroot starch does the quiet work of thickening the apple filling so it sets up beautifully rather than turning watery. Many store-bought crisps and crumble mixes sneak in malt or grain blends that can be a problem, so making this from scratch puts you fully in control of every ingredient. Let it rest those ten minutes after baking — the filling tightens up and the topping stays crisp rather than steaming itself soft. Serve it as-is or with a scoop of your favorite dairy-free ice cream for something truly special.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the apple filling
- 5 medium apples (about 2 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
For the oat topping
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup raw walnuts, roughly chopped
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch baking dish with a small amount of coconut oil.
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, 2 tbsp maple syrup, fresh ginger, 1/2 tsp cardamom, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, arrowroot starch, and lemon juice. Toss until the apples are evenly coated, then spread them in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
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