Easy and delicious cherry apple crisp made with oats and flaxseed-no butter! Mediterranean diet friendly, full of flavor, and perfect for dessert or breakfast.
🥄 Why This Cherry Apple Crisp Is a Must-Make
Controversial opinion: fruit crisps reign supreme over cobblers. Seriously - that crispy, sweet crunch on top? YUM!
We were in Michigan over the summer picking cherries, and I knew I had to come home and create a healthier crisp recipe that still felt indulgent. It took a few tries, but you're in luck - this one is a total winner. No butter, super quick and easy to make, a hearty dose of flaxseed, minimal added sugar, and so. much. fruit. 🍒🍏
Here's what makes this crisp special:
💪 Flaxseed
My cardiologist recommended I add two tablespoons of ground flaxseed to my daily diet to help lower cholesterol - and I've stuck with it! Flax is a high-quality plant protein, packed with fiber, blood sugar-stabilizing lignans, potassium, and vitamin B1.
🍒 Cherries
You've probably heard me say it before: 🌈eat the rainbow! The same plant chemicals that give cherries their deep red color (called phytonutrients) help fight inflammation and neutralize free radicals - potentially lowering your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer over time.
🍎 Apples
Like cherries, apples (especially with the peel on!) are full of polyphenols and fiber. By choosing sweeter varieties like Fiji or Gala, you can keep the added sugar low while still delivering big flavor.
I love serving this crisp as a light dessert after dinner. We've also enjoyed it for breakfast. It's just that good - and healthy enough to start your day.
Whenever you serve it, enjoy every bite.
Instructions
Slice apples.
Mix the crisp topping ingredients.
Place the fruit in your skillet.
Add the crisp topping and bake.
Enjoy!
FAQ
Yes! Frozen cherries work beautifully. I thaw them and drain before adding to the pan.
Nope! Leaving the peels on adds fiber and saves time. Once baked, the peels become very tender and blend right in.
Yes! Just swap the whole wheat flour for a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, and be sure your oats are certified gluten-free.
Absolutely. I recommend a naturally sweet variety like Gala, Fiji, or Honeycrisp. Avoid tart apples like Granny Smith.
Top Tip
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that you don't have to peel the apples. Just make sure you slice the apples thin (about ¼ inch thick) and the peels will be undetectable once baked.
Looking for another Mediterranean Diet dessert or breakfast idea?
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- For the filling
- 2 pounds (907 ⅕ grams) of apples sliced thin. About six apples. No need to peel. You want to use a sweeter variety such as fiji or gala.
- 1 pound (453 ⅗ grams) of cherries Fresh or frozen. If using frozen, defrost and drain any liquid.
- 1 tablespoon (8 ⅛ grams) cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) lemon juice
- For the topping
- 1 cup (81 grams) oats
- ½ cup (80 grams) ground flax seed
- ¼ cup (30 grams) whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon (1 grams) cinnamon
- 2-3 tablespoons (30 milliliters) brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon (1 ½ grams) salt
- 5 tablespoons (75 milliliters) EVOO
Instructions
Prep your ingredients
- Preheat oven to 350
- Toast the oats in the cast iron pan you will use for the crisp. Bake for 10 minutes at 350.1 cup oats
- Meanwhile, slice the apples. You want them very thin. Approximately ¼ inch thick. You can leave the peels on. You won't notice them once it's baked.2 pounds of apples sliced thin.
- Increase oven heat to 375
Prep the crisp topping
- Mix oats, flaxseed, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar and salt together. Add the EVOO and stir until well mixed.½ cup ground flax seed, ¼ cup whole wheat flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar, 5 tablespoons EVOO, ¼ teaspoon salt
Prep the fruit
- Place apples, cherries, cornstarch, and lemon juice in the cast iron pan.1 pound of cherries, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 2 pounds of apples sliced thin.
- Top with the crisp mixture
Bake
- Bake at 375 for 50 minutes.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
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