This Weight Watchers Apple Crisp is a great way to use up lots of apples! It's light and healthy, and made without artificial sweeteners! Although they are purchased with the best intentions, I often end up with a lot of apples that don't get eaten.
But I hate to see food go to waste, so this ww apple crips is the perfect solution! This recipe is popular in the fall, but it's great any time of year when you have apples that need to be used up. This apple crisp tastes so good no one will suspect it's ww friendly! But if I don't have enough apples for a whole pan, I make my Healthy WW Apple Crisp in a Mug!
If you're looking for additional Weight Watchers apple recipes, give my IHOP copycat Apple Cinnamon Topping a try. It's another great way to use up lots of apples and it's 4 WW points. I make this often and mix it with fat-free plain Greek yogurt.
Or I add it as a topping on pancakes (like my WW Friendly IHOP Harvest Grain & Nut (Copycat) and waffles. My kids love it too. In fact, it's soo good, that we even eat it straight up as a snack!
And these Apple Pie 2 Ingredient Dough Cinnamon Rolls are another delicious ww apple recipe.
🥘 Ingredient Notes
I don't use artificial sweeteners in my WW desserts, but I was still able to bring this down to 6 points, which is the same amount of points as the original apple crisp recipe in the 2009 edition of Weight Watchers magazine. I achieve that by using water as a filler and a little less sugar.
However, I use real butter because I still want to enjoy that taste. And since light butter isn't enough of a reduction in points to warrant replacing it, I stick with real butter. And trust me, it's worth the points!
But it's the lemon zest and real light whipped cream that really makes this apple crisp sing (Dairyland and Gay Lea brands of light real whipped cream are both WW friendly) It's the same combo of flavors I use in my Award-winning Deluxe Apple Pie but it's obviously a lot lighter!
For this WW Apple Crisp recipe you'll need:
- Apples. Green Granny Smith are the ideal apple for any kind of baking, as they hold their shape best (and don't turn to mush.) However, you can use any kind of apple you have on hand. I often use Cosmic Crisp, Fuji, Honey Crisp, Gala apples, or a combination of apples.
- Whipped Cream. I use an aerosol whipped cream in a can for this recipe because Dairyland and Gay Lea are both brands that are only 1 WW point for 4 tbsps.
- Maple syrup. I use 'no sugar added' maple syrup.
- Quick Rolled Oats. Quick rolled oats or "quick oats" cook faster than regular rolled oats. Do NOT use instant oats - they will turn to mush!
- Unsalted Butter. I like to control the salt in my baking so I use unsalted butter.
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Butter. You can use salted butter, but the extra salt isn't necessary.
- Rolled Oats. If you only have old-fashioned/regular rolled oats you can put them in your food processor and pulse them a couple of times to break them down and use them as a substitute for quick rolled oats.
- Dairy-free. Swap the butter for vegan butter or solid coconut oil, and use dairy-free whipped topping for a lactose-free version.
🔪How to Make WW Apple Crisp
PREP: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Peel, core, and slice apples.
- Step 1: Mix apple slices, brown sugar, lemon zest, maple syrup, maple extract, cornstarch, and cinnamon, in a large bowl.
- Step 2: Pour the apple filling mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Step 3: Add water
- Step 4: Dot with whipped cream.
- Step 5: In a separate bowl, combine, oats, flour, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
- Step 6: Cut in butter (*I do this with frozen butter and a cheese grater - it's an easy and less messy way)!
- Step 7: Stir until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Step 8: Sprinkle dry mixture over the apples in the pan.
- Step 9: Bake in preheated oven until bubbly and apples are tender (a fork can easily go through the apple), 30 -40 minutes. *35 minutes was perfect for me!
- Step 10: Cool for 5 minutes and serve. WW apple crisp can be eaten warm or cold.
Recipe Tips
- Choose the Right Apples. For the best texture, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Granny Smith provides a firm texture and tangy contrast, while Honeycrisp or Fuji add natural sweetness. This combination balances flavor and prevents an overly mushy filling.
- Slice Apples Evenly.Cut apples into uniform slices (about ¼-inch thick) to ensure even cooking. If slices are too thin, they may break down too much, and if too thick, they may stay too firm.
- Prevent a Watery Filling. Apples naturally release juice while baking. To avoid a watery crisp let the crisp cool for at least 5-10 minutes after baking—this allows the juices to set. If you use an apple with a higher water content (like Honeycrisp) add an additional teaspoon of cornstarch.
- Use frozen butter and grate it. Instead of cutting in butter with a fork or pastry cutter, use a cheese grater and frozen or very cold butter. This distributes the butter evenly, creating a crispier topping.
- Don't overmix the topping. The topping should be crumbly and coarse to ensure a crunchy texture.
I've been following the Weight Watchers program for many years and my Mom followed it when I was a kid (long before artificial sweeteners became a thing) and that's what I always liked about it; it's normal, healthy eating.
You can still lose weight without using artificial sweeteners. You just need to reduce sugar, and fat and enjoy your desserts in moderation.
I would rather just take the hit for the points than use artificial sweeteners. They taste weird to me and I don't like how they make me feel (headaches and stomach aches etc..)
I try to balance it out by eating low and zero (0) point foods like eggs, vegetables, and meals like my Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken, my Weight Watchers Sheet Pan Salmon, or my WW Egg Roll in a Bowl, especially on the days when I'm going to be indulging in dessert.
👪 Serving size
You can cut this weight watcher apple crisp recipe in half if you don't have enough apples. Simply click on the number of servings and change it (it would be 7 servings in this case) and the amounts will automatically adjust accordingly! You can also double or triple it! Or make my Healthy Microwave Apple Crisp in a Mug if you're only making it for yourself!
🔢WW Points
Typically, apple crisp with oatmeal is 10 points, and although you may find some lower-point apple crisp recipes out there, they generally contain artificial sweeteners.
This healthy and easy apple crisp is 6 weight watchers points. If you want to reduce the points, you can use monkfruit instead of sugar (but only use half the amount - so you'll need ⅓ cup of monkfruit for the entire recipe) and light butter.
🌡️Storage
Store this Weight Watchers apple crisp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. It can be reheated in the microwave.
This ww apple crisp recipe can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
❔Recipe FAQ's
Yes! You can assemble the apple crisp and store it covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes and bake as directed.
Yes! The whipped cream adds a lightness to the filling, but you can omit it if desired. Alternatively, you can use a dairy-free whipped topping for a lactose-free versio
Apple crisp typically contains oats in the topping, giving it a crunchier texture, while apple crumble has a more streusel-like, flour-based topping without oats.
Toss them with a little lemon juice to slow oxidation. Since this recipe includes lemon zest, using a bit of lemon juice won't alter the flavor significantly. You could also use Cosmic Crisp apples as they take a very long time to brown (12+ hrs). Either way, browning won't affect the flavor and you won't be able to tell the apples turned brown after they are cooked.
This Weight Watchers Apple Crisp has fewer points, but still has the delicious taste of real apple crisp. In fact, when I was writing this post and looking at the photos, it made me crave apple crisp so badly that I had to make some!
So don't toss those apples and make this Weight Watchers friendly and healthy apple crisp instead!
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📋Weight Watchers Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Crisp Filling
- 8 cups cored, peeled and sliced (about 12-14 medium sized apples) * about 2 and ⅔ - 3 lbs of apples
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon maple extract
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 cup water
- 4 tbsp light real whipped cream * I use Gay Lea brand spray can - it's 1 pt for 4 tbsps
Apple Crisp Topping
- 1 cup quick rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Garnish
- additional whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired * you will need to account for extra points
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Peel, core and slice apples.8 cups cored, peeled and sliced (about 12-14 medium sized apples)
- Mix apple slices, brown sugar, lemon zest, maple syrup, maple extract, cornstarch and cinnamon, in a large bowl.⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoon cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon maple extract, 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Pour apple filling mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Pour water over apple mixture.1 cup water
- Dot with whipped cream.4 tablespoon light real whipped cream
- In a separate bowl, combine, oats, flour, cinnamon and brown sugar.1 cup quick rolled oats, 1 cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Cut in butter.6 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Mix until combined and becomes a coarse crumb.
- Bake in preheated oven until bubbly and apples are tender, 30 -40 minutes. * 35 minutes was perfect for me.
- Garnish with additional whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired.additional whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired
Notes
-
- Choose the Right Apples. For the best texture, use a mix of tart and sweet apples. Granny Smith provides a firm texture and tangy contrast, while Honeycrisp or Fuji add natural sweetness. This combination balances flavor and prevents an overly mushy filling.
-
- Slice Apples Evenly.Cut apples into uniform slices (about ¼-inch thick) to ensure even cooking. If slices are too thin, they may break down too much, and if too thick, they may stay too firm.
-
- Prevent a Watery Filling. Apples naturally release juice while baking. To avoid a watery crisp let the crisp cool for at least 5-10 minutes after baking—this allows the juices to set. If you use an apple with a higher water content (like Honeycrisp) add an additional teaspoon of cornstarch.
-
- Use frozen butter and grate it. Instead of cutting in butter with a fork or pastry cutter, use a cheese grater and frozen or very cold butter. This distributes the butter evenly, creating a crispier topping.
-
- Don't overmix the topping. The topping should be crumbly and coarse to ensure a crunchy texture.
Terri Gilson
I love this Weight Watchers friendly Apple Crisp! It's the perfect solution for those apples that always seem to pile up in my kitchen. The real butter and lemon zest make it taste indulgent, but at only 6 points, I don't feel guilty enjoying it. It's my go-to recipe for using up fruit and satisfying my sweet tooth!