The BEST Healthy Apple Crisp!

(PUBLISHED ON CAREPILOT.COM, NOVEMBER 2013)

The age old saying “An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away” holds quite a bit of truth.  Not only are apples rich with antioxidants, they also provide an impressive amount of fiber.  This perfect handheld snack carries Vitamin C, b complex vitamins that keep the nervous system functioning properly, and phytonutrients to help protect the body from the effects of free radicals.  As if that wasn’t enough, apples are also rich in calcium, potassium and phosphorus!

Apples are a great snack year round, but is there is nothing more quintessential for fall than apple picking.  I thoroughly enjoy dragging in an overflowing bag of hand picked apples, but there are only so many apples I can snack on each day before my prized fruit starts to go bad.   Most will turn to
making an apple pie or apple crisp, which is always a crowd pleaser.  But the saying isn’t “a bowl of apple crisp with vanilla ice cream a day keeps the doctor away,” now is it.

So I made it my mission to come up with a healthy and nutritious apple crisp that does not skimp on flavor; an apple crisp so guilt free you can even enjoy it with your morning coffee for breakfast!

And in honor of another favorable saying “sharing is caring,” here is my perfected recipe.  I have removed the full cup of white sugar and the full cup of brown sugar that the original recipe calls for.  Oh I also nixed the stick of butter too.  It should be a crime to smother our naturally delectable apples in that much sugar and fat!

INGREDIENTS:
8-10 Apples, peeled, cored and cut into bite size pieces
1.5 cups all natural healthy granola
-I like Rawnola, Kind, or Cascadian Farms Honey
2 oz of no sugar added juice
-Try: orange, pomegranate, diluted cranberry, diluted cherry or diluted grape
1/4 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans and walnuts!)
1 tsp vanilla
4 tsp Cinnamon, divided
1 tsp nutmeg
1/4 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 350

2. Combine juice, 2 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and raisins.  Add apple chunks and stir thoroughly.

3. Distribute apple mixture evenly into baking pan.

4. Combine granola, nuts, 2 tsp cinnamon.  Distribute mixture evenly atop apples.

5.  Bake for 45 minutes.

Move the dessert to a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes.  Serve with no sugar added frozen yogurt.  I like Kemps brand because it is also fat free!

And, my favorite added bonus – the recipe will leave your kitchen with the most comforting fall aroma.

Enjoy! 🙂