This single serve apple crisp is made in a small skillet on the stovetop, with cinnamon-spiced apples, oats and a spoonful of Skyr on top. It’s an easy apple crisp for one that’s ready in about 20 minutes, with no oven, no butter and no added sugar, because a sugar-free syrup does all the sweetening.
What I use
Our Place Wonder Oven: The PFAS-free air fryer I’ve switched to.
Always Pan: The pan I use every day. Nothing sticks to it.
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It’s one of my favourite comfort recipes and I make it all year round. I came up with it when I was craving something warm and sweet but didn’t want to turn the oven on for a whole tray. What you get is soft, caramelised apples, a lightly toasted oat topping and a cold, creamy dollop of yogurt, a warm apple crisp that tastes like dessert but is balanced enough for breakfast. It’s also the quick apple crisp for one I make when it’s just me, so it’s perfect for an apple crisp for one person with no leftovers to tempt you.
Key ingredients for a healthy apple crisp for one
Apples: one medium apple (about 150g) makes an individual portion. Choose the right apple for the texture you like. Honeycrisp and Pink Lady hold their shape, Granny Smith gives a sharper, tangier apple filling, and Gala goes softer and sweeter. You can peel it or leave the skin on for extra fibre, and diced apples cook faster than slices.
Oats: two tablespoons of oats make the crispy topping. I use certified gluten-free oats, which keeps this a gluten free apple crisp, as regular oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat.
Coconut oil: just half a tablespoon replaces the butter in a classic crisp and helps the apples turn golden brown.
Sugar-free syrup and cinnamon: these bubble together into a quick caramel sauce. This is what makes it a sugar free apple crisp, and a no brown sugar apple crisp too, as the only sugar comes from the apple itself. A pinch of nutmeg or other warm spices, or a drop of vanilla extract, are lovely additions.
Skyr or Greek yogurt: a cold, creamy topping that adds protein. For more of a treat, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is hard to beat.
How to make a single serving apple crisp on the stove
This is a proper stovetop apple crisp, all made in one small pan. Warm the coconut oil, syrup and cinnamon until bubbling, add the apples and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the oats with a splash of water, cover and let it steam for 5 minutes, then take the lid off and cook for 5 more so the sauce thickens and the topping crisps up. Spoon it into a small bowl and add the Skyr.
Why isn’t my apple crisp crispy? Usually the lid stayed on too long. Those last uncovered minutes are what give the oats their crisp texture, so don’t skip them, and if your pan is quite full, give it a couple of extra minutes.
Other ways to make this apple crisp recipe for one
I’ve only tested this skillet apple crisp on the stovetop, so treat these as starting points rather than tested timings:
- Oven (untested): mix the topping ingredients in a separate bowl, put the apple filling in a small ramekin on a baking sheet, add the topping and bake at 180°C (160°C fan) for about 20 to 25 minutes, until golden.
- Air fryer (untested): everything in a small oven-safe dish at 180°C for about 8 to 10 minutes, until golden and bubbling.
- Microwave (untested): in a microwave-safe dish, in 30 second bursts until the apples are soft. A microwave apple crisp for one is quicker, but the oats won’t crisp up the same way.
A note from your nutrition coach
As a nutrition coach, I love that this healthy apple crisp is portion controlled, with about 5g of fibre in the bowl, and far lower in sugar than a classic crisp made with cups of brown sugar. If you’re after a low sugar apple crisp, it’s a great one, and a single portion means there’s no tray sitting on the side calling your name. For an easy healthy apple crisp breakfast, stir it through a bowl of porridge or pile on extra Skyr for more protein.
If you love apple desserts, try my Healthy Apple Cake or my Rice Paper Apple Danish, and for more autumn ideas have a look at my Healthy Halloween Snacks.
A useful product for this recipe
This stainless steel pan from Le Creuset is super sturdy and lets you cook without harmful non-stick coatings.
Enjoy,
Alex 🙂
Alexarciab's Healthy Eating Club
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Join the club, it's freeSingle Serve Apple Crisp (Skillet, Sugar Free, 5 Minutes Prep)
A single serve apple crisp made in a skillet with cinnamon apples, oats and coconut oil, sweetened with sugar-free syrup and topped with Skyr. A healthy, sugar free apple crisp with oats, made for one and ready in about 20 minutes on the stove.
Ingredients
Instructions
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In a small skillet or frying pan, heat the coconut oil, sugar-free syrup and cinnamon over a medium heat. Stir until combined and bubbling.Coach tip: this makes a quick caramel sauce that coats the apples without brown sugar or butter.
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Add the chopped apples and stir to coat every piece. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring now and then, until the apples soften and start to turn golden brown.
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Sprinkle in the oats and stir. Add a splash of water, cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes so the oats soften and soak up the cinnamon sauce.
Coach tip: this step makes it taste like a baked apple crisp, but it's all done on the stovetop in a few minutes.
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Take the lid off and cook for another 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the topping crisps up.
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Spoon into a small bowl and top with the Skyr. Add an extra drizzle of syrup or a sprinkle of cinnamon if you like.
Coach tip: for a more filling breakfast, stir it through a bowl of porridge.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1 ServingCalories:260kcalTotal Fat:10gSodium:40mgTotal Carbohydrate:35gDietary Fiber: 5gSugars: 20gProtein:10g
Note
- Best apples: Honeycrisp or Pink Lady hold their shape, Granny Smith is tangier, Gala goes softer and sweeter.
- Gluten free: use certified gluten-free oats, regular oats are often cross-contaminated with wheat.
- Nutty topping: add chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans with the oats.
- Crumb style topping: swap some of the oats for oat flour or almond flour.
- Oven (untested): small ramekin on a baking sheet, 180°C (160°C fan), about 20 to 25 minutes.
- Air fryer (untested): small oven-safe dish, 180°C, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Storage: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the pan or microwave with a splash of water.
- Apple crisp recipe for two: double everything and use a slightly bigger skillet.
