This Healthy Peach Crisp recipe is made with juicy fresh peaches and a wholesome oat pecan crumble naturally sweetened with maple syrup. An easy summer dessert that is warm, cozy, and perfect with vanilla ice cream!
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There is nothing that says summer quite like a warm, bubbly peach crisp fresh from the oven! Sweet, juicy peaches are tossed with warm cinnamon, a touch of maple syrup, and fresh lemon juice, then topped with a delicious oat crumble that’s perfectly crisp without being overly sweet. This Healthy Peach Crisp is everything you love about the classic dessert, but made with wholesome ingredients like rolled oats and oat flour with natural sweetness from maple syrup.
Whether you’re bringing dessert to a backyard barbecue, using up fresh farmers market peaches, or simply craving something cozy, this healthy peach crisp is always a crowd favorite. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make with just a handful of pantry staples and is delicious served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or creamy Greek yogurt.
Why You’ll Love This
Quick and easy – this healthier peach crisp is easily made with simple pantry staples and just 15 minutes of prep.
Healthier – this recipe uses maple syrup, coconut sugar, rolled oats, and oat flour instead of refined sugar and traditional flour. It’s also a good source of soluble fiber.
Customizable – you can easily make this peach crumble gluten free, dairy free, or swapping in your favorite nuts or seasonal fruit.
Great for meal prep – since leftovers reheat beautifully, this delicious dessert is perfect for meal prep and taste just as delicious the next day.
Peach Crisp vs. Peach Cobbler: What’s the Difference?
Although peach crisp and peach cobbler are both classic fruit desserts made with juicy peaches, the biggest difference comes down to the topping. Peach crisp has a crunchy topping made with oats, flour, butter, and sugar, while peach cobbler features a biscuit or cake-like topping that bakes up soft and fluffy. If you love a crispy, buttery topping with lots of texture, peach crisp is the perfect choice!
Ingredients You’ll Need
fresh peaches – the star of the recipe! You’ll need about 6 cups sliced peaches, which is approximately 6 to 7 large ripe peaches. Look for peaches that are fragrant and slightly soft when gently squeezed. They should be ripe but still firm enough to hold their shape while baking.
rolled oats – wholesome whole grain old fashioned oats (I used gluten-free) make this peach crisp nice and crunchy. You could also use steel cut oats, however they will have a chewier texture and nuttier flavor.
oat flour – flour helps the crunchy oat topping come together. You can easily make your own oat flour right at home by blending rolled oats in your food processor or blender! Any type of flour will work for this, including almond flour, whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour.
pecans – makes the topping even crunchier and adds a boost of protein. Feel free to leave them out if nut-free.
butter or coconut oil – I’ve been making this peach crisp for years and both butter and coconut oil work great! Coconut oil has more nutritional value and is a great option if you are vegan or dairy-free, but in my opinion, butter just tastes the best.
maple syrup – naturally sweetens this crisp without overpowering the peaches. You could also use honey, coconut sugar, agave or other sweetener of choice.
coconut sugar – I like use coconut sugar in place of brown sugar in recipes. This adds sweetness to the oat topping.
lemon juice – fresh lemon juice brightens all of the flavors while helping balance the sweetness of the fruit.
vanilla extract – adds warmth and enhances the natural flavor of the peaches.
cornstarch – thickens the sauce and prevents it from becoming watery. You could also use arrowroot powder in place of the cornstarch.
spices – a combination of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg adds a cozy flavor to the crisp.
salt – enhances all the flavors in this peach crisp and balances the sweetness.
The Best Peaches for Peach Crisp
Fresh, ripe peaches are definitely the best choice during peach season. They become wonderfully juicy while still holding their shape after baking. If fresh peaches aren’t available:
Frozen peaches work well, just thaw and drain them first.
Canned peaches can also be used in a pinch. Be sure to drain them thoroughly and reduce the maple syrup slightly since they’re often sweeter.
How to Make Healthy Peach Crisp
Prepare the baking dish. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish or 8 to 10-inch pie dish.
Make the peach filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine peach slices, maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Gently toss until every peach slice is evenly coated.
Assemble the filling. Transfer the peaches into your prepared baking dish coated with nonstick spray and spread them into an even layer.
Mix the crumble. In a separate bowl, stir together the rolled oats, oat flour, chopped pecans, coconut sugar, cinnamon and salt. Pour in the melted butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. Stir until the mixture becomes evenly moistened and forms large crumbles.
Top the peaches. Sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the peaches. Don’t pack it down, the loose crumbles create the crispiest topping.
Bake. Bake the peach crisp for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the peach filling is bubbling around the edges. The crisp topping will look golden brown and peaches should be fork tender.
Let it rest. Allow the crisp to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This gives the filling time to thicken. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream, frozen yogurt, whipped cream, or a dollop of Greek yogurt.
Variations and Substitutions
Make it gluten-free – just make sure to use certified gluten-free oats and gluten-free oat flour.
Make it dairy-free – swap the butter for melted coconut oil or your favorite plant-based butter or vegan butter.
Change the fruit – instead of peaches, try using nectarines, plums, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, apples, pears or a combination of several fresh fruits. If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my cherry crisp and apple crisp.
Swap the nuts – instead of chopped pecans, try using walnuts, almonds or pistachios. You can also simply leave them out altogether for a nut-free version.
Add extra spices – you can also try adding in ground ginger, cardamom or pumpkin pie spice for a fun twist.
Tips for the Best Healthy Peach Crisp
Use ripe, nut not overly soft, peaches – overripe peaches tend to break down too much while baking and can create excess liquid.
Peel the peaches – while you can leave the skins on, peeling them creates a softer, more classic peach crisp texture.
Don’t skip the corn starch – it helps transform the peach juices into a perfectly thick filling instead of a watery one.
Leave the topping crumbly – avoid pressing the topping into the peaches. Loose crumbles create the crispiest texture.
Toast the pecans – this is an optional step, but lightly toasting the pecans beforehand adds even more nutty flavor.
Let the crisp cool – allowing the crisp to rest for at least 10 minutes helps the filling set and makes serving much easier.
How to Serve Peach Crisp
Healthy breakfast – top this warm peach crisp with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey for the perfect morning breakfast.
Dessert – serve with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt for a delicious after dinner healthy dessert.
Almond butter drizzle – warm a few tablespoons of almond butter or peanut butter and drizzle over the peach crisp for some extra goodness!
Frequently Asked Questions
Peeling is recommended for the softest filling, but you can leave the skins on if you don’t mind a little extra texture.
Yes! Thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before using.
Absolutely, although fresh peaches are best in this recipe. Just be sure to drain them well and reduce the maple syrup slightly if they are packed in syrup.
The filling should be bubbling around the edges and the topping should be beautifully golden brown.
Yes! Assemble the crisp up to one day ahead, cover tightly, refrigerate, and bake just before serving.
Yes! The crisp will still turn out delicious, but the topping will have a slightly softer, finer texture since quick oats are cut into smaller pieces and absorb moisture more quickly. Just keep an eye on the crisp during the last few minutes of baking as the topping may brown a little faster.
It can be! Simply use certified gluten-free oats and oat flour.
Yes. You can freeze it either before or after baking for up to three months.
Prepping and Storage
Make Ahead – you can prepare both the peach filling and crumble topping separately up to one day in advance. Store them in the fridge, then assemble and bake when ready.
To Store – cover the peach crisp leftovers with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To Reheat – warm individual servings of peach crisp in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or reheat in a 350 degrees F oven until warmed through.
To Freeze – wrap tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Healthy Summer Desserts
Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches
Hope you all enjoy this Easy Peach Crisp recipe! If you love this as much as we do, please leave a star rating below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinny!
Healthy Peach Crisp
Ingredients
For the Peach Filling:
6 cups peaches peeled (about 6 to 7 large peaches)2 Tbsp maple syrup1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice1 tsp vanilla extract1 tsp ground cinnamon1/4 tsp ground nutmeg2 Tbsp cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)Pinch of salt
For the Oat Topping:
1 cup rolled oats1/2 cup oat flour1/3 cup chopped pecans1/4 cup coconut sugar1/2 tsp ground cinnamon1/4 tsp salt4 Tbsp melted butter1/4 cup maple syrup1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Nutrition