Autumn is the perfect season for a warm, comforting apple crisp — it fills the house with that irresistible baked-apple aroma. Traditional apple crisp recipes often call for a lot of butter and extra sugar. This lighter version keeps the same comforting flavors but trims the fat and sugar, making it friendly for Weight Watchers while still feeling indulgent.
This simplified apple crisp is easy to prepare and scaled to be lower in points without sacrificing texture or taste. With a crisp oat topping and a warm cinnamon-spiced apple filling, it’s a dessert you can enjoy in moderation while staying on track with your goals.
If you enjoy Weight Watchers recipes, try other lightened-up desserts and recipes in the same category on this site for more ideas and inspiration.
Ingredients Needed
- All-purpose flour — versatile wheat flour used in both the topping and to thicken the filling.
- Old-fashioned oats (not instant) — for a hearty, crunchy topping.
- Packed brown sugar — adds caramel notes to the topping.
- Cinnamon — essential warm spice for the filling and topping.
- Light butter — helps the topping clump and brown while keeping fat content lower than traditional recipes.
- Granulated sugar — a small amount sweetens the apple filling; use alternatives only if you know the conversions.
- Nutmeg — a warm, aromatic spice that complements the cinnamon.
- Cloves — a pinch adds depth to the apple filling.
- Apples — any variety works, but Honeycrisp or Granny Smith are excellent choices for texture and flavor.
- Vanilla extract — a splash brightens the apple filling; use pure vanilla for best flavor.
- See the recipe card below for exact measurements.
Apple Crisp Toppings
Topping ideas: Instead of ice cream, try a light whipped topping for fewer points. A little maple or vanilla-flavored whipped topping pairs especially well with warm apple crisp.
How to make Apple Crisp
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a shallow 1½‑quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
Step 2: Make the topping by combining ½ cup flour, ½ cup old-fashioned oats, ¼ cup packed brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Work in 3 tablespoons light butter using a fork or your fingers until the mixture forms coarse clumps. Add 1 teaspoon water and press to form clumps; if it still looks dry, add up to 2 tablespoons more water.
Step 3: For the filling, mix ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and a pinch of ground cloves in a large bowl. Add 3 lbs sliced apples and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; toss to coat evenly.
Step 4: Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the oat topping over the apples. Bake until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown, about 55–60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
How to Cut the Points (But Keep the Crunch)
Add a pinch of flaky sea salt to the oat topping — salt enhances sweetness so you can use less sugar overall while keeping flavors bright.
Consider a brown sugar–monk fruit blend in place of brown sugar to reduce points while preserving that molasses-like flavor.
Swap part of the butter for unsweetened applesauce (for example, 2 tablespoons light butter plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce) to keep the topping cohesive with less fat.
Volume eating hack: Double the apples but keep the topping quantities the same. You’ll get more warm, cinnamon-spiced fruit per serving with a modest amount of crunchy topping.
Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, place a portion in a microwave-safe dish and warm for 1–2 minutes, or reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
Yes. Divide the filling and topping among smaller ramekins and bake until bubbling and golden; adjust baking time as needed for smaller dishes.
Other Recipes to Try
Best Weight Watcher Desserts-
Weight Watcher Brownies
-
Weight Watcher High Protein Recipes
-
Chicken Egg Roll In a Bowl
If you tried this Apple Crisp recipe or any other recipe from the site, please leave a star rating and share your experience in the comments — feedback helps others and helps improve the recipe.
Weight Watcher’s Apple Crisp
5 from 6 reviews
- Author: Jenna
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 to 60 minutes
- Total Time: 70 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This lightened-up Weight Watchers version reduces butter and sugar while keeping the classic apple crisp flavor and crunchy oat topping. It’s an easy dessert to make for a family night or to serve at gatherings when you want a lighter option.
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
½ cup all-purpose flour, plus 2 Tbsp
½ cup old-fashioned oats (not instant)
¼ cup packed brown sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch salt
3 tablespoons light butter
1 teaspoon water (add up to 2 Tbsp more if needed)
Apple Filling
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pinch ground cloves
3 lbs apples, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a shallow 1½‑quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Make the topping: combine ½ cup flour, ½ cup oats, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix in 3 tablespoons light butter until the mixture forms coarse clumps. Add 1 teaspoon water and press to form clumps, adding up to 2 tablespoons more water if needed.
- Make the filling: in a large bowl combine ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves. Add 3 lbs sliced apples and 1 teaspoon vanilla; toss to coat. Transfer to the baking dish, sprinkle the topping over the apples, and bake until bubbling and golden, 55–60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
My WW Personal Points: 6 per serving (divide into 8 equal pieces).
Yield: 8 slices; serve one slice per person.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 205
- Sugar: 30.7g
- Fat: 2.8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4g
- Carbohydrates: 46.1g
- Fiber: 4.9g
- Protein: 2g