Just because a recipe has apples in it doesn’t mean it’s healthy! Today, it does! Here are 30+ Delicious and Healthy Apple Desserts that are ALL clean or paleo! OK – you’re free to go enjoy now!
Apples: The Nostalgic Fruit of the Fall
When I was a kid, my parents started a tradition where we, along with a few other families from church, would take a day trip from Long Island to Wappingers Falls in upstate, New York, to go apple picking. Honestly, those are some of my most vivid memories from my childhood: the van-ride upstate – sitting in the way back (with no seatbelts), the picnic and shenanigans in the field before the picking started, the apple fight wars in the orchard.
Well, if you’ve been apple picking, you know how easy it is to just pick and pick and pick – and each family member will pick and pick and pick. When you’re ready to pay, you realize that you picked an ungodly amount of apples. I remember thinking, “What the heck are we going to do with all of these apples?!?”
What to Do With All. The. Apples
If that sounds like your family, today is your day! We have loads of apple dessert recipes – enough to use up all those apples – and not just desserts but healthy desserts! So many times when I was creating this roundup, when I saw a certain picture, I thought, “There’s no way this is a healthy dessert!” But, OMG! When I looked at the ingredients, it actually was! It made me so excited to be eating healthy. So many delicious options!
I know a lot of people think that automatically adding apples to anything makes it healthy. That would be nice, but it’s just not the case! Lots of apple desserts have refined sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. Every recipe here today is either paleo or clean – made from real, whole foods. Some might be more decadent than others, but all are made from the
Apple Dipping Charcuterie Board
Enjoy apples in their purest form! Slice, place on a skewer, and serve with your favorite healthy topping! Think about warm almond butter, granola, dark chocolate chunks... so many ways to keep this treat healthy and delicious!
Cinnamon Apple Energy Bites
This is an amazing gluten-free healthy snack - perfect for after school or an energy boost on the go! {Note: This recipe is made with dried apples. To learn how to dry your apples, which, by the way, dried apples are another amazing snack, click here!}
Paleo Apple Cinnamon Upside Down Muffins
These are sweet, sticky, and oh so yummy! Gluten-free and dairy-free! Those caramelized apples look amazing!
Healthy Cinnamon Skillet Apples
This is made with just apples, cinnamon, water and nuts! How easy is that? It's a delicious snack, and if you want to treat yourself to a little ice cream on top, well, that's fine with me.
Apple Fritters – Paleo – Low Carb
If you want that indulgent, feel-good comfort fall treat -without all the unhealthy ingredients, this is definitely one you need to try. You will not miss the bad stuff. At all.
Paleo Apple Pie Snickerdoodle Skillet Cookie
Paleo Running Momma is a MASTER when it comes to healthy dessert. This decadent treat is gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. Oh, YUM!
Grain-Free Apple Coffee Cake (Paleo)
This is perfect for breakfast on a chilly fall morning or as an after-dinner treat. Grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free.
Healthy Apple Crisp Stuffed Baked Apples
The spices alone used in the recipe alone make your mouth water. Add the dairy-free mousse to the top, and well, it's all over.
Apple Cinnamon Cookies
My 2 sons are cookie monsters, so having a healthy option is a must in my house. As you read through the ingredient list, you know that the cookies are hearty and will definitely satisfy! These are gluten/grain/dairy/egg-free.
Apple Pie Snickerdoodles
Plain old Snickerdoodles is one of my favorite cookies, but when you add apples and make it healthy, well, you can't go wrong. Made with coconut sugar and white whole wheat flour for a taste that matches the regular (unhealthy) kind, this might be your new favorite.
Apple Cinnamon Bread
Oh, the breads. Bring on the breads in the fall, please! I LOVE that there are healthy, paleo versions of bread, because who really wants to give that up? Made with coconut sugar and coconut flour (along with many more goodies), this is one to make this fall. Enjoy, because it's paleo, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.
Skillet Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding
This is a delicious, indulgent fall treat that looks AMAZING! It can be made with any bread of your choice (paleo, gluten-free). Using coconut sugar, it's refined sugar-free, and totally clean. Give this one a try!
Healthy Cinnamon Apple Chips
When you're craving an unhealthy chip, this is a perfect choice. Just 2 ingredients (do I even need to name them?!?), it doesn't get simpler than this. This is also a great, healthy after-school snack for the kiddos.
Paleo Apple Galette
This is a perfect dish to make on a chilly weekend or when you're having company. Made from almond flour and coconut flour, it keeps things clean and especially delicious!
AIP Salted Caramel Apple Parfaits
Parfaits are one of my most favorite desserts ever - I love the endless possibilities - but Anne Marie nailed it for a fall treat. It's nut-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free, but you're not going to believe how she put this masterpiece together for a decadent, healthy treat.
Guilt-Free Apple Dessert Nachos
I love the simplicity of this one, and as you can see, it is chock-full of healthy, natural ingredients. I cannot imagine any child passing up this after-school treat.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
I have a major high school flashback when I see this, to the very first time I had apple butter - at Good N Plenty restaurant in Lancaster, PA, while I was camping with my friend and her family. Oh my gosh. What had I been missing out on? If apple butter isn't a part of your life, you need to try it. And if it is, please make this healthy, delicious version of it! While not technically a dessert, it's a sweet treat on clean or paleo bread, it's paleo, vegan, Whole30 - so, close enough.
Healthy & Clean Apple Baked Oatmeal
I actually just made this one yesterday, and it's an absolute hit. Not too sweet, filling, and satisfying. Oh, yum. It's great for breakfast or for an after school treat as well. Refined sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free! Checks all the healthy boxes!
Apple Pie Cookies
This is a delicious take on an apple cookie. It's made with oat flour, so it's gluten-free. The glaze is optional if you're going sugar-free, but the cookies are just as tasty. And, while the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, coconut sugar is a good replacement if you're going totally clean or paleo.
Paleo Apple Strudel
Oh, an apple strudel! How this makes me think of my mom! This one is made with cassava flour and is nut-free, and as you watch this recipe in process through the pictures, oh wow!
Paleo Apple Pie
Wow! Good, ole American apple pie. But paleo and good for you. This definitely deserves a salute and needs to make it to your Thanksgiving table this year.
NO-BAKE PALEO APPLE PIE BITES — Plenty & Well
I'm a fan of desserts that can be made quickly and do not require the oven! These look ah-mazing.
Apple Pie Larabar Balls
Larabars were my savior when I was doing Whole30! I love that these kinds of treats are easy enough to make! {Note: This recipe is made with dried apples. For instructions on how to dry apples, click here!
Paleo AIP Apple Hand Pies
So much healthier than Hostess apple pies, right?! They look amazing. They're made with cassava flour, coconut butter, and maple syrup. Delicious.
Apple Chai Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins
These dense little delicious treats look amazing. I'm pretty certain you'll not be missing Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins one bit. And chai flavor? What a brilliant idea. Paleo and vegan options included!
Grain-Free Apple Turnovers
These thin treats almost remind me of apple quesadillas, but they're made from almond flour and look amazing. These little goodies are paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free.
Paleo Maple Pecan Apple Crisp
Oh boy, this would not last long in my house at all! Like I said, PRN is amazing at this kind of stuff, and this is a 100% guaranteed crowd pleaser!
Paleo Apple Muffins
This would be amazing for the kids as they're running out the door to the bus stop, or as a healthy, satisfying snack before dinner. Yum, yum. These are grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free.
Bacon Apple Crisp
Yup, you saw it right. Bacon. You're gonna LOVE the salty and sweet in this recipe! Made with almond flour and coconut sugar... it's gluten-free, too!
Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This one is so amazing... perfect for an after-dinner snack or even with your morning coffee for a sweet breakfast. And yes, it's made with all clean ingredients.
Salted Caramel Paleo Apple Blondies
If you're looking for a decadent apple fall treat that checks off all the boxes, look no further. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just head straight there.
How amazing do these apple desserts look?! Can you believe how many delicious, healthy options there are?!? So hard to believe they are healthy, but they are!! All certified clean or paleo! Let the kiddos go crazy and pick all the apples they want. It might be apples for weeks in your home, but eating healthy never looked so good! 🙂 Have at it!
If you try any of these recipes, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram @100affections or leave a comment on Pinterest!
Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
More Fall Fun:
25 DIY Farmhouse Fall Decor Projects
30 Inspirations for Decorating Your Home for Fall
27 Healthy and Delicious Clean/Paleo Pumpkin Desserts
Looking for more fall fun? Grab The Ultimate Fall Bucket List – 100 options for family fun! 🙂
Char says
These look delicious!!! I just bought apples yesterday and can’t wait to try a couple of the recipes – especially the apple fritters!
Kate says
Oh, that’s great! I LOVE the smell of apples baking in the house! And I love that these are healthy, too! Thanks for coming by, Char! 🙂
Cynthia Cano says
My favorite season calls for some new favorite recipes! Thanks for sharing ❤ I’m definitely trying some of these out
Kate says
I’m so glad! It is so amazing what delicious and healthy recipes are out there! Such easy access to so much good stuff! Thank you for coming by, Cynthia!
Megan | Mama on Main Street says
Fall is my favorite season because I LOVE anything with apples. These recipes look absolutely amazing! So many great choices. Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
So glad you like it! Nothing says fall like apples (except maybe pumpkins…but have them both! 🙂 Thank you for coming by! 🙂
Kaitlin Garrison says
Oh yes! This is a GOLD MINE! My husband and I are going to do the Whole 30 starting next week, and we are just trying to get on a healthy eating path. I’m definitely going to try some of these– they look so delicious! Thanks for sharing this!!
Kate says
Oh, I’m so glad I could help! Don’t these look amazing?!? I did Whole 30 back in Feb. and LOVED it! Truly life-changing! I’m sure you will have just as great of an experience. We still follow most of the principles even now! (I did a review of W30 on my blog – if you want to see it, you can find it under the ‘health’ category! Thanks for coming by! I’d love to hear how you W30 goes!