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This delicious old fashioned Apple Crisp recipe is the BEST! Flavorful apples, spices and a scrumptious crunchy streusel topping makes easy favorite dessert! Perfect for the apple lover!
There is a dessert that has always been – and still is – my sister’s favorite. It’s hand’s down thisApple Crisp! Everyone else in my family loves it too. So much so that we celebrate the much anticipated first cool days here in the south with it and it’s a must-have throughout the fall and winter. There’s just something about that warm, cinnamon flavored apple filling covered in this crisp, crunchy oat topping that makes this the best! It’s an old fashioned apple crisp we’ve made in my family for generations and I just know the warm, comforting deliciousness of my recipe is one you will love too!
Apple Crisp Recipe
This Apple Crisp is loaded with apples that make the most amazing filling as they bake in this recipe. In fact, this recipe has the perfect ratio of apples to crispy streusel topping that make it so delicious!
Just look at that bite! That’s just pure apple lover paradise. The apple filling gets a buttery, caramel flavor that is out of this world! And the topping is just magical too. And honestly, it is so easy to make that you’ll make it time and again!
Do You Peel the Apples?
Sometimes, I leave some of the peeling on my apples. I like taste and the bits of color that may peek through as you spoon into the dessert. Other times I completely peel the apples.
What are the Best Apples for Apple Crisp?
Through the years of experimenting, I found I loved to use a combination of apples when baking in many apple desserts – like my Apple Pie or in this recipe.
I like using Baking Apples for how soft they become, Eating Apples for the sweet, crisp texture and Tart Apples, like Granny Smith, because the tartness helps to round out the perfect combination of apple flavor. But, of course, you can experiment for the combination of apples that you prefer.
1. Baking Apples
Cortland
Braeburn
Rome
2. Eating Apples
Honeycrisp
Fuji
Sweetango
3. Tart Apples
Granny Smith
The apples that you choose change the flavor of your dessert. The combination of sweet and tart apples it perfectly balanced in my opinion. Use all sweet apples and the apple crisp may come across as too sweet. Use all tart apples, then some may feel like the dish isn’t sweet enough.
How to Make Apple Crisp
For the Apple Filling, you’ll need:
apples – peeled, cored and sliced
lemon juice
brown sugar
flour
cinnamon
butter
salt
For the Crisp Topping, you’ll need:
flour
brown sugar
oats
cinnamon
baking powder
salt
butter
Instructions:
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
You’ll make the Apple Crisp Topping first:
Add flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl. Then whisk to combine. Use your clean fingers to work the softened butter into the flour mixture until well combined. Then set in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the Apple Filling.
To make the Apple Crisp Filling next:
Combine apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, butter, and salt in a large bowl, tossing to make sure apples are well coated. Pour into your prepared 9×13 casserole dish.
Now, take the chilled Topping from the refrigerator and top the Apple Filling mixture. Bake until apples are tender and topping of apple crisp has turned golden brown, about 45 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
So, if you are looking for an Apple Crisp Recipe that immediately makes you want to cozy up by the fire after enjoying a beautiful fall day, then this is it! Of course, a scoop of cinnamon ice cream or vanilla ice cream takes it right on over the top! And if you are really feeling decadent, some of my homemade Easy Caramel Sauce drizzled on top is divine!
Apple Crisp Recipe – This old fashioned apple crisp is the BEST! Flavorful apples are covered with a delicious crunchy topping to make an easy dessert that’s always a favorite! A perfect dessert for the apple lover!
Spray 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
Apple Crisp Topping:
Add flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl. Whisk together to combine. Using clean fingers, work the softened butter into the flour mixture until well combined. Chill in the refrigerator until apple filling is prepared.
Apple Crisp Filling:
Combine apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, butter, and salt in a large bowl, tossing to make sure apples are well coated. Pour into prepared casserole dish.
Top apples with Apple Crisp Topping and bake until the apples are tender and top of apple crisp has turned golden brown, about 45 minutes.
Robyn Stone is a wife, mom, blogger, recipe developer, and cookbook author. Welcome to Add a Pinch where I share thousands of delicious, tested and perfected easy recipes that the whole family will love.
Why are the amounts not listed with the ingredients on the directions page? Why does it indicate two cups oats “divided?” Butter without and amount is listed in the directions and with the accompanying ingredients for the filling. On the ingredients list which includes amounts, bitter is not listed for the filling. Is it necessary for the filling? This recipe must be figured out to execute.
Sean, I’m sorry but I think you must have this recipe confused with someone else’s. Amounts for all my ingredients are listed in the recipe and nowhere do I have 2 cups oats divided. I only use one cup oats in the topping.
Am i able to make this the night before and add the topic the next day to cook?
Olivia, if you do make this the night before, make sure your apples are coated well with the lemon juice before adding the other ingredients so the apples don’t turn brown. Cover the apple mixture in the 9×13 pan airtight with plastic wrap and refrigerate. It may take a little longer for the apples to cook since everything has been refrigerated.
Wow thank you! Also cooking oats… does this mean old fashioned Or quick minute oats?
I made this recipe yesterday. It is the recipe I’ve been looking for. I have tried several recipes and this is the best. The only thing I added was 4tbs of Fireball to the topping.
Margaret, you can always decrease the amount of cinnamon or omit it as you like. This just contains the amount that my family and friends enjoy. So glad you like it with just the apple flavor.
Hi Robin, thank you for sharing. I will be making this recipe this weekend. ANYTHING apple is my husband’s favorite. Thank you for listing the type of apples you recommend but I”m wondering, do you have a “go-to” combination that you use? Might you share this?
You can use any apples you wish, Debra, but I usually make my apple crisp with a combination of Braeburn, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith apples. Hope you and your husband love this dessert.
This IS the only apple crisp recipe I use. The only thing I add is a 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg to the apple filling. Delicious
It sounds like you love this apple crisp about the same as my family, Ann Marie. Thanks for your tip on the nutmeg.
This recipe was a hit with our guests at a dinner party. Others were asking for the recipe. Best Apple Crisp recipe i have ever made. Two thumbs up from the kids too.
This is the correct amount of apples that I use, Patty. This apple crisp recipe makes a full 9×13 pan of delicious apples, not just a hint of apple flavor. I hope you try it.
Why are the amounts not listed with the ingredients on the directions page? Why does it indicate two cups oats “divided?” Butter without and amount is listed in the directions and with the accompanying ingredients for the filling. On the ingredients list which includes amounts, bitter is not listed for the filling. Is it necessary for the filling? This recipe must be figured out to execute.
Sean, I’m sorry but I think you must have this recipe confused with someone else’s. Amounts for all my ingredients are listed in the recipe and nowhere do I have 2 cups oats divided. I only use one cup oats in the topping.
Am i able to make this the night before and add the topic the next day to cook?
Olivia, if you do make this the night before, make sure your apples are coated well with the lemon juice before adding the other ingredients so the apples don’t turn brown. Cover the apple mixture in the 9×13 pan airtight with plastic wrap and refrigerate. It may take a little longer for the apples to cook since everything has been refrigerated.
Wow thank you! Also cooking oats… does this mean old fashioned Or quick minute oats?
These are the quick 1 minute oats, Olivia.
I made this recipe yesterday. It is the recipe I’ve been looking for. I have tried several recipes and this is the best. The only thing I added was 4tbs of Fireball to the topping.
Why do Americans use so much cinnamon in apple recipes. Try these recipes without the cinnamon and the apple flavour shines through.
Margaret, you can always decrease the amount of cinnamon or omit it as you like. This just contains the amount that my family and friends enjoy. So glad you like it with just the apple flavor.
Hi Robin, thank you for sharing. I will be making this recipe this weekend. ANYTHING apple is my husband’s favorite. Thank you for listing the type of apples you recommend but I”m wondering, do you have a “go-to” combination that you use? Might you share this?
You can use any apples you wish, Debra, but I usually make my apple crisp with a combination of Braeburn, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith apples. Hope you and your husband love this dessert.
This IS the only apple crisp recipe I use. The only thing I add is a 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg to the apple filling. Delicious
It sounds like you love this apple crisp about the same as my family, Ann Marie. Thanks for your tip on the nutmeg.
This recipe was a hit with our guests at a dinner party. Others were asking for the recipe. Best Apple Crisp recipe i have ever made. Two thumbs up from the kids too.
Donna, don’t you love it when your kids like a dish you have made? I’m thrilled that everyone at your dinner party loved this dessert. Thanks!
Seems like a large amount of apples
This is the correct amount of apples that I use, Patty. This apple crisp recipe makes a full 9×13 pan of delicious apples, not just a hint of apple flavor. I hope you try it.