Apple Crisp Recipe
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This Apple Crisp Recipe is a cozy, old-fashioned dessert featuring warm, tender cinnamon apples and a buttery oat streusel topping. It’s a comforting treat that’s perfect for holidays or weeknight dinners when you want a warm, delicious dessert!
The warm and cozy apples and crunchy oat topping of this family favorite apple crisp make it a perfect comforting dessert! This recipe features sweet and tart apples that achieve a caramel flavor, complemented by a buttery streusel, for a tried-and-true dessert passed down through the generations. Perfect served on a weeknight, at Thanksgiving, and alongside holiday pies, it’s a beloved recipe that fills the house with a heavenly aroma.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Crisp Recipe
- Uses Staple Ingredients: Common pantry ingredients for an easy dessert.
- Easy to Make: Simple preparation and bakes in less than an hour.
- Egg-Free: Perfect dessert for those with dietary restrictions.
- Decadent Texture: Juicy, flavorful apples covered in crunchy oat topping.
- Tested Family Recipe: Made over generations from scratch for a trusted dessert.
- Cozy and Versatile: Perfect for a cozy family dinner, party, or on a holiday dessert table.
Ingredients for Apple Crisp
- Apples: 7 medium apples, peeled and sliced for filling.
- Lemon Juice: Enhances flavor and prevents apples from browning
- Brown sugar: Used in both the filling and topping for a rich sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Used to thicken filling and as the base of the oat streusel topping.
- Cinnamon: Used in the apple filling and the topping for warmth.
- Butter: Use softened butter in both the filling and to create the rich crumble topping.
- Baking Powder: Works with the flour to soften the oat topping.
- Salt: Enhances the sweetness and flavors of apples and the topping.
- Oats: Use quick-cooking oats to create a crunchy oat streusel topping.
Optional Extra Toppings:
Top warm, freshly baked apple crisp with:
Ingredient Swaps
- Apples: Use a mix of baking, eating, and tart apples. See “Best Apples” to follow.
- Flour: Swap with gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.
- Butter: Use vegan butter for a dairy-free version.
Best Apples for Apple Crisp
For the best flavors, a combination of apples works best.
- Baking Apples (give a soft texture): Cortland, Braeburn, and Rome
- Eating Apples (crisp, sweetness): Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Sweetango
- Tart Apples (balances flavors): Granny Smith
A combination of sweet and tart apples gives a perfect balance; all sweet may make the dessert too sweet, while all tart may not be sweet enough.
How to Make Apple Crisp
This loved dessert is simple to make with minimal steps and is baked to a fragrant, golden perfection.
Step by Step Instructions
- Preheat oven and prep baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt for topping.
- Add and combine softened butter to mixed dry ingredients with fork, pastry blender or clean fingers until crumbly.
- After the crumbly texture is gained after mixing, cover bowl and refrigerate while prepping the filling.
- Prepare apple filling in another mixing bowl by tossing peeled, sliced apples with lemon juice, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and 2 tbsp melted butter.
- Mix sliced apples and filling ingredients until apples are well-coated.
- Assemble dessert by first pouring apple filling into baking dish.
- Complete assembly of the dessert by adding chilled oat topping evenly over the apple filling in the baking dish.
- Bake 30-45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Set dish on cooling rack for 5 minutes and serve.
- Serve warm apple crisp alone or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Recipe Success Tips
- Use Mix of Apples: A combination of sweet and tart varieties gives the best, balanced taste.
- Evenly Sliced Apples: Create even apple slices to cook evenly.
- Chill the Topping: Refrigerate the oat streusel topping while prepping the filling to keep it crumbly.
- Don’t Overmix Topping: Combine topping just until crumbly.
- Check for Doneness: Check apples for fork-tenderness but no mushy texture.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Cool and place in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, wrap tightly in freezer wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or microwave in 30-second increments.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the filling and topping separately without baking, refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then assemble and bake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple crisp usually has oats or nuts mixed as part of the topping, which gives a crunchy texture, but a crumble omits oats for a more flour-based topping.
Toss apples with flour and lemon juice in the recipe to thicken the filling.
Bake according to recipe instructions until the fruit filling begins to bubble around the edges and the topping is a crisp golden brown. Test a couple of apple slices for fork-tenderness, but do not cook until mushy.
More Favorite Apple and Fall Recipes
- Classic Pumpkin Pie
- Sweet Potato Casserole – great with the meal and as a dessert!
- Apple Cider
- Pecan Pie
- Apple Pie
Why This Apple Crisp is a Fall Must
This decadent comfort food dessert features caramel-like apples, topped with a rich, crisp oat topping, and is easy to prepare. Perfect for cozy holiday desserts and weeknight dinners, the aroma of this apple crisp enhances its delicious warmth.
Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 7 medium (1,274 g) apples , peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/4 cup (56 g) lemon juice
- 1/2 cup (107 g) brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons (22.5 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (2.6 g) ground cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons (56 g) butter, melted
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.65 g) kosher salt
Apple Crisp Topping:
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (214 g) brown sugar
- 1 cup (82 g) quick-cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon (2.6 g) ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon (2 g) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (113 g) butter , softened
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F.
- 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.
Notes
- Store: Cool and place in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Cool completely, wrap tightly in freezer wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Freeze Without Baking:. Assemble without baking, wrap it well, cover it in an airtight freezer-safe container, and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed until done.
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or microwave in 30-second increments.
- Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the filling and topping separately without baking, refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then assemble and bake.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I was disappointed that the topping was not crisp at all. Tasted good but he oatmeal on top never cooked or mixed in. Also, next time I would cut apples in chunks instead of slices to make it easier to eat.
Hi Janet,
I’m so sorry the topping didn’t crisp up for you. I love the idea of cutting the apples into chunks, too! xo
What is the reason for the oil in this recipe?
Hi Tarey,
The oil helps bind the sugar and oats together. Thanks!
I don’t have quick cooking oats. Can I used old fashioned oats?
Hi Shannon – I give the measurement in cups in the recipe because of the vast difference in sizes of apples. Some apples you could use are huge, and other delicious apples are small. I hope you enjoy this apple crisp – it’s a delicious dessert!
Happy holidays! xo
Hi Pat – I’ve not had it turn out too dry when I’ve made it. I’m so sorry it didn’t turn out for you. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.
What name of Apple that you use this recipe?
Hi Karen,
You can use any baking apple, such as Braeburn, Gala, etc. I hope you enjoy the Apple Crisp! Thanks! xo
This looks a lot like my recipe! But I add chopped pecans to the topping. And I always use Granny Smith apples (peeled) to cut some of the sweetness. Looks divine!!
Where do you get the Apple crisp to put in this recipe or do you make it yourself
Hi Donna,
This recipe actually makes the Apple Crisp. Let me know if you have any more question on this! xo
Can u use ‘I can’t believe it’s not butter’ for the topping? Would it still come out ok, I wonder?
I have not used that with this recipe so I can’t tell you how it will turn out.
Just put it together and it looks good. Serving it with French Vanilla ice cream. Waiting to bake it. Our anniversary dessert.
Can I combine a can of drained sour cherries to the apples? If so, would I have to mix the sour cherries with something else first, or does it need to be cherry pie filling? Thanks!