Apple Crisp Recipe

Name: Apple Crisp Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 7 medium apples (peeled, cored, and sliced); 1/4 cup lemon juice; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 4 tablespoons butter (melted); 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup quick-cooking oats; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 cup butter (softened)

Robyn Stone

on Sep 14, 2024

90 Comments

4.85 from 20 votes

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My tasty old-fashioned Apple Crisp recipe combines warm cinnamon apples with a buttery oat streusel topping for the perfect cozy dessert! Top this easy apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert everyone loves!

Bowl of Apple Crisp topped with vanilla ice cream.

This heavenly Apple Crisp my family has made for generations always comes to mind when I think of warm, cozy, comfort food desserts. While I make it year-round, it’s a cool weather must! Since it’s an egg-free dessert, it’s great to serve for so many occasions. And it’s so easy and tastes incredible! It’s perfect to serve alongside your Thanksgiving and holiday pies!

This favorite comfort food dessert is loaded with a delicious combination of apples that develop a cinnamon caramel-like glaze, topped with a generous amount of buttery, crisp oat topping. And the aroma that fills the air when this bakes is cozy, comfort food bliss!

Here’s how you’ll make it.

Apples, brown sugar, butter, flour, lemon juice and cinnamon on a baking pan.

Flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, cinnamon, baking powder in glass bowls and butter on marble counter.

Apple Crisp Ingredients

Apples – See the “Best Apples” section to follow. You will need 7 medium apples, peeled and sliced.
Lemon Juice – Enhances the flavor of the apples and keeps them from turning brown.
Brown sugar – Used in both the apple filling and the oat topping. Gives a rich, deep flavor to the dessert.
Flour – Used in the filling to thicken it and is the base of the oat streusel topping. Use all-purpose flour for both.
Cinnamon – Warm spice complements the taste of the apples and the topping.
Butter – You’ll use in the filling and to help create the crumbly texture of the oat streusel topping.
Baking Powder – Works with the flour in the oat topping.
Salt – A bit of salt enhances the sweetness of the apples and the oat topping.
Oats – Use quick-cooking oats for the oat streusel topping

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.

Baking Apples – such as Cortland, Braeburn, and Rome apples
Eating Apples – Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Sweetango apples
Tart Apples – Granny Smith apples

The apples that you choose impact the flavor of your dessert. The combination of sweet and tart apples gives a perfect balance. Using all sweet apples may make the dessert too sweet, while all tart apples can not be sweet enough.

Unbaked apple crisp with apple peeking through oat streusel topping all in white baking dish.

How to Make Apple Crisp

Prep. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Glass bowl with oats, brown sugar, salt baking powder, cinnamon, with stick of butter to mix for oat streusel topping.

Glass bowl with flour, oats, brown sugar, softened butter, and other ingredients to make oat streusel topping for apple crisp.

Butter is combined with dry ingredients for oat streusel topping for apple crisp.

Oat topping for apple crisp in a glass bowl on a marble countertop.

Make the Apple Crisp Oat Streusel Topping.

Add the dry topping ingredients except for the butter to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Then add the softened butter to the flour mixture with a fork, pastry blender, or clean fingers and combine until well incorporated. Place the oat streusel topping in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the Apple Filling.

Stainless mixing bowl with apples, cinnamon, brown sugar flour and other ingredients to make apple crisp filling.

Mixing bowl holds apple crisp filling after all the ingredients are mixed with the sliced apples.

Baking dish with sliced apples mixed with other ingredients to make the apple crisp filling.

White baking dish on marble countertop holds unbaked apple crisp with apple slice peeking out of oat streusel topping.

Then, Make the Apple Crisp Filling.

Combine the apple slices and other apple filling ingredients in a large bowl. Toss together until well coated. Pour the apple mixture into your prepared baking dish. Take the chilled streusel topping from the refrigerator and evenly spread atop the apple mixture.

Apple filling is topped with oat streusel topping in white baking dish ready to bake.

Bake the Apple Crisp. Let the dish bake in the oven until the apples are tender and the streusel topping has turned golden brown, about 45 minutes. Place baking dish on cooling rack to cool for a few minutes. Serve warm as is or top with homemade vanilla ice cream and even a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. It’s also delicious with a dollop or two of homemade whipped cream!

Bowl of Apple Crisp topped with ice cream being lifted with spoon.

Storage Tips

To Refrigerate. Cover leftovers or place in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

To Make Ahead or Freeze. Make the recipe 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.

You can also bake the recipe, cool it completely, wrap it well, place it in a freezer-safe container, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake at recipe temperature for about 30 minutes or until bubbly around the edges and warmed throughout.

If you wish to make ahead and bake the next day, prepare the recipe according to instructions. Do not bake; wrap well and place in the refrigerator for up to one day before baking. Then bake as directed until done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to peel the apples?

Sometimes, I leave some of the peelings on my apples. I like the taste and the bits of color that may peek through as you spoon into the dessert. Other times, I completely peel the apples.

What is the difference between an apple crumble and an apple crisp?

Apple crisps usually have oats or nuts mixed as part of the streusel topping ingredients, but a crumble does not. Both are baked fruit desserts layered with a topping.

How do I know when my apple crisp is done?

Bake according to recipe instructions until the fruit filling begins to bubble around the edges and the streusel topping is golden brown and crisp.

Baking dish of freshly baked Apple Crisp with golden brown streusel topping.

If you love comforting and warm fruit desserts, my easy peach cobbler, blueberry cobbler, and classic banana pudding are a few more simple, delicious fruit desserts to try.

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

Here’s my family’s favorite Apple Crisp recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

4.85 from 20 votes (1 rating without comment)