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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

Easy Apple Crisp

Steven
This classic dessert brings together tender cinnamon apples and a buttery oat topping that gets perfectly golden and crispy.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 245 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish - or 9x9-inch for a thicker crisp
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Sharp knife
  • Apple peeler
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Pastry cutter - or fork
  • Wooden spoon - or spatula
  • Apple peeler/corer/slicer - optional, for faster prep
  • Microplane - or zester for fresh nutmeg (optional)

Ingredients
  

For the Apple Filling

  • 7 medium apples - about 2.5 lbs or 1.1 kg, peeled and sliced (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour - 15g
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar - 38g
  • 0.25 cup brown sugar - 50g, packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - 5ml
  • 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • salt - pinch

For the Crisp Topping

  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats - 90g
  • 0.75 cup all-purpose flour - 94g
  • 0.75 cup brown sugar - 150g, packed
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter - 113g, cold and cut into small cubes

For Serving (Optional)

  • vanilla ice cream - for serving
  • whipped cream - for serving
  • caramel sauce - for drizzling (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) with rack in center. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
  • Peel all apples, cut into quarters, remove the core, and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices or 1/2-inch chunks.
  • In a large bowl, combine sliced apples with flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss until evenly coated.
  • Transfer apple mixture to prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
  • In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk dry ingredients together until well mixed.
  • Add cold butter cubes to the dry mixture. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces.
  • Scatter the crumb topping evenly over the apple filling, pressing down slightly to help it adhere. Spread topping all the way to the edges.
  • Place baking dish on center oven rack. Bake for 45-50 minutes until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling around the edges. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
  • Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack for 15-20 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce if desired.

Notes

  • Apple selection: Mix apple varieties for complex flavor (try 3 Granny Smith + 3 Honeycrisp). Slice apples uniformly so they cook at the same rate.
  • Keep butter cold: Cold butter is crucial for a crumbly topping. Don't overmix the topping or it will become dense instead of crumbly.
  • Extra crunch: Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping for additional texture and flavor.
  • Make-ahead: Prepare topping up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. Slice apples and toss with a little lemon juice, store covered for up to 4 hours. Assemble completely and refrigerate unbaked for up to 6 hours before baking (add 5-10 minutes to baking time).
  • Storage: Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze unbaked or baked crisp for up to 3 months.
  • Reheating: For best results, reheat in 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes to restore crispy topping texture. Microwave works for individual portions but topping won't be as crispy.
  • Prevent watery crisp: Don't skip the flour in the filling - it thickens the apple juices during baking. If using very juicy apples, increase flour to 3 tablespoons.
  • Fruit variations: Try apple-pear (3 apples + 3 pears), apple-cranberry (add 1 cup fresh cranberries), or apple-blueberry (fold in 1 cup blueberries). Drizzle caramel sauce over apples before adding topping for caramel apple crisp.
  • Dietary adaptations: For gluten-free use certified gluten-free oats and flour blend. For vegan substitute coconut oil or vegan butter. Reduce sugar amounts by one-third to one-half if desired.
  • Serving suggestion: The classic pairing of warm apple crisp with cold vanilla ice cream creates an irresistible temperature and texture contrast.
Keyword apple crisp, easy apple crisp, fall dessert