This quick and easy Apple Crisp recipe is everything you want in a cozy fall dessert! All the amazing flavor of a homemade apple pie without the fuss! Tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery, golden oat crumble is the ultimate treat for fall and the holiday season. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dessert everyone will love!
Looking for more apple goodness? Make sure to try these favorites: Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake, Apple Cobbler and this Caramel Apple Cake!
Apple Crisp Recipe
This amazing Apple Crisp recipe is one of those essential fall recipes you’ll use again and again! Perfectly spiced apples topped with a delicious crumble topping. It’s classic, comforting and wonderfully easy to make. Add vanilla ice cream and you have the most perfect fall dessert!
This recipe is quite easy to make – peeling and chopping the apples is really about the only work involved! One of my favorite things about baking this perfect Apple Crisp is the amazing aroma in the kitchen as this bakes!
And while I love a good apple pie, there are days when I want all that delicious apple-and-cinnamon goodness without the extra steps of making and rolling out a pie crust. That’s where this easy apple crisp recipe comes in! It’s an easy dessert for a weeknight dinner, a fall gathering, or even your Thanksgiving table. With its cozy flavors and simple preparation, it’s the kind of dessert you’ll want to make all season long.
This easy recipe is a lovely way to use fresh apples during fall, but it’s just as welcome any time of year. It bakes in a 9×13-inch dish, making it a great choice for family dinners, holiday gatherings or a weekend baking project. You can keep the filling all apple or add pears for a delicious twist. Either way, the combination of soft fruit and crisp, golden topping makes every spoonful worth savoring.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Simple ingredients and a few easy steps make this Apple Crisp a wonderful addition to your dessert rotation. It’s a comforting, homemade treat that works for both everyday occasions and holiday tables.
- Easy to make: No pie crust, fancy decorating, or complicated techniques required.
- Classic fall flavor: Sweet-tart apples and warm cinnamon are a match made in dessert heaven.
- Perfect texture: Tender apples underneath a buttery, golden, crisp topping make every bite delicious.
- Great for sharing: This is an easy dessert to bring to family dinners, potlucks, and fall gatherings.
- Best served warm: Serve it on its own or add ice cream and salted caramel sauce.
- Versatile: This recipe can be made with apples and pears, or all apples… your choice! It’s delicious both ways.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Each ingredient helps create the balance of tender fruit, warm spice and crumbly topping that makes this dessert so inviting. You’ll find the full measurements in the recipe card, along with the complete baking instructions.
For the Apple Filling
- Apples: Apples are obviously the star here, so choosing a good baking apple makes a difference. Granny Smith apples are my favorite because their tart flavor balances the sweetness of the topping and they hold their texture nicely while baking. That said, you can use another firm baking apple or a combination of apples if that’s what you have on hand. Choose firm baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp or Braeburn, or combine sweet and tart varieties for more depth of flavor.
- Pears, optional: Replace three of the seven large apples with three large pears for an apple-pear crisp. Choose ripe but firm pears so they soften during baking without completely breaking down.
- Fresh lemon: Squeezed into the soaking water, lemon helps keep the cut fruit from browning while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Bottled lemon juice can work in the soaking water if needed.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the fruit and adds a subtle molasses flavor. Light brown sugar gives a milder flavor, while dark brown sugar adds a deeper caramel-like note.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and complements both apples and pears. Apple pie spice can replace the cinnamon for a slightly different spice blend.
- All-purpose flour: Helps thicken the fruit juices as the crisp bakes. For a gluten-free variation, try a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour blend in both the filling and topping, and use certified gluten-free oats.
For the Oat Topping
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the crumble and combines with the butter to create tender, crumbly pieces.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the topping, adds flavor and helps it brown in the oven. Either light or dark brown sugar works.
- Cinnamon: Carries the warm spice flavor into the topping so each bite has a little cinnamon.
- Rolled oats: Add texture and a pleasantly hearty bite. Old-fashioned rolled oats work best; quick oats will produce a finer, softer topping. Avoid steel-cut oats, which won’t soften properly in this recipe.
- Salted butter: Adds richness and helps the topping become golden as it bakes. Start with cold butter cut into small pieces for an easy-to-manage crumble. Unsalted butter can be substituted with about ¼ teaspoon salt added to the topping mixture.
For Serving
- Vanilla ice cream: Adds a cool, creamy contrast to the warm fruit and crumble. Whipped cream is another delicious option.
- Salted caramel sauce: Gives the finished dessert an extra layer of sweetness and a little salty contrast. Use homemade or store-bought sauce, or leave it off for a simpler serving.
How To Make Apple Crisp Dessert
This is a perfect recipe to enjoy all through the holiday season! Simple, delicious and everyone loves it! You’ll prepare the apples (an apple corer and slicer make quick work of this!), mix together the buttery topping, layer everything into a baking dish and let the oven do the rest.
Prepare the Apple Filling
- Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking dish by buttering the bottom and sides.
- Combine water and fresh lemon juice in a large bowl.
- Peel, core and slice the apples (and pears, if using), adding the fruit to the lemon water as you work.
- Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and flour in a small bowl.
- Drain the fruit, then toss with the sugar mixture until evenly coated. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
Make the Crisp Topping
- Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour and rolled oats in a large bowl.
- Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour and oat mixture.
- Blend with a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is well incorporated.
Bake the Apple Crisp
- Sprinkle the topping evenly over the prepared fruit.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is deep golden brown.
- Cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce.
Storage Information
Apple Crisp is best served warm and fresh from the oven, but leftovers can be enjoyed later too. If you’re making it ahead, keep the topping from getting soggy by storing the crisp properly and reheating it in the oven.
- Refrigerator: Store leftover apple crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the apple filling and crisp topping ahead of time and refrigerate them separately. Assemble and bake when you’re ready for the freshest, crispiest topping.
- Freezing: Apple Crisp can be frozen for longer storage. Allow it to cool completely, wrap it well, and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: For the best texture, reheat the crisp in the oven until warmed through. This helps the buttery oat topping crisp up again.
Variations To Try
The classic version is pretty hard to beat, but apple dessert recipes are also a great place to experiment. Here are a few easy ways to change things up.
- Add pecans: Mix chopped pecans into the topping for extra crunch and a delicious nutty flavor.
- Apple pear crisp: Use four large apples and three large pears, as noted in the recipe.
- Try walnuts: Chopped walnuts make another wonderful addition to the crisp topping.
- Make it caramel apple: Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the finished crisp for an extra-special treat.
- Add cranberries: A handful of cranberries adds a delicious tart contrast to the sweet apples.
- Increase the spice: Add a pinch of nutmeg or apple pie spice for even more cozy fall flavor.
- Use a combination of apples: Mixing different varieties can give the crisp a fun combination of flavors and textures.
What are the best apples for this apple crisp recipe?
Granny Smith apples for apple crisp are a favorite because they have a pleasantly tart flavor and hold their texture well when baked. Other firm baking apples can also work beautifully. A mix of sweet and tart apples adds balanced flavor, while using one variety keeps things simple.
Do I need to peel the apples?
Peeling the apples is recommended for the classic texture of this recipe, but you can leave the peels on if you prefer. Just be sure to wash the apples well and slice them evenly.
How do I keep the topping crispy?
The best way to maintain a crisp topping is to avoid covering the crisp while it’s still warm, since trapped steam can soften the topping. When reheating leftovers, use the oven to help restore some of that delicious crunch.
Why aren’t my apples tender after 45 minutes?
Apple variety and slice thickness can affect baking time. Continue baking until a knife slides easily into the fruit, covering the topping loosely with foil if it’s already golden.
Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?
Yes, though the topping will have a finer texture and less chew. Rolled oats are the best choice for the texture intended in this recipe.
Can I cut the recipe in half?
Yes! Halve all the ingredients and use an 8×8-inch baking dish. Begin checking a little earlier and use tender apples, bubbling filling and a golden topping as your doneness cues.
Trish’s Tips
Apple crisp is pretty forgiving, but a few little details can make a big difference. These are the things worth keeping in mind when you’re making this recipe.
- Slice the apples evenly: This helps the apples bake at the same rate so you don’t end up with some pieces too firm and others too soft. Aim for slices about ¼ inch thick so the apples soften evenly.
- Give the topping plenty of texture: Those little buttery crumbles are one of the best parts of an apple crisp, so don’t worry about making everything perfectly uniform.
- Let it cool slightly: A few minutes of cooling gives the juices a chance to settle and makes the crisp easier to serve.
- Serve it warm: This dessert is at its best when served warm, especially with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Make it your own: Once you have the classic version down, try adding pecans, walnuts, caramel, or extra warm spices for a fun twist.
There’s a reason apple crisp has remained a classic. It’s easy enough for a casual weeknight dessert, special enough for company, and absolutely packed with the cozy flavors we crave when apple season rolls around. Make this one once and don’t be surprised if it becomes a regular on your fall dessert list!
More Apple Recipes To Try
Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Filling
- ½ lemon
- 7 large apples or 4 large apples and 3 large pears
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
Crisp Topping
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup old fashioned oats rolled oats
- 12 tablespoons salted butter
Serving Suggestions
- vanilla ice cream
- caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. and prepare a 9”x13” baking dish by rubbing the sides and bottom with butter.
- Fill a large bowl about 1/3 full with water, then squeeze ½ of a fresh lemon into the water.½ lemon
- Peel, core and slice apples (and pears if using). As you slice them, add the chopped fruit to the bowl of lemon water. This will prevent the fruit from turning brown while you work.7 large apples
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon and flour.½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ cup all purpose flour
- Drain the bowl of chopped fruit, and then add the sugar/cinnamon/flour mixture. Stir to evenly coat the fruit and then pour the fruit into the prepared baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the remaining cup of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and old fashioned oats.1 cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 cup old fashioned oats
- Cut the butter into small pieces, and then mix into the flour/oat mixture. Use a pastry blender or two forks to mix the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly and the butter has been worked into the dry ingredients.12 tablespoons salted butter
- Pour the crumbs evenly over the dish of fruit.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until deep golden brown.
- Cool for 15 minutes (or more) before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream and Sprouts Salted Caramel Sauce.vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce
Notes
- Refrigerator: Store leftover apple crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the oven or microwave before serving.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the apple filling and crisp topping ahead of time and refrigerate them separately. Assemble and bake when you’re ready for the freshest, crispiest topping.
- Freezing: Apple Crisp can be frozen for longer storage. Allow it to cool completely, wrap it well, and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: For the best texture, reheat the crisp in the oven until warmed through. This helps the buttery oat topping crisp up again.
Equipment Needed (affiliate links): Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Cooling Rack | 9×13 Baking Dish | Apple Peeler Corer | Pastry Blender
Please see post above for more information, recipe tips and frequently asked questions.
Nutrition
Originally published November 19, 2018.
Wow! This looks fab and my kids love apples so another new recipe to try!
YUM! ! ! ! This looks wonderful! Can’t wait to try it! ! ! Another home run!