Apple Crisp

This easy Apple Crisp with oatmeal topping is a real game-changer. With a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and some simple ingredients, you’ll have this ready in no time!

I love apple pie, especially when it has a crumble topping! But sometimes, making a pie crust just isn’t in the cards for whatever reason. I can get the same flavors with a lot less work by making this easy Apple Crisp recipe, making this a favorite fall dessert for my family!

Apple Crisp, Apple Cobbler, Apple Crumble- What’s the difference?

Sometimes our terminology depends on where we live. But generally, a cobbler is a fruit dessert with a top crust, but no bottom crust. A crisp and a crumble are pretty much the same things– a fruit dessert with a streusel topping, often made with old-fashioned oats, then baked until the top is crispy. There’s also something called a Brown Betty- layers of fruit and crumb filling baked together.

What type of apples should I use for Apple Crisp?

Apple crisp tastes best with firm, tart apples that hold up well to baking. Look for Granny Smith apples, Honeycrisp apples, or Golden Delicious apples. Of course, you can use whatever kind of apples you prefer.

Apple Crisp Ingredients

Gather together the things you’ll need to make this easy recipe. Note– this makes an 8×8 dish. Double the ingredients for a larger crowd and use a 9×13 baking dish.

• 2-3 medium apples
• Salt (divided)
• All-purpose flour
• Light brown sugar
• Old-fashioned/rolled oats
  • Quick tip: A great option is to substitute quick-cooking oats for the old-fashioned oats in this recipe. DO NOT use steel-cut oats as they take much longer to cook and have a different texture and flavor. 
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Butter, melted
• Lemon juice
• Cornstarch
• Sugar
• Water
• Vanilla extract

How to Make Apple Crisp

With just a few easy steps, you will be on your way to enjoying this delicious apple recipe!

The first thing to do is preheat your oven to 350 degrees, then spray an 8×8 dish with cooking spray. Set it aside.

In a medium bowl, combine ½ tsp salt with flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then mix well. Add the melted butter to the flour mixture and stir until it resembles coarse crumbs. Then reserve 1 cup and set it aside for your crisp topping.

Core, peel, and dice or slice your apples. Place them in a large bowl and sprinkle the sliced apples with the lemon juice. This will help keep them from browning.

In a small saucepan, combine cornstarch, sugar, and ⅛ tsp of salt, then mix well. Whisk in the water and heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Continue cooking until the mixture forms a thick paste, then remove from heat.

Add vanilla extract to the heated mixture and stir. Pour over apples and toss to coat them.

Add the flour/butter mixture to the coated apples and thoroughly combine, then place the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover the top of the apples with the reserved cup of crumb topping.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling. Serve with ice cream or whipped topping and a drizzle of caramel sauce!

Can I make Apple Crisp in advance?

This recipe is the perfect apple dessert to make ahead of time! Simply bake as directed, cool to room temperature, then cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate. When you’re ready, reheat it uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. If you’re worried about a soggy topping, go ahead and make the topping ahead of time as directed but don’t add it to the apple crisp in the initial bake- wait until you reheat it.

You can also store leftover apple crisp by placing any leftovers in an airtight container. Keep them in the refrigerator and enjoy them the next day reheated in the microwave. This apple crisp will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge. 

Favorite Apple Recipes

A quick look around my blog will prove how much I love apple desserts! I can’t even list them all here, but you’ve got to try some of my favorites:

For a decadent treat, try these Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars. This Apple Ginger Galette would make a stunning addition to your holiday dessert table. If you’ve gotta have pie, you must make my aunt’s Apple Cream Pie– it’s delicious! Try apples for breakfast with these Baked Apple Cinnamon Pancakes or this Apple Crumb Cake which I absolutely fell in love with after the first bite.

Instead of using just the cinnamon and nutmeg in this crisp recipe and other apple recipes, substitute this Homemade Apple Pie Spice to add even more flavor.

Holiday Desserts

Need the perfect complement to Apple Crisp to serve for the holidays? Try one of these festive desserts:

• No-Bake Pumpkin Nutella Cheesecake
• Peppermint Dream Dessert
• Easy Cranberry Pie
• 5-Ingredient Chocolate Torte
• Peppermint Brownie Pie

This is simply the best Apple Crisp recipe that I know you’ll want to make again and again. Let me know what you think!

FOLLOW ME

 FACEBOOK ~ PINTEREST 
 INSTAGRAM ~ TWITTER 
YOUTUBE

Keep an eye out for more of my easy recipes each week!