This old‑fashioned Apple Crisp is made with tender, juicy apples baked under a cinnamon‑oat crumble topping. Served warm, it’s a cozy dessert that’s perfect any time apples are in season.
This easy Apple Crisp recipe is a longtime favorite in our house. It’s one of those desserts that reminds me of fall, but truthfully, we make it all year long!
I love how it takes such simple ingredients – apples, oats, sugar, and butter – and turns them into something so cozy and delicious. The spiced apples bake into a bubbling, sweet filling and the cinnamon-brown sugar oat topping gives it just the right crunch.
We like to serve it warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce on top. If you’ve never made Apple Crisp before, you’re in for a real treat!
Key Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Apples: I like to use a mix of sweet and tart apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp or Fuji for the best flavor.
- Sugar: I typically use granulated sugar in the apple filling and brown sugar in the oat topping. For a more caramel-like flavor, use all brown sugar.
- Cinnamon: If you prefer a heavier spiced flavor, feel free to use an equal amount of apple pie spice instead!
- Salted Butter: If using unsalted butter, just add a pinch more salt.
- Oats: Use old-fashioned, also sometimes called rolled oats, to give the topping its signature crisp texture. Don’t use quick oats as they’ll turn mushy.
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How To Make Apple Crisp
I’ve made this easy Apple Crisp more times than I can count, and along the way I’ve picked up some useful tricks that I’ll share below. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full instructions!
Peel the apples and slice them thinly so they cook evenly. If the slices are too thick, they won’t soften fully in the short baking time. You can leave the peels on if you prefer, but I like the texture better without.
Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature, but not melted. This helps it blend perfectly with the brown sugar and oats. To more quickly soften butter, grate it with a cheese grater!
Mix the oats in last! Stirring them in separately keeps them from getting too broken down and mushy. If your topping seems too dry, add just a touch more butter to pull it together.
Is your oat topping browning too fast? Lightly tent the top of your crisp with foil to prevent it from darkening more. You can do this at any point during the bake time!
Let the crisp rest for 10 minutes after baking. This gives the filling a chance to set up, making it easier to serve and keeping the topping from sliding off.
Apple Crisp Recipe Variations
Filling Variations: Swap half of the apples for thinly sliced pears or peaches. You can also replace a cup or two of the apples for berries, like cranberries, strawberries, etc. For a little brighter flavor, stir in about a teaspoon of lemon juice. For a maple apple crisp, you can replace 1/2 of the sugar in the filling with real maple syrup.
Topping Variations: Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds into the oat topping for extra crunch. To add a maple flavoring to the topping, I recommend adding 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon maple extract – a little goes a long way!
Individual Servings: Bake the crisp in ramekins for personal-sized desserts that feel extra special. Start checking in on them around 15 minutes.
Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups peeled and thinly sliced fresh apples
- ½ cup granulated sugar, or brown sugar
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, room temperature
- 1 ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter an 9×9 baking pan, and set aside.
- Mix the apples, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and salt together in a large bowl until well combined. Pour the apple mixture onto the prepared pan and set aside.
- In the same large bowl, cream together the brown sugar, remaining ½ cup flour, butter, and remaining teaspoon of cinnamon, until it forms a wet, clumpy mixture. Add the oats and stir to form a coarse mixture. I find it easiest to do this with my hands.
- Crumble the oats on top of the apples in an even layer. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the oats start to turn a light golden color around the edges. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes to cool and set up. Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream if desired.
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Notes
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More Fruit Dessert Recipes To Try
- This classic peach crisp is a reader favorite!
- Homemade apple pie filling is so much better than store bought.
- You won’t be able to resist this warm pumpkin crisp.
- Old-school Mountain Dew apple dumplings are surprisingly good.
- Berry cobbler with a cinnamon crumb topping is a must make!
- This caramel apple dump cake is made easy with 5 ingredients.
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