This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe is simply delicious and good all year ’round. Whether it’s a cozy winter evening or a sunny summer day, this dessert hits the spot every time. With tender, spiced apples nestled under a golden, crispy oat topping, each bite offers a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and buttery flavors. It’s quick and easy to make, so you can enjoy the warmth and comfort of homemade apple crisp without spending hours in the kitchen. Try it once, and it’s sure to become your go-to recipe for any occasion!
The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
This easy apple crisp recipe is the best because it combines the perfect balance of flavors and textures with unbeatable simplicity. The apples are perfectly spiced and sweetened adding a comforting flavor that pairs beautifully with the buttery, golden oat topping. The crisp is crunchy, yet melts in your mouth, providing a satisfying contrast to the tender, juicy apples underneath. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make, requiring only a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or as a quick weeknight dessert, this apple crisp is sure to impress and become a favorite in your recipe collection.
More Delicious Fall Treats
- Honey Bun Cake
- Easy Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Pumpkin Bars with Chocolate Chips
- Brown Butter Sweet Potato Cheesecake
- Sweet Potato Cookies
- Banana Bars with Chocolate Chips
- Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients You’ll Need for this Apple Crisp
Apple Filling
Apples: I use 6 medium-sized Granny Smith apples for this recipe because I love the balance of the tart apples with the sweet jam created by the apples and sugar.
Half-and-Half: Makes the filling richer and creamier, creating a more velvety texture. It blends with the juices from the apples and the spices, resulting in a filling that’s smooth, slightly thickened, and extra indulgent (almost like caramel).
Water: I use 1 tbsp of water to add additional moisture to the filling. I love my filling a bit juicy so I can pour over my vanilla ice cream. YUM.
Lemon Juice: Adds acidity and brightness, which helps balance this sweet treat.
Brown Sugar: Deepens the flavor with its rich, caramel-like notes. It enhances the sweetness of the apples while also adding moisture, creating a syrupy consistency as the filling bakes.
Cornstarch: Thickens the filling.
Spices: I use cinnamon, cardamon, and nutmeg for the perfect spice profile.
Vanilla Extract: Adds delicious vanilla notes to the filling.
Salt: Intensifies the natural sweetness of the apples, sharpens the spiced notes, and deepens the overall taste, making the filling more flavorful and well-rounded.
Crisp Topping
Old Fashioned Oats: Provide a hearty, crunchy, chewy texture that contrasts beautifully with the soft, tender apple filling.
All-Purpose Flour: We are using all-purpose flour to help form the base of this apple crisp topping. However, if you need this crisp to be gluten-free I recommend using almond flour or a 1 to 1 all-purpose gluten-free flour. KING ARTHUR and CUP 4 CUP are two great options. I also include tips on measuring flour below, which will ensure your cookies do not turn out dry or crumbly.
Brown Sugar: Adds delicious sweetness.
Cinnamon: Adds additional spice to the crisp, which pairs well with the filling.
Baking Powder: helps with leveling the crisp topping and aids in its texture,
Salt: Adds additional flavor
Butter: I use cold butter for this apple crisp recipe. Using cold butter in the apple crisp topping is essential for achieving a perfect, crumbly texture.
How to Make this Apple Crisp Recipe?
Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then, grease a 9-inch, deep dish pie dish and set aside.
Step 2. Then, in a medium bowl, make the apple crisp topping. Add the oats, flour, dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and baking powder to the mixing bowl. Use a fork to mix all of the dry ingredients until well combined. Then, add the cold butter to the mixture. Cut the butter into the crisp mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs. Alternatively, you can use two forks or your hands to make these crumbs — just work fast to ensure your hands don’t melt the butter. Once done, place your crumbs into the refrigerator until Step 4.
Step 3. Next, to a large mixing bowl, add half-and-half, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, cornstarch, water, and brown sugar. Whisk until combined. Then, add your sliced apples and toss until everything is well combined and the apples are fully coated.
Step 4. Next, transfer the apples to the prepared pie dish. Then, remove the crisp topping from the refrigerator and sprinkle the crisp evenly over the apple filling.
Step 5. Bake the crisp at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes until the apple filling is bubbling.
Step 6. Once the crisp is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for at least 40 minutes before serving, as the filling will need to set.
What are the Best Apples for Baking?
When it comes to baking, particularly for dishes like apple crisp, pie, or cobbler, choosing the right apple is crucial for achieving the best texture and flavor. Choose firm, slightly tart apples for baking to ensure they hold their shape and provide a balanced flavor. Opt for juicy apples to keep the filling moist and flavorful. Here’s a breakdown of the best apples for baking and why:
- Granny Smith: Tart, firm, and holds shape well.
- Honeycrisp: Crisp, juicy, and balanced sweet-tart flavor.
- Fuji: Sweet, firm, and juicy.
- Braeburn: Sweet-tart with a firm texture.
- Jonagold: Sweet-tart and juicy.
- Mutsu (Crispin): Sweet, crisp, and holds shape.
Can I Make this Apple Crisp Gluten-Free?
Yes, you can use almond flour if you want to make this recipe gluten-free. If you have a nut allergy, or do not have almond flour in your pantry, you can replace it with oat flour. Alternatively, you can use a 1 to 1 all-purpose gluten-free flour. KING ARTHUR and CUP 4 CUP are two great options.
More Delicious Dessert Recipes
- The Best Fudge Brownie
- The Best Strawberry Cheesecake
- Lemon Pound Cake with Lemon Icing
- Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
FAQs
What is apple crisp?
Apple crisp is a dessert made with baked apples and a crumbly topping made from flour, sugar, butter, and often oats or nuts. It’s known for its combination of tender, sweet apples and a crunchy, buttery topping.
Can I use other apples instead of Granny Smith?
Yes, but the best apples for apple crisp are firm and slightly tart varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. These apples hold their shape during baking and balance the sweetness of the topping.
How do I prevent the apple crisp topping from getting soggy?
Ensure the butter you use for the apple crisp is cold.
What can I serve with this apple crisp with oats?
Apple crisp is delicious on its own, but it’s often served with vanilla ice cream, maple whipped cream, or a drizzle of salted caramel sauce to enhance the flavors.
Can I make apple crisp with less sugar?
Yes, you can reduce the sugar in both the apple filling and the topping if you prefer a less sweet dessert. You can also substitute some or all of the sugar with a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or a sugar substitute.
What type of oats should I use in the topping?
Old-fashioned rolled oats are ideal for apple crisp because they add a nice texture to the topping. Quick oats can be used in a pinch, but the topping might be less crunchy. Avoid using steel-cut oats, as they won’t soften enough during baking.
More Apple Desserts
I hope you love this Apple Crisp Recipe! It is absolutely delicious and definitely a showstopper. If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @butterloveandsalt on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews help support Butter, Love & Salt and make it possible for me to continue to create delicious recipes.
The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Crisp
- 6 medium-sized Granny Smith apples peeled and cut into thin slices
- 1/4 cup half-and-half
- 1 tbsp of water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cardamom
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- vanilla ice cream for serving
- our caramel sauce for serving
Crisp Topping
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter finely cubed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then, grease a 9-inch, deep dish pie dish and set aside.
- Then, in a medium bowl, make the crisp topping. Add the oats, flour, dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and baking powder to the mixing bowl. Use a fork to mix all of the dry ingredients until well combined. Then, add the cold butter to the mixture. Cut the butter into the crisp mixture with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs. Alternatively, you can use two forks or your hands to make these crumbs — just work fast to ensure your hands don’t melt the butter. Once done, place your crumbs into the refrigerator until Step 4.
- Next, to a large mixing bowl, add half-and-half, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, cornstarch, water, and brown sugar. Whisk until combined. Then, add your sliced apples and toss until everything is well combined and the apples are fully coated.
- Next, transfer the apples to the prepared pie dish. Then, remove the crisp topping from the refrigerator and sprinkle the crisp evenly over the apple filling.
- Bake the crisp at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes until the apple filling is bubbling.
- Once the crisp is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for at least 40 minutes before serving, as the filling will need to set.
Nutritional Information
Recipe by: Chavez Adams / Butter, Love & Salt | Photography by: Meg McKeehan
Super easy to make and full of flavor! The whole family loved it. Do not skip the homemade carmel topping!
So glad it was a hit!
Made this apple crisp for one of our Thanksgiving desserts and it was a hit! Definitely preferred this recipe to some of the other more basic apple crisp recipes you can find that don’t incorporate anything besides apples in the filling. The half-and-half in the apple filling combines with the brown sugar to make a really delicious syrup. We served with vanilla ice cream but could also see it being great with just some whipped cream to balance out some of the sweetness. Highly recommend!
so glad you loved it! Yes, the filling adds a delicious caramel-like syrup that is to die for! Thanks for recommending! 🙂