This classic apple crisp recipe strikes the perfect balance of warm, tender fruit and buttery oat topping. Ready in just 50 minutes, it delivers pure comfort in every spoonful – with sweet, cinnamon-scented apples nestled beneath a golden-brown crumble.
Whether served on a cozy autumn evening or as the finale to a special dinner, this timeless dessert never fails to delight. The best part? It requires only 15 minutes of hands-on prep before your kitchen fills with irresistible aromas.
Ingredients Section
For Crumble Topping:
- Rolled Oats: 2/3 cup old-fashioned, provides perfect texture
- Flour: 1/2 cup all-purpose, creates structure
- Brown Sugar: 1/2 cup light, adds rich sweetness
- Cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon, enhances warmth
- Butter: 1/2 cup salted, cut small for easy mixing
- Baking Powder: 1/2 teaspoon, helps achieve perfect texture
For Apple Filling:
- Granny Smith Apples: 3-4 large, peeled and sliced thin for ideal baking
- Butter: 3 tablespoons melted, creates richness
- Flour: 2 tablespoons, helps thicken the filling
- Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon, balances sweetness
- Milk: 3 tablespoons, adds moisture
- Brown Sugar: 1/4 cup light, perfect sweetness
- Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg, for classic fall flavoring
Instructions Section
- Prepare Oven: Heat to 375°F for optimal baking temperature
- Make Topping: Combine dry ingredients, cut in butter until crumbly
- Create Filling: Mix butter-flour mixture with other liquid ingredients
- Prepare Apples: Coat sliced apples with prepared mixture
- Assemble: Layer apples in 8×8 dish, top with crumble mixture
- Bake: 35 minutes until golden brown and bubbly
- Cool & Serve: Let rest 15 minutes, then serve with ice cream if desired
Cooking Techniques
The magic of this apple crisp happens in two easy steps! For the crumble topping, use a pastry blender or fork to mix the butter into the dry ingredients until you see small, pea-sized pieces form. This creates that wonderful crispy texture we all love.
When preparing the apples, a Johnny Apple Peeler makes quick work of peeling, coring, and slicing – but don’t worry if you don’t have one! A regular peeler and knife work just fine. Just try to keep your apple slices about the same thickness for even baking.
Apple Choices & Substitutions
While this recipe calls for Granny Smith apples, you can mix and match different apple varieties for more complex flavors. Try combining Granny Smith with Honeycrisp for a sweet-tart balance, or use Pink Lady apples for a naturally sweeter crisp.
If you need to make this recipe gluten-free, simply swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite gluten-free blend. For the oats, both quick-cooking and old-fashioned work great – use what you have on hand!
Serving Tips
Timing is everything with apple crisp! Let it rest for 15 minutes after baking – this helps the filling set up nicely and prevents burnt tongues. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts perfectly into all the nooks and crannies.
Want to make it extra special? Drizzle some caramel sauce on top. For breakfast the next day (yes, we’re going there!), try it with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of granola.
Storage & Reheating
Once cooled, cover your apple crisp with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. It stays fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat, pop individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or warm the whole dish in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. The topping might soften in storage, but a few minutes under the broiler will crisp it right back up!
Apple Crisp
Equipment
- 8×8 inch baking dish
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
- 2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup salted butter cut into small pieces
Apple filling
- 3-4 large Granny Smith apples peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter melted
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a medium size bowl combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until well combined. Refrigerate while you prepare the apple filling.
- In a small bowl stir together melted butter and flour until smooth. Add lemon juice, milk and vanilla and stir. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour butter mixture over apples and toss to coat.
- Pour apple mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and top is set.
- Remove from oven cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce, if desired.
