This classic apple crisp recipe is warm, cozy, and full of Fall flavor. Made with fresh apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a buttery oat topping. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream for the perfect dessert!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Apple Crisp
There’s nothing like the smell of apple crisp baking in the oven. It’s a simple dessert that brings back warm memories. This recipe is made the old fashioned way, just like Grandma used to do. It’s sweet, a little tart, and topped with a golden crispy oat crumble.
Perfect for Fall, holidays, or any night you want a comforting dessert.
Best Apples for Apple Crisp
You can use any apple variety you like, but these work best:
- Golden Delicious – soft, sweet, and flavorful
- Granny Smith – tart and firm for balance
- Fuji – juicy and sweet with a crisp bite
Some people like to leave the skin on, but peeling the apples gives a softer texture. If you’re baking for kids or want a smoother filling, go ahead and peel them.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Spiced Apples:
- 6 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and chopped (or sliced)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1½ teaspoons lemon juice
For the Crisp Topping:
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats (quick oats work, but texture will change)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of kosher salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
How to Make Apple Crisp
- Preheat the Oven. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- Make the Apple Filling. In a large bowl, toss the chopped apples with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish.
- Mix the Topping. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or clean hands to blend until the mix looks like coarse crumbs.
- Assemble and Bake. Spread the oat topping evenly over the apples. Gently press it down. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Serve Warm. Enjoy it fresh from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of warm caramel sauce.
Expert Tips
- You’ll need about 6 to 7 cups of chopped apples.
- Every oven is different. Check your crisp around the 40-minute mark.
- If your apples are super juicy, add a tablespoon of flour to the apple mixture to help absorb the extra liquid.
- Want to prep ahead? Bake it fully, cool it, and refrigerate. Reheat the next day at 350°F for about 30 minutes.
Serving Ideas
- Top with vanilla bean ice cream for a classic touch.
- Drizzle with salted caramel sauce for a bakery-style finish.
- Add a spoonful of whipped cream for extra sweetness.
Storage and Make-Ahead
To Store: Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.
To Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F until hot, about 15 to 20 minutes.
Make-Ahead: You can bake it a day early. Let it cool, cover it, and store in the fridge. Reheat before serving.
Freezing: While this recipe wasn’t tested for freezing, many readers have frozen it after baking with good results.
Conclusion
This old fashioned apple crisp is the perfect dessert for cool nights and cozy gatherings. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a homemade treat that’s always a crowd-pleaser. Try it once and it might become your new favorite Fall dessert.
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, toss chopped apples with granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp cinnamon, and lemon juice. Transfer to the baking dish.
- In another bowl, mix brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, and salt. Add cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or forks to combine until crumbly.
- Spread the topping evenly over the apples. Lightly press down to make it even.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.