Easy Apple Crisp

What Is Apple Crisp?

Apple crisp is a lot like an apple pie. The biggest difference is its assembly! Instead of a crust, it is topped with a crispy cinnamon sugar oatmeal topping. The apple crisp filling is tender, sweet, and extra delicious.

This is a classic dessert that dates back to Britain in 1924. Nowadays, there are so many different varieties of crisps. Besides apple, peach crisps are also very popular.

The flavors of cinnamon and apples are reminiscent of apple orchards and hot lattes. This is the perfect way to celebrate the changing of the seasons as summer gives way to colder months.

Many people struggle with how to get the topping crispy when making this type of dessert. This recipe will give you a crispy topping every single time.

Here’s the secret: keep the butter cold and in small pieces. Use a pastry cutter to mix

the butter into the other ingredients. As it bakes, the cold butter will crisp up the topping perfectly.

What You’ll Love About This Apple Crisp Recipe

• The contrasting textures of crispy oats and soft apples are a delightful combination.
• The ingredients are pantry staples, and you probably already have everything you need.
• This simple recipe feeds a crowd, so it’s perfect for large family dinners.
• The tart apples enhance the sweet flavors in the buttery cinnamon sauce.
• It tastes just like apple pie, but without all the fuss of a homemade crust.

Key Ingredients For The Best Apple Crisp

Though amounts can vary a bit depending on taste, the basic ingredients are items you may already have in your pantry and fridge. Here they are:

For The Cinnamon Oat Topping

• All-purpose flour: gives body to the apple crisp topping.
• Old-fashioned rolled oats: old fashioned oats work better than instant oats, as they have a heartier texture.
• Brown sugar: sweetens the topping and adds a rich caramel flavor.
• Cinnamon: essential for any fall-flavored apple dessert; be sure your ground cinnamon is fresh.
• Salt: balance and enhance your baking or cooking with a bit of salt.
• Butter: real butter gives the topping a rich golden color/flavor as it bakes.
• Toasted pecans: adds a wonderful crunch to the topping and nutty flavor.

For The Apple Filling

• Apples: we recommend using granny smith and honeycrisp apples, as they hold their shape during baking.
• Lemon: both the lemon zest and lemon juice bring out the sweetness in the apples.
• Brown sugar: this sweetens the apple crisp and caramelizes beautifully as it bakes.
• Cinnamon: be sure your cinnamon is fresh; it’s highly recommended that you start with a fresh new jar every fall.
• Nutmeg: this earthy, fragrant spice that pairs perfectly with cinnamon.
• Cloves: you’ll often find cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together in apple pie spice!

Pro Tips for how to make easy apple crisp

• Butter the baking dish really well to prevent sticking.
• Make sure the butter is cold before you add it to the rest of the topping ingredients. You should be still able to see small chunks of butter in the mixture.
• If you want to mix the topping by hand, make sure your hands are cool and clean. Warmer hands will melt the butter too much.
• After baking the crisp for about 45 minutes, cover loosely with foil to prevent it from burning.

More to Bake And Eat

• Chewy Apple Oatmeal Bars (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar-Free) – Everyone’s favorite dessert meets a healthy on-the-go breakfast with these easy bars.
• Apple Pie Bars – If you love this apple crisp, these apple bars will become your new go-to snack this fall.
• Dutch Apple Pie – The perfect balance between sweet and tangy, this apple pie is absolutely scrumptious and perfect for feeding a crowd.
• Apple Cake with Caramel – If you’re looking for a make-ahead treat, this gem of a cake is just what you need.

Also Try Our Popular Apple Pie

Easy Apple Crisp

5 from 22 ratings

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Apple Crisps are a classic, yet they’re often dry or mushy with less than stellar topping. This Easy Apple Crisp is tender, juicy, yet holds its form. You’ll love the ultra crispy topping.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

Servings: 8

Ingredients  

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For the Topping:

• ¾ cup all purpose flour
• ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp table salt
• ½ cup salted butter, diced and cold
• ¼ cup pecans, toasted

For the Filling:

• 2 ½ lbs apples, recommend firm granny smith and honeycrisp apples, sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces
• Zest + Juice of 1 large lemon, a little under 1/4 cup juice
• ½ cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• Optional: vanilla ice cream

Instructions

• Butter a 8×8 baking dish. Preheat oven to 350F with rack on middle position.
• In a bowl, combine all topping ingredients except butter. Stir to combine well. Using a pastry cutter, cut cold butter into the ingredients until mixture is crumbly, resembling wet sand with little clumps of butter still intact. (If your fingers are cool, it’s easier to mix with clean hands.) Cover and chill while you prepare the filling.
• In a large bowl, combine all filling ingredients and toss to incorporate. Pour into buttered baking dish. Scatter cold topping evenly over the apples.
• Place baking dish on a large baking sheet. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, check the topping, and cover loosely with foil if it’s already browning.  Continue baking another 15 minutes, or just until topping is nicely browned and edges are bubbling. Let cool at least 1-2 hours or until lukewarm to allow filling to thicken.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 387kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 103mg | Potassium: 236mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 435IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Amerian

Diet: Vegetarian

Method: Bake