Prepare yourself for the ultimate apple experience with this Apple Crisp recipe! Diced apples are perfectly seasoned with a blend of warm cinnamon and nutmeg, and then nestled beneath a mountain of irresistible streusel topping. Get ready to add this recipe to your favorites list—it’s about to become a staple at your table!
Table of Contents
Why Is This The BEST Apple Crisp?
- Contrast of flavors- The contrast in flavors is everything in this apple crisp! First, you get a slight tartness from the Granny Smith apples. Then, we add a sweet, crispy streusel topping, and finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Add cold vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got a party in your mouth!
- Two dishes are all you need – Yes, you read that correctly! All you need is a baking dish and a mixing bowl to make the crumble topping!
- A family favorite – Your family will love this quick and easy recipe. Make it in advance, and bake it when you are ready to serve!
Is an apple crisp the same as an apple cobbler?
No, while both desserts are similar, they aren’t quite the same things. For instance, a cobbler is usually made with a thick biscuit-like topping. Meanwhile, a crisp is made with oats and flour, which gets nice and crispy, hence the name.
Recipe Ingredients
Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this baked apple crisp recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the complete details!
- Apples – Use a combination of Granny Smith apples and Honey Crisp apples for the best taste and texture.
- Sugar – We use granulated sugar in the apple filling and brown sugar to keep the crumble topping moist and sweet.
- Flour – We use all-purpose flour, but you can use a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour if you need to keep this recipe gluten-free!
- Spices – A combination of cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and sea salt creates a warm, delicious taste.
- Oats – Use old-fashioned rolled oats. Look for certified gluten-free oats if needed, and do NOT substitute quick oats or steel-cut varieties.
- Baking Powder – This gives just a bit of a lift to the topping. Be sure not to confuse it with baking soda!
- Butter – We recommend using unsalted butter to avoid an overpoweringly salty taste. Make sure it’s nice and cold before you begin! Melted butter will create a dense, soggy topping.
- For Serving – Finish your crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, salted caramel sauce, and whipped cream. Yum!
How to Make Homemade Apple Crisp with an Oat Topping
- Bake: Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve salted caramel, sea salt flakes, and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
- Crisp Topping: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, and salt. Cut with a fork or pastry cutter. Refrigerate until ready to use. *This can be made up to 2-3 days before you are ready to assemble!
- Peel and slice the apples: Peel and dice the apples into 1/2-inch cubes. We found this prevents them from becoming mushy, but you can slice them thinly if preferred.
- Add the apples to the baking dish: In a 12×8 oval baking dish add peeled and diced apples. Toss together the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make sure everything is mixed together well.
- Assemble: Take the streusel topping and arrange it in a single layer over the apples.
Common Questions about this Apple Crisp Recipe
Toss your sliced apples with a bit of flour or cornstarch before adding other ingredients! This helps thicken up those amazing fruit juices as they bake, keeping your crisp perfectly saucy but not soggy.
Also, when reheating apple crisp, you want to make sure not to reheat in the microwave. That will result in a soggy apple crisp. Simply place the apple dish in an oven-safe baking dish, and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15-20 minutes.
If your butter to flour to sugar ratio is off, it will result in a less crispy topping. You want to be careful not to add too much flour or too little. Also, we love adding old-fashioned rolled oats to our crumble because it really gives it a nice crunch.
Other ways to make sure you have a crispy topping is to use cold butter and not pack down your topping! Cut the butter into small pieces and mix until you get a pebbly texture, then sprinkle it loosely over your apples for maximum crunch.
One of our favorite apples to bake with is Granny Smith Apples. Lately, we have been experimenting with mixing a combination of apples. As a result, we found that we love the combination of tart Granny Smith and sweet Honey Crisp apples in this easy apple crisp!
Honey Crisp, Granny Smith, and Sweet Tangos are also great options since they all have a crispy texture. Thankfully, we have so many different apple varieties in Minnesota!
While peeling is traditional, leaving the skins on adds great texture and nutrients! If you leave them on, just make sure to wash the apples well and cut them into thin, bite-sized pieces.
More Delicious Crisp Recipes
- Mixed Berry Crisp Recipe
- Easy Blueberry Crisp
- Easy Peach Crisp Recipe
- Strawberry Crisp with Oat Crumble
- Cherry Crisp
The BEST Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Granny Smith apples peeled and diced
- 4 Honey Crisp apples peeled and diced
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- sea salt flakes vanilla bean ice cream, salted caramel, optional toppings
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a 12×8 oval baking dish add peeled and sliced apples. Toss together 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Make everything is mixed well together.4 Honey Crisp apples, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 4 Granny Smith apples
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking powder, brown sugar, butter and salt. Cut with a fork or pastry cutter.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats, 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar, 10 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Take the streusel topping and arrange it in a single layer over the apples.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve salted caramel, sea salt flakes, and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.sea salt flakes
Video
Equipment
Notes
- Store leftover apple crisp covered or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and reheat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes or until warmed through.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I know it’s gonna be brilliant!
We hope you enjoy it! 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa