Apple Crisp
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Apple Crisp – this is hands down the best apple crisp recipe you’ll try! This is my go-to fall dessert and one of my readers’ favorite recipes. It’s just perfect homestyle comfort food that’s good for the soul on a cold fall day. And of course, people of all ages love it.
The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
Fall treats are just BETTER. I love using fresh, seasonal ingredients because they just make everything taste more vibrant. Since it’s apple season, this recipe is perfect for putting those crunchy, delicious apples to use. Plus, I love that this easy apple crisp doesn’t take as much work as an apple pie, but it has similarly luscious flavors.
This homemade apple crisp is packed with fresh, juicy apples that are perfectly sweetened and baked until perfectly tender. And don’t even get me started on that crumb topping! It’s crispy, golden brown, buttery perfection. Once it’s baked and warm, top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that will begin to melt deliciously.
Trust me—this apple crisp will be the highlight of any meal. I mean, if I had it my way, this would be the main meal :).
Easy Apple Crisp Ingredients
- All-purpose flour
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Light brown sugar
- Baking powder
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Granny Smith apples
- Lemon
- Vanilla extract
Scroll below for the full printable recipe.
Want to see how easy this apple crisp recipe is? Watch the video!
How to Make Apple Crisp
- Adjust oven rack and preheat oven. Butter a baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup flour, oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, baking powder, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp salt.
- Rub butter into dry mixture with fingertips or a pastry cutter until it comes together into small crumbles. Refrigerate.
- In a bowl, whisk together melted butter and flour until well blended, then mix in water, lemon juice, and vanilla. Stir in 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
- Toss apples with butter mixture in a bowl, then pour into prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle with crumble apple crisp topping.
- Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown and apples are tender.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
What Are the Best Apples for Baked Apple Desserts?
I prefer using a sturdy cooking apple that’s slightly tart, like Granny Smiths. Other apples would work, like Braeburn or Golden Delicious, but sugar amounts and bake times might need to be adjusted. Honeycrisp and Pink Lady, like Golden Delicious, are very sweet and sometimes make this too sugary.
Your apples should also be room temperature (this ensures that they bake evenly in the oven).
What Should I Serve on Top of Apple Cobbler?
The best way to serve this is always with vanilla ice cream. Then, for an added bonus if you have time, make some homemade salted caramel sauce. (No one will begrudge you a drizzle of caramel sauce from a jar, though!)
Tips for the Best Apple Crisp
- Be sure to slice your apples thinly so they become fully tender. No one wants a crunchy apple in their apple crisp.
- Stick with Granny Smith apples for consistent results.
- If you only have salted butter on hand, reduce the salt in the topping to 1/8 tsp and omit the salt in the filling.
- Serve this homemade apple crisp freshly baked and warm. It will be okay for a couple of days, but the topping does start to soften up, so I like it best fresh.
- Play with your topping to include different nuts—pecans and walnuts are popular, but try what you like.
Crisps and crumbles are one of my favorite desserts because I love fruit, and I’m head over heels crazy for a good, sweet, crisp topping.
Plus, I love that they are faster than pies, and you don’t have to wait 2 hours for the pie crust to chill, then 2 hours for the pie to cool.
This is what fall weekends are all about! Walks through the autumn trees where you’re all bundled up cozy, warm apple cider and hot cocoa, pumpkin patch shopping and carving, and this easy apple crisp. It’s a must!
More Apple Desserts You’ll Love:
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies
- Irish Apple Cake with Custard Sauce
- Caramel Apple Mini Cheesecakes with Streusel Topping
- Apple Slab Pie with Crumb Topping
- Apple Cake with Caramel Sauce
Follow Cooking Classy
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Topping
- 1/2 cup (70g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup (110g) packed light-brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup (76g) unsalted butter , cold, diced into small cubes
Apple filling
- 2 lbs Granny Smith apples (at room temperature) peeled, cored and sliced thin (about 1/8-inch)
- 3 Tbsp (42g) unsalted butter , melted
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (55g) light-brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and position oven rack one level below the center. Butter an 8 by 8 inch baking dish (or small casserole dish with a similar size), set aside.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together 1/2 cup flour, the oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp salt for 30 seconds.
- Add diced butter and using clean fingertips, rub butter into dry mixture until it comes together into small crumbles. Transfer to refrigerator to chill while preparing filling.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter and flour until well blended, then mix in water, lemon juice and vanilla. Stir in 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and pinch of salt.
- Place apples in a large bowl then pour butter mixture over apples and toss to evenly coat, then pour apple mixture into prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Remove topping from refrigerator and sprinkle into crumbles evenly over top of apples.
- Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a toothpick, about 35 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce if desired.
Notes
- Be sure to slice your apples thinly so they become fully tender. No one wants a crunchy apple in their apple crisp.
- If you only have salted butter on hand, reduce the salt in the topping to 1/8 tsp and omit the salt in the filling.
- Recipe Source: Cooking Classy (originally shared October 2013)