The Best Apple Crisp (2024)

Published: · Last Updated: by Seanna Borrows · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. · 11 Comments

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The Best Apple Crisp EVER. This Easy dessert recipe is made with fresh apples topped with a mixture of oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter and baked into sweet, syrupy perfection. Amazing served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. So good!

The Best Apple Crisp (1)
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  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Here's What You Need
  • Notes on Ingredients
  • How to Make It
  • FAQS
  • Related Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Community

If you like syrupy, baked fruit desserts, sure not to miss our peach cobbler and peach dump cake recipes. They're some of our best!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

People rave about this dessert. It's easy to make and so irresistibly delicious when served bubbly hot and topped with some vanilla ice cream. Try it. You'll be glad you did. It just might become one of your all time favorite desserts, as it has become ours. In fact, we always keep some apple crisp topping on hand just in case we get a craving. It's is the perfect dessert for two and also a total crowd pleaser (See recipe card notes). You can't go wrong!

This tasty apple crisp recipe is an adaptation of my dear friend Marsha's old family recipe. Marsha, a.k.a. Mimi to her grandchildren, is known for her faith in Christ, her wonderful cooking and generous hospitality. When I was a young mom, Marsha took me under her wing and shared with me her life, her faith, and some of her secret recipes. This is one of them.

Here's What You Need

You just need a few simple ingredients to toss this easy dessert recipe together.

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Notes on Ingredients

  • golden delicious apples - Preferred for their mild taste and soft texture.
  • granulated sugar - Just a little to mix with the apples.
  • brown sugar - Makes delicious syrup.
  • oatmeal - Use quick oats. Thicker, rolled oats need longer cooking time.
  • all purpose flour - Just a little.

    Gluten Free Tip: Omit flour and substitute same amount of additional oats.

  • ground cinnamon
  • ground nutmeg
  • salted butter

How to Make It

1. Prepare Apples. Mix together thinly sliced apples with a little cinnamon and sugar.

Make Ahead Tip: Add a squeeze or two of fresh lemon juice to keep the apples from browning, if you want to make it ahead of time and bake later.

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2. Prepare Apple Crisp Topping. Mix the dry ingredients together until well combined.

Make-Ahead Tip: This mixture can be stored in an airtight container to use any time. So handy for those times when you want a little dessert for two.

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3. Combine Topping and Butter. I use a pastry cutter to do this. But you can also use a fork.

Pro Tip: Make sure the butter is really cold or it'll be difficult to incorporate. I usually cube the butter and put it in the freezer for a while so it gets really cold.

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4. Put Apple Crisp Together. If you have added a little lemon juice to the apples, you can set the prepared apple crisp aside and bake a little later. Otherwise, pop it in the oven now.

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5. Bake for 45 Minutes. You'll know its done when you see the syrup bubbling up along the sides of the baking dish. Test for doneness by inserting the blade of a knife into center. If the apples are done, the knife will pass through them without resistance.

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6. Serve. Serve this delicious recipe piping hot right out of the oven, when it is still bubbling and syrupy. Don't for get the vanilla ice cream. The ice cream will melt into the syrupy apples creating the most sublimely irresistible bite.

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FAQS

What are the best apples for apple crisp?

Different apple varieties have varying tastes and textures that set them apart. They range from mild and soft to firm and tart. The best apple is one that is pleasing to you. Here are two common choices:
Golden Delicious Apples are preferred for their mild taste and soft texture when baked.
Granny Smith have a more tart flavor and firm texture that holds up well when baked.

Can apple crisp be made ahead?

Apple crisp can be made ahead in part or in whole.
In part: Add a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice to your prepared apples before you top them with apple crisp topping and butter mixture. The lemon juice will keep the apples from turning brown. Set your prepared apple crisp aside on the counter until ready to bake. Put the apple crisp in the oven to bake just as you are serving dinner. And by the time dinner is over, this warm syrupy dessert will be ready.
In whole: Make ahead and reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.

Does apple crisp need to be covered when baking?

You do not need to cover this apple crisp recipe while baking. The only time covering might be necessary is if you have chosen an apple that is too firm (like Granny Smith) or used rolled oats instead of quick oats. In this case, just cover it and bake it longer, until bubbly, syrupy, and delicious.

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There you have it. The Best irresistibly delicious Apple Crisp. It's as easy as that! We hope you enjoy our super simple, super tasty recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. We'd love to hear from you!

xo ~ Seanna

Related Recipes

  • Easy Peach Dump Cake Recipe
  • Easy Peach Cobbler

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📖 Recipe

The Best Apple Crisp (12)

The Best Apple Crisp

The Best Apple Crisp EVER. This Easy dessert recipe is made with fresh apples topped with a mixture of oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter and baked into sweet, syrupy perfection. Amazing served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. So delish!

|www.SeannasKitchen.com

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Save Recipe!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 8 Servings

Calories: 279kcal

Author: Seanna Borrows

Equipment

Ingredients

Apples:

  • 5 cups golden delicious apples sliced
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Apple Crisp Topping:

  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup oatmeal
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ cup 1 stick salted butter, cold

Instructions

  • Pre-heat Oven to 375°F.

  • Prepare Apples.

    Peal, core and cut apples into thin slices. In a medium-sized bowl, combine apple slices, cinnamon and sugar. Stir together to coat the apples evenly. Set aside.

  • Prepare Apple Crisp Topping.

    Combine all dry ingredients.Place all dry ingredients into a medium sized bowl and stir together until combined. (Note 1)

  • Combine Apple Crisp Topping and Butter.

    Cut butter into small cubes. Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut the cubed butter into the Apple Crisp Topping until well combined and topping resembles the consistency of small peas. Use your fingers, if necessary, to make sure butter is distributed evenly into the topping.

  • Put Apple Crisp Together.

    Place the prepared apples into a baking dish or cast iron skillet. Top the apples with Apple Crisp Topping and butter mixture.

  • Bake for 45 minutes.

    Bake Apple Crisp for 45 Minutes, or until browned and bubbly. Run a knife through the middle to make sure the apples are soft. The knife should run right through without any resistance.

  • Serve.

    Serve this delicious Apple Crisp warm and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Notes

Apple Crisp Topping

Make Ahead Idea. At this point, the Apple Crisp Topping can be stored in an airtight container and saved to use another time. We like to keep some on hand in the pantry for those last minute desserts.

Apple Crisp for Two. Peel, core, and cut an apple into thin slices. Toss with one teaspoon of sugar and a little ground cinnamon. Divide the prepared apples into two small ramekins. In a separate bowl, use a pastry cutter or a fork to combine ½ cup of Apple Crisp Topping with two tablespoons of cold, cubed butter. Put this mixture over the top of the prepared apples. Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.

Make for a Crowd. Double this recipe and make for game day or your next family gathering. It's a total crowd pleaser! Make cleanup easy and use a disposable roasting pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 34g | Vitamin A: 398IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @SeannasKitchen and tag #seannaskitchen!

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The Best Apple Crisp (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp? ›

Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

What are the best apple crisp apples? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

Why is my apple crisp not crispy? ›

Why is Apple Crisp not crispy? Don't forget to evenly distribute the butter with the topping. That melted butter helps crisp everything up on top for the perfect texture and flavor!

What are the best apples to bake with? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

How do you keep Apple crisp from getting soggy? You need enough butter in your topping, try both melted or cold cut into the dry ingredients. Also, there needs to be enough texture to keep it from just flattening into the fruit below.

What's the difference between brown betty and apple crisp? ›

Both are very similar apple desserts, but the difference mainly comes down to the crumble topping: Instead of the flour and oat mixture used in an apple crisp, an apple brown betty uses breadcrumbs for its crumbly, delicious topping.

What is the secret to good crumble? ›

❓FAQ
  • Use cold butter. This will help to create a crumbly texture that will not stick together when baking.
  • Use a mix of flour and oats. The oats will add a bit of crunch and texture to the topping.
  • Don't overmix the ingredients. The crumble topping should be made with a "coarse" crumb.
Jun 5, 2023

Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

The lemon juice will keep the apples from turning brown. Set your prepared apple crisp aside on the counter until ready to bake. Put the apple crisp in the oven to bake just as you are serving dinner. And by the time dinner is over, this warm syrupy dessert will be ready.

How do you thicken apple crisp filling? ›

One common method is adding a bit of cornstarch or flour to your apple mixture before baking. This helps absorb some of the juices and thickens things up. Another tip is to let the apple crisp sit a bit after taking it out of the oven; as it cools, the filling will naturally thicken a bit.

What apples should not be used for apple pie? ›

There are a few apples that don't make the cut. While great for snacking, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious are the most common apples that won't hold up in the oven and will give you a watery-mushy pie, tart or cake.

What is so special about cosmic crisp apples? ›

Classically bred and grown in Washington State, the Cosmic Crisp® apple is a cross of the Enterprise and Honeycrisp varieties. The large, juicy and red apple has a perfectly balanced flavor and firm texture, making it ideal for snacking, cooking, baking, and entertaining.

Is a Honeycrisp apple good for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

What's the difference between a crumble crisp and a cobbler? ›

Cobbler: A fruit dessert made with a top crust of pie dough or biscuit dough but no bottom crust. Crisp/crumble: In Alberta, the terms are mostly interchangeable. Both refer to fruit desserts similar to cobbler but made with a brown sugar streusel topping sometimes containing old-fashioned rolled oats.

Why is it called Apple Brown Betty? ›

The dessert has been around for well over 150 years, the title first appearing in print in an 1864 issue of "Yale Literary Magazine." The recipe creator is unknown, but it is assumed her name was Betty.

What is apple crumble called in America? ›

Apple crisp is a dessert made with a streusel topping. In the US, it is also called apple crumble, a word which refers to a different dessert in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

What is the difference between a crisp apple and a mushy apple? ›

Unripe or overripe apples may have a soft or mealy texture. When an apple is mature, its cells are fully developed and filled with moisture, contributing to its crisp texture. This ideal moisture level is best achieved with refrigeration to extend the apple's crunchy texture.

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