Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

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This easy apple crisp recipe is made with 8 ingredients. A subtly sweet, perfectly spiced apple filling sits beneath a buttery crisp topping and is baked to bubbly perfection. Apple crisp is best served warm with vanilla ice cream. Watch the video to learn how to make apple crisp step-by-step! 

apple crisp in a bowl with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon

Warm apple crisp is a classic, quintessential fall dessert, and this is the best apple crisp recipe ever!

The buttery crisp topping paired with the sweet and perfectly spiced apple filling is fall perfection in a baking dish! Serve it warm with a scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream & a drizzle of caramel sauce for a crowd-pleasing dessert.

If you don’t have time for chilling pie crusts, like in these apple pie or apple crumble pie recipes, then this apple crisp recipe is exactly what you need, or, these apple pie bars or apple cobbler! Even if you do have time, I would venture to say that I prefer apple crisp over pie (gasp), because it’s just that delicious.

apple crisp in a baking dish with vanilla ice cream and a spoon taking a scoop

Apple Crisp Recipe: Ingredients and Substitutions 

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Apple Crisp Recipe
  • Apples. I recommend a sweet/tart apple like granny smith or pink lady, but any variety works.
  • Light Brown sugar. use dark brown sugar for a richer molasses taste. 
  • Granulated sugar. organic cane sugar is a good substitute. 
  • All-purpose flour. a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free baking flour works well in both the crisp topping and filling to make this recipe gluten-free. 
  • Salted Butter. unsalted butter or ghee both work well in this recipe.
  • Old-fashioned oats. Quick-cooking oats are a good substitute. 
up close photo of apple crisp on a plate with ice cream and a fork

How to make Apple Crisp

Let’s walk through how to make this easy apple crisp recipe. As always, watch the video for further guidance.

Begin by preparing the baking dish and preheating the oven.

greased 9" baking dish

Make the Apple Crisp Topping

Then, make the crisp topping. Combine the ingredients for the topping (except oats) in a large bowl.

apple crisp topping ingredients in a bowl before mixing

Next, use a fork, pastry cutter or your hands to cut the slightly-softened butter into the dry ingredients.

two photos showing How to Make Apple Crisp topping - cutting butter into dry ingredients

Add the oatmeal to the butter/dry ingredient mixture and stir until it’s evenly distributed. Then set the crisp topping aside while you make the filling!

two photos showing How to Make Apple Crisp topping - adding oats to the topping

Make the Apple Crisp Filling

Begin by peeling, coring and finely slicing the apples into piece as shown in the photo below.

apples peeled and sliced in a bowl to make apple crisp

Once the apples are peeled, cored and sliced, cook them in a microwave-safe dish for 6 minutes.

cooked apples in a glass dish to make Apple Crisp

Then transfer the cooked apples in a colander to cool and drain for at least 10 minutes. Make sure you leave space at the bottom of the colander for the water to drain.

apple slices draining in a colander to make apple crisp

Next, in a small bowl, combine the dry filling ingredients.

two photos showing how to make apple crisp filling

Then, transfer the apples from the colander to a large bowl and add the lemon juice and dry ingredients.

Stir until combined.

apple crisp filling mixed in a bowl

Assemble the Apple Crisp

Choose a baking dish: Add the apple filling to a prepared baking dish. I suggest a 9×9″ baking dish. You can also use a round casserole dish. The important thing is that whatever dish you choose has a capacity of at least 2 to 2.5 quarts.

apple crisp filling spread into the bottom of a baking dish

Next, evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the filling.

two photos showing assembling apple crisp - putting topping on filling

Bake & Cool

Once the apple crisp is assembled, bake it in the preheated oven until the filling is bubbly and the top is lightly browned. If you notice the top browning before the filling bubbles, simply tent the pan with aluminum foil and continue baking.

Set the apple crisp on a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes. This cooling time allows the filling to gel and everything to firm up a bit before serving.

apple crisp in a baking dish after baking

Serve

This apple crisp recipe is best served slightly warm. If you make it in advance, you can cover it with foil and put it in the oven set to “warm” to reheat before serving. Here are some serving suggestions: 

Apple Crisp in a baking dish with a spoon scooping some out to serve

How to Store Apple Crisp

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven set to warm.

Freeze

  • Freeze the unbaked crisp: assemble the apple crisp, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and cover with foil and freeze on a flat surface for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and then bake according to recipe instructions.
  • Freeze baked crisp. Bake the apple crisp, let it cool completely, wrap it in plastic wrap/foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Warm covered with foil in the oven until heated all the way through.
  • Freeze individual portions in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat on warm in the oven or microwave.
apple crisp in a baking dish with vanilla ice cream and a spoon

Apple Crisp Recipe FAQs

What are the best apples for apple crisp?ย 

I suggest a sweet/tart variety.Here are some suggestions:
Granny Smith (used in this recipe)
Pink Ladies (aka: Crisps Pink)
Fuji
Golden Delicious
Honeycrisp
Jonagoldย 
Jazzย 
Braeburn
Gala

How do you slice apples for apple crisp?ย 

An apple peeler, corer, slicers and it’s a huge time saver if you’re baking with lots of apples. However, I suggest peeling the apples, then cut them into thin slices and then cut the slices in half so the pieces of apple are easy to eat on a spoon.

Should you peel apples for apple crisp?

I prefer the texture of this recipe when the apples are peeled, however you can leave the skin on if you prefer.

up close photo of a serving of apple crisp on a plate with vanilla ice cream and a fork

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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

Laura
This easy apple crisp recipe is made with 8 ingredients. A subtly sweet, perfectly spiced apple filling sits beneath a buttery crisp topping and is baked to bubbly perfection. Apple crisp is best served warm with vanilla ice cream. Watch the video to learn how to make apple crisp step-by-step!ย 
5 from 7 votes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 Servings
Calories 312
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Cooling time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Apple Crisp Filling:

Crisp topping:

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Grease a 9×9โ€ baking dish, set aside.

Make Crisp Topping

  • Place softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and sea salt in a medium sized bowl. Use your hands, a fork or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles a coarse meal with buttery chunks.
  • Add oats and stir until evenly combined, set aside.

Make the Apple Filling

  • Place the peeled and cored apples in a microwave safe dish and heat for 6 minutes, until apples are slightly soft.
  • While apples are in the microwave, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • When apples are finished cooking in the microwave, put them in a colander to drain excess water. Let them cool and drain in the colander for at least 10 minutes.
  • Transfer cooled & drained apples to a bowl, add lemon juice, then dry ingredient mixture and stir until mixture is homogenous (uniform throughout).

Assemble the Apple Crisp

  • Place apple crisp filling into the prepared baking dish.
  • Evenly sprinkle crisp topping over apple crisp filling.

Bake & Cool

  • Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly.
  • Cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • Serve in small bowls topped with your favorite vanilla ice cream!

Video

Notes

*4 pounds of apples equalsย  9-10 cups, 1800 g, or 6-8 medium sized apples.
Ingredient substitutions
  • Apples.ย I recommend a sweet/tart apple like granny smith or pink lady, but any variety works.
  • Light Brown sugar.ย use dark brown sugar for a richer molasses taste.ย 
  • Granulated sugar.ย organic cane sugar is a good substitute.ย 
  • All-purpose flour.ย a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free baking flour works well in both the crisp topping and filling to make this recipe gluten-free.ย 
  • Salted Butter.ย unsalted butter or ghee both work well in this recipe.
  • Old-fashioned oats.ย Quick-cooking oats are a good substitute.ย 
Store
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.
Freeze
  1. Freeze the unbaked crisp: assemble the apple crisp, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and cover with foil and freeze on a flat surface for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight and then bake according to recipe instructions.
  2. Freeze baked crisp. Bake the apple crisp, let it cool completely, wrap it in plastic wrap/foil and freeze for up to 2 months. Warm covered with foil in the oven until heated all the way through.
  3. Freeze individual portions in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat on warm in the oven or microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving (1/10th of the recipe) | Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 145mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Delicious! Every time I want a no-fail recipe I go hereโ€ฆ you need a cookbook, I will buy! ๐Ÿ˜ Happy Fall! ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿ’›๐ŸคŽ

  2. 5 stars
    This recipe was so fantastic. Itโ€™s a must make with all of the apples from fall apple picking. Will be making again and again.

  3. 5 stars
    You always make some of the BESTEST dessert recipes. Apple CRISP = DELISH. Always. ๐Ÿ™‚ . And vanilla ice cream melting all over it is the best.