Skip to Content

Delicious Apple Crisp

Share this recipe:

Apple crisp is a classic favorite dessert for good reason! Warm, cinnamon-infused apples melded with a golden, crumbly, buttery topping. It’s easy to make and pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream.

A white baking dish with apple crisp recipe and a spoon.

Apple Crisp Recipe Overview

I love how this recipe transforms a few modest ingredients into satisfying intricate flavors. All we have to do is combine sliced apples with flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. All baked in the oven until the topping is golden brown and crispy.

The apples become tender and juicy as they cook, and the sweet and spicy flavors of the topping complement them perfectly. Everyone LOVES this easy classic dessert!

Try it with this delicious dairy-free whipped coconut cream recipe.

Recipe ingredients including bowls of chopped apples, all purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, vanilla, spices and a stick of butter.

Recipe Ingredients

For The Apples:

For The Crumble Topping:

Two overhead images in one: 1. Sliced apple wedges in a bowl on a hand towel. A round apple slicer sits to the side with another sliced apple inside it. 2. The apple wedges are now on a cutting board and have been chopped into bite-sized pieces with a chef knife.

How To Make Apple Crisp Recipe

Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 375℉. Preheat a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP 2: Chop 6 medium apples into bite-size pieces. I used an apple slicer to make wedges and cut them into bite-sized pieces with a knife.

Two overhead images in one: 1. Apple chunks are pin a white bowl with sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract. 2. Apples are tossed with ingredients and evenly mixed.

STEP 3: Add the chopped apples into a large bowl with ½ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Toss until apples are evenly coated.

Four overhead images in one: 1. In a separate white bowl all the dry ingredients are added. 2. All the dry ingredients in the bowl are mixed. 3. Melted butter is added to the mixture. 4. Melted butter is mixed with dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.

STEP 4: In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp ground nutmeg, and ¼ tsp salt. Break down any clumps in the brown sugar.

STEP 5: Melt ½ cup salted butter in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Then pour over the rolled oat mixture, and stir together.

Two overhead images in one: 1. The seasoned apple chunks are placed in a shallow white baking dish. 2. The rolled oat mixture is evenly spread across the apples.

STEP 6: First spread the apple into the prepared baking dish. Then use your hands to sprinkle the rolled oats over top of the apples.

Two overhead images in one: 1. The baking dish is removed from the oven and holds the baked apple crisp. 2. A closeup of the baked apple crisp is on a plate with whipped cream on top.

STEP 7: Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the apples are tender when poked with a fork, and granola pieces are crispy and golden brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes then serve with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

A white baking dish with cinnamon apple crisp recipe and a spoon. A serving of the apple crisp on a plate is beside the dish.

Recipe Tips

  • Use a 9×9 or a 9×11 baking dish. Anything smaller (8 inches) might undercook the apples and overcook the crumble topping.
  • Melt the butter first, then mix it into the oat flour mixture. Some recipes recommend you use cold butter and crumble it in, but this can lead to an uneven mixture.
  • I recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats. These are large flake oats that give the best texture.
  • You can serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, plain yogurt, caramel sauce, or dried fruit. Also consider topping with chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or chocolate chips.

FAQs

Should I Peel My Apples? Traditionally most people peel their apples. However, it isn’t required. I’ve tried both ways and prefer peeled apples, and sometimes I do not have patience for that step. Today I used chopped apples with the peel on for this recipe, it tastes great!

What apples are best for apple crisp? The best apples for apple crisp are firm, crisp apples like Granny Smiths and Honeycrisp. These hold their shape during baking and provide a wonderful balance of tartness and sweetness. You can also mix different apple varieties to combine textures and flavors.

How can I make my apple crisp topping crunchy? The secret to a crunchy topping is the butter. Mixing melted butter into the oat flour mixture is the way to go. This ensures an even coating that helps to create the perfect small crumbles when you sprinkle it over the apples just before baking. Using large flake oats opposed to quick oats also helps create that crunchy topping.

How can I avoid dry apple crisp? Do not overbake! Keep an eye on your baking time and check the apple crisp after about 45-50 minutes to see if it’s done. You want it to be golden brown and bubbling around the edges. Remove the apple crisp from the oven as soon as the apples are tender.

Close up of apple crisp with a spoon and two apples in the background.

How To Store

Let the apple crisp cool completely before storing it in the fridge, otherwise, you might be left with a soggy dish. Let the dessert sit on the counter for about 2 hours before placing in the fridge.

Fridge – Once the apple crisp has completely cooled, wrap the dish with plastic wrap, or store it in an airtight container. You can store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place apple crisp in an oven-safe dish and drizzle a small amount of melted butter overtop for flavor and a crunchy texture. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10-15 minutes. For a crispy top, remove the foil in the last 3-5 minutes.

Apple crisp on a white plate with a dollop of cream in the center.

Get My Free Recipe Guides!

Grab the Free Recipe Guides of my most popular recipes (all in easy-to-print format)! Sign up for my free member’s library and you’ll get instant access to over 20 free recipe guides, plus I’m always adding more!

And follow me on Pinterest and Facebook!

Tried This Recipe? Please Share It With Your Friends!

Leave a review using the stars in the recipe card below, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A white dish with apple crisp recipe and a spoon.

Apple Crisp

In this recipe, granny smith apples are baked with a sweet and crunchy crumble topping. It's a classic and timeless fall dessert and for a good reason!
Save Recipe! Pin This Print It
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

For The Apples

For The Crumble Topping

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375℉. Preheat a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Chop 6 medium apples into bite-size pieces. I used an apple slicer to make wedges and cut them into bite-sized pieces with a knife.
  • Add the chopped apples into a large bowl with ½ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Toss until apples are evenly coated.
  • In a separate bowl, mix ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats – large flake oats, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp ground nutmeg, and ¼ tsp salt. Break down any clumps in the brown sugar.
  • Melt ½ cup salted butter in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. Pour over the rolled oat mixture, and mix.
  • Pour the apples into the prepared baking dish. Use your hands to spread the rolled oat mixture over the apples. Cover the apples as evenly as possible.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the apples are tender when poked with a fork, and granola is crispy golden brown. Let cool for 5-10 minutes then serve with your favorite topping! Find suggestions at the bottom of 'recipe tips'.

Recipe Notes:

How to store:
Let the apple crisp cool completely before storing it in the fridge, otherwise, you might be left with a soggy dish. Let the dessert sit on the counter for about 2 hours before placing in the fridge.
Fridge – Once the apple crisp has completely cooled, wrap the dish with plastic wrap, or store it in an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freeze – You can freeze this recipe! Ensure it has cooled completely, then place it in a large freezer bag or dish. Wrap tightly and remove as much air as possible. This can be frozen for up to 6 months if stored properly. When you’re ready to serve, let the apple crisp thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat – Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place apple crisp in an oven-safe dish and drizzle a small amount of melted butter overtop for flavor and a crunchy texture. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10-15 minutes. For a crispy top, remove the foil in the last 3-5 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 215mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 429IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.

Save This Recipe:Follow us on Pinterest @MadeByAndi

Share this recipe:

Recipe Rating