This Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe is a simple dessert made with crips tart apples mixed with sugar and cinnamon and sprinkled with a crunchy sweet oatmeal crumb topping.
The result is pure heaven, and for an over-the-top delectable treat, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. So much easier to make than a classic apple pie, but with all the flavor, aroma, and texture. This is sure to become your new go-to fall apple recipe.
Fall is here, with it comes fresh, crisp, delicious apples. What better way to celebrate nature’s bounty than making a scrumptious Apple Crisp? There are just a couple of key points in perfecting an apple crisp.
One is picking the correct baking apples, and the other is getting the topping just right with a little crunchy crispiness so it holds up well under those juicy apples and melting vanilla ice cream.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned oats, not quick oats. Quick oats are partially cooked, dried, and rolled thinner. Therefore, they do not stay as crispy or maintain their shape as well.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, cut the added salt down to 1/4 teaspoon salt.
- Apples: go with crisp tart apples like Granny Smith apples or Honeycrisp apples. Other good choices are Braeburn or Pink Lady (Cripps Pink).
How to make Apple Crisp Recipe
I like to make the topping first and set aside while peeling and slicing the apples. So grab a medium to large bowl and stir the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together. Drizzle in the melted butter and stir with a fork until coarse crumbs form.
Then peel, core, and slice your apples. If you want more texture left after baking, slice them thicker or into cubes. As you cut your apples, add them to a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and stir to coat. Then add the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla extract and stir to combine. Place the mixture in a large casserole dish sprayed with nonstick baking spray.
Sprinkle the oat topping over the apples as evenly as possible. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the apples are tender and the casserole is bubbly on the sides and golden brown.
Preparation Tips
- Slice your apples about 1/4 inch thick or thicker if you like a slight crispiness after baking. Remember that you might reheat the crisp.
- Lightly spray the baking dish with nonstick baking spray to keep the crumble from sticking to the edges.
- Apple Crisp is delicious, warm or cold.
- For an extra special treat, serve a la mode. My favorite is all-natural vanilla ice cream.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven on low heat or microwave at reduced power.
To freeze, cool thoroughly and cover with two layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. See more below about freezing apple crisp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use crisp tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady. I like to use a combination of these, most of which are Granny Smith.
Add chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds for added texture and crunch.
If freezing from the prepped stage, use a metal or tin pan or pie plate. Cover it with two layers of plastic wrap and one layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen. Remove the plastic wrap and cover with just the aluminum foil. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
If freezing from a baked stage, first cool completely. Wrap in two layers of plastic wrap and one layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Take the crisp out of the fridge and bring it to room temperature for about 40 minutes. Remove the wrap and reheat for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees. If the top browns too much, cover the top with aluminum foil.
More Apple Desserts
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Apple Filling
- 8 large apples peeled cored and chopped (Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 or 9×9 inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, stir the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt together. Drizzle in the melted butter and stir with a fork until coarse crumbs form.
- In a large bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice. Add the brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract and stir to coat. Spoon the mixture in the prepared casserole dish.
- Spread the crumb topping over the apples as evenly as possible. Bake uncovered for 40-50 minutes or until bubbly on the sides and golden brown.
Notes
- Slice your apples about 1/4 inch thick or thicker if you like a slight crispiness after baking. Remember that you might reheat the crisp.
- Lightly spray the baking dish with nonstick baking spray to keep the crumble from sticking to the edges.
- Apple Crisp is delicious, warm or cold.
- For an extra special treat, serve a la mode. My favorite is all-natural vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
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Melinda
This is such a yummy recipe. It is such great comfort food and one my whole family loves espeically with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Beth Pierce
Try Bryers all natural vanilla ice cream! Deeeeeeeeeeeeeelish!
Nyxie
This looks amazing! Over here we call that apple crumble and it’s, honestly, my favourite dessert! It’s great with custard and some ice cream on the side!
pedja
The best apple crisp recipe ever. This one is easy, quick to make, and absolutely delicious. Thanks for sharing!
knycx.journeying
That’s really easy and for the seasons. This is one of my favorite dessert dishes and thanks a lot for sharing it! I would love to try it myself later this month!
Marissa
It is apple picking season here, so I have your recipe saved for the weekend. Love making apple crisp in the fall!
Stephanie
I love apple crisp, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! This was delicious and perfect for the start of fall baking.
Claudia
This is one of the best apple crisp recipes I’ve ever made. The flavors are perfectly balanced and that crisp is perfection!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Claudia! I am so glad that you liked it.
Shanna
Apple crisp is the perfect summer dessert. I can’t wait to try this for my family.
Kathryn Donangelo
I’m always looking for a delicious apple crisp recipe and so glad I found this recipe- thanks so much!!
Michelle
This looks like the perfect apple crisp! Great tip about the butter too, will definitely try that.
Lindsey
I love apple crisp and this version looks incredible. I’ve bookmarked it to make for a family event in a few weeks!
Suzy
I am loving the simple ingredients in this crisp! Perfect for fall!
Katie
One of my FAVORITE recipes for fall!
Tara
Mmm, this recipe is just perfect! Not a bit left in the pan.
Katerina @ diethood .com
Apple crisp is my favorite!! I can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Melissa
Yum – delicious! Great recipe!