With its saucy, sweet-tart cinnamon apple filling and buttery brown sugar oat topping, this apple crisp is easy to make for the holidays or whenever a craving for comfort strikes!
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Sometimes you just need an old-fashioned apple crisp to warm the soul on a chilly fall day! And sometimes you need an easy recipe to get you through the dozen of apples you picked this past weekend. Either way, my go-to fall dessert is this apple crisp when I want a comforting treat, without the work (pies = stress!).
Another thing you should know about me is I’m a big “topping girl”. You can probably visualize me hanging over the pan of apple crisp, eating the topping off the apples because, let’s be honest, the apple filling is good but the topping is why we’re here. I can guarantee you the topping is to die for.
Don’t have oats on-hand? Make my Apple Crumble instead. Have peaches on-hand? Swap out the apples for peaches to make a Peach Crisp! Any way, you can’t go wrong!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’re going to flip out at how darn delicious this apple crisp is! Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Make ahead: make it a few days in advance, and it’ll taste like you baked it fresh!
- Super easy: making apple pie is definitely a labor of love. An apple crisp is so much easier to make, and honestly just as (or more!) delicious.
- Basic ingredients required: you really only need a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on-hand.
Best Apples for Apple Crisp
I find Honeycrisp apples have the perfect sweet-tart taste and crisp texture that holds up well when baked. You can also use Pink Lady apples (similar to Honeycrisp) or Granny Smith apples that are more tart.
Do Apples Need to Be Peeled for Apple Crisp?
It’s totally your choice, but I personally recommend leaving the skins on for extra texture and color! The key is to slice apples into even, ½” slices so they bake up nice and tender, but not mushy.
Ingredients
I bet most the ingredients you need for apple crisp, you probably already have! Here’s the ingredients list for both the apple filling and the crisp topping:
- Honeycrisp apples
- Light brown sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Unsalted butter
- Lemon juice
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Vanilla ice cream (duh!)
How to Make Apple Crisp
Here’s how to make the best apple crisp, in a few easy steps! For the full recipe, see the recipe card below (this is an outline!).
Step 1 (Mix Filling): Mix together the apple filling (brown sugar, flour, butter, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon and salt).
Step 2 (Toss Apples): Cut apples into ½” thick slices. Toss apple slices into filling mixture.
Step 3 (Add Apples to Pan): Add apple mixture to a greased 8×8” pan.
Step 4 (Make Topping): Mix all topping ingredients (flour, oats, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla and salt).
Step 5 (Add Topping): Sprinkle topping evenly over apple mixture. Don’t press down!
Step 6 (Bake and Serve): Bake for 45 minutes at 350°F and enjoy!
My Pro Tip
Pro Tips and Tricks
- Slice apples uniformly (1/2” thick) so they bake evenly!
- Let it rest of at least 10 minutes before serving so the juices thicken and don’t run.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream, Homemade Whipped Cream, or caramel sauce (or all three!).
FAQs
Let it cool completely, then cover tightly. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
For the best texture, reheat in a 350°F oven, uncovered, until warmed through. If you’re in a hurry, you can microwave individual portions for about 30–45 seconds, but the topping will lose some crunch!
Let it cool completely, place in an airtight container that’s freezer-safe, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Yes! Make an Apple Crumble instead which is essentially an apple crisp without the oats in the topping, creating a more cookie-like, crumbly topping.
More Apple Recipes You’ll Love!
If you’ve tried this Apple Crisp Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you are here!
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Equipment
- 8×8" baking dish
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 5 medium Honeycrisp apples, or Pink Lady apples work too
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Crisp Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, mix together the apple filling (brown sugar, flour, butter, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon and salt).
- Cut apples (leaving skin on) into ½” thick slices. Toss apple slices into filling mixture. Microwave for 20 seconds if filling solidified, and then re-toss.
- Add apple mixture to a greased 8×8” pan, spreading out evenly.
- In a separate medium bowl, add all topping ingredients (flour, oats, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, vanilla and salt). Mix together until well-combined.
- Use your hands or a spoon to sprinkle topping evenly over apple mixture. Don’t press down!
- Bake for 45 minutes. Filling should be bubbly and hot, and the topping should be light golden and crispy. Let cool for 10 minutes before enjoying!
Video
Notes
- You can use a 9×9” pan, but keep in mind that the crisp will be thinner and more spread out.
- You can peel your apples if preferred, but I like the skin on for extra texture!
- Add in up to ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping if you’d like.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is soooo good! Love the apple variety recommendations too. Iโm never sure which type to use. Thanks!
Glad I could help! Cheers!
Grace
This is the perfect treat to make with all apples I brought home from apple picking past weekend. Easy, not too sweet, and delicious!
Woohoo! Perfect way to use those apples from apple picking!
Grace
This recipe is incredible. I only ever think to make apple pie when I come home with dozens of apples after apple picking with my kids. But I switched it up this time and searched best apple dessert recipes and this one caught my eye! And it delivered… THANK YOU.
That’s what I love to hear! Thanks for commenting!
Grace