Apple Crisp

Take advantage of the abundance of apples during fall apple season and bake up this classic apple crisp recipe! If you’ve never tried apple crisp before, think of it as a sister to apple crumble, the main difference being the topping. Apple crumble has a classic streusel topping, made without oats. It’s also like a cousin to apple cobbler, which has a similar filling, but is topped with a biscuit-like batter instead of a crumb topping.

Apple crisp is similar in flavor to apple pie or apple galette, but without the effort of making a pie crust, so it comes together so much faster. I developed and tested this recipe with fresh, spiced apples that are sprinkled with a crisp oat topping before baking. The topping is a variation of a classic streusel that is beyond easy to make– just stir everything together to form a crumbly, chunky mixture and you’re done! Trust me when I say it is a hit every time and is simply the perfect classic fall dessert.

A reader, Fazlin, says: “I have made the apple crisp a few times already, and it just seems to get better each time I make it, and my friends and family love it. Thank you for sharing your awesome recipes with us 🙂.” ★★★★★

Key Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients needed to make this easy apple crisp. For the complete list of ingredients with measurements, head to the recipe card below.

Apples — peel, core, and slice the apples into equally sized pieces. Feel free to use one type of apple, but I prefer to use a variety for a more complex flavor. (More on that below!)

Lemon juice — a little squeeze of this natural acid prevents the apples from oxidizing (turning brown). It also helps balance the sweetness of the sugar and enhances the flavor of the apples.

Spices — two basic baking spices, cinnamon and nutmeg, add lots of warmth and cozy flavor.

Oat streusel topping — use old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats) for the crisp topping. You’ll combine the oats with all-purpose flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and butter to form the crisp, crumbly topping.

What Are The Best Apple Varieties To Use?

As a baker, I have found that using a variety of apples makes for the best-tasting crisp! A mixture of tart apples (like Granny Smith or Pink Lady) and sweet apples (like Honeycrisp and Fuji) introduces different textures and flavors, ultimately yielding a more complex, delicious apple crisp. These apples also hold up well after baking! You can also use Golden Delicious, McIntosh, and Gala apples in this recipe if you like a softer filling.

How To Prep The Apples

For the best texture, peel the apples first. Apple skins can be waxy and bitter, and often bake up wrinkly and tough, which ruins the texture of most apple desserts.

Once the apples are peeled, remove the fibrous core and seeds before cutting the apples into equally sized slices or chunks. Thicker pieces will yield a firmer crisp, so if you prefer a soft and tender filling, slice them thinner. However you cut them, make sure they’re roughly the same size so they cook at the same rate.

Can I make this in a 9×13-inch pan?

Absolutely! I do recommend doubling the recipe for the larger pan size. Since you are baking in a bigger pan and a larger quantity of apple crisp, you may need to increase the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes. Watch for a golden brown topping and very bubbly filling when checking for doneness.

Pro Tips For Making The Best Apple Crisp

Use cold butter for the topping. This helps the oat crisp hold its shape as big chunky pieces of topping during baking.

The topping might seem like a lot, but don’t skimp on it! The crisp streusel topping with oats is a favorite, so don’t be shy with it! I call it a “too much is never enough” situation and tend to mound it pretty high on top of the apples. As the apples soften and release their juices, the whole thing will sink a bit and won’t be piled so high. The topping balances the apples perfectly.

Add some citrus zest for an extra pop of flavor. If you’re a fan of citrus, add lemon zest or orange zest to the filling. Citrus immediately brightens the warm, earthy flavors in the apple filling.

Switch up the spices. While I love the timeless combination of cinnamon and nutmeg, feel free to add ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom, cloves, or allspice to up the autumnal flavors.

If you don’t have a square baking dish, use a deep 9-inch or 10-inch pie plate instead!

How To Make Apple Crisp

1. Toss the apple slices or chunks with the lemon juice in a large bowl.

2. Add the sugar, flour, and spices, and toss until the apples are well coated.

3. Spread the spiced apple mixture into an even layer in a greased 8×8-inch baking dish. Dot the cubed butter all over, then set aside.

4. Make the oat crumb topping in a medium bowl by stirring together the dry ingredients.

5. Add the cold cubed butter to the mixture and work together until a crumbly mixture forms with pea-sized clumps.

6. Generously sprinkle the topping all over the apples. Bake at 350°F until the top is golden brown and the juices are bubbling, about 45 minutes. Cool for a few minutes before serving.

How To Serve

My favorite way to enjoy this cozy apple dessert is with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or pistachio ice cream. If I want to cut the sweetness a bit, I’ll add a dollop of whipped cream instead. For more sweetness, serve apple crisp with a generous drizzle of rich caramel sauce.

How To Store and Reheat Leftovers

Storing: Once completely cooled to room temperature, store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Remember that while the crumble topping will taste delicious, it will start to become soggy as the crisp sits.

Freezing: Once cooled, wrap the crisp well in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Reheating: To reheat apple crisp, place it in the oven at 350°F until warmed through, about 20 to 30 minutes. Or, reheat individual servings in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 to 8 minutes. This method gets the topping nice and crispy again!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve tried this easy apple crisp recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!