This apple crisp recipe is a delicious fall dessert. It features juicy cinnamon apples and a brown sugar oat topping. Serve with vanilla ice cream!
Let’s make apple crisp! I love this classic fall dessert because it’s easy, delicious, and full of the flavors of the season. Cinnamon, apples, and brown sugar? Yes, please!
I’m sharing my favorite apple crisp recipe below. It features juicy, cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery brown sugar and oat topping. It’s rich and comforting, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. 🙂
I’ve shared apple crisp and crumble recipes in the past, but never one as simple or as classic as this. What sets it apart from my other recipes is that you don’t have to pre-cook the apples, which cuts down on dishes and hands-on prep. I also make a traditional oat streusel topping (no nuts here!) to keep the ingredient list short and sweet.
If you’re looking for an easy apple crisp recipe to try this fall, you can’t go wrong with this one. It tastes fantastic, and it makes your kitchen smell AMAZING as it bakes. I think you’ll love it.
Apple Crisp Recipe Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy apple crisp recipe:
- Apples, of course! Make sure to use good baking apples here. See the callout below for my favorite varieties!
- Whole rolled oats – They add great texture to the crumble topping.
- All-purpose flour – You’ll add some to the filling to thicken the apple juices and use more in the topping.
- Brown sugar – Light and dark brown sugar both work here, but I prefer dark brown sugar’s deeper caramel-like flavor.
- Unsalted butter – It brings the streusel topping together and adds rich, buttery flavor.
- Lemon juice – Its tangy flavor balances the sweetness of the apple filling.
- Vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg – For warm depth of flavor.
- And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
What are the best apples for baking?
The best apples for baking are firm apples that hold their shape. I recommend these varieties:
- Fuji
- Gala
- Golden Delicious
- Granny Smith
- Honeycrisp
- Pink Lady
Choose just one type of apples, or use a mix! I’ve had great results making this recipe with just Honeycrisp apples. I also like a mix of tart Granny Smith apples and sweet Galas in this apple crisp.
How to Make Apple Crisp
You can find the complete apple crisp recipe with measurements at the bottom of this post, but for now, here’s a step-by-step overview of how it goes:
Start by prepping the apples. Peel them, core them, and chop them into roughly 3/4-inch pieces. Do your best to cut the all the pieces to a similar size so that they cook evenly.
Should you peel apples for apple crisp?
Yes! I’m all for not peeling fruits and veggies whenever possible, but in this case, peeling the apples really makes a difference.
Apple peels don’t soften much as they bake. I’m not a fan of their texture in the juicy apple filling.
Place the apples in a large bowl and add the flour, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Toss until the flour, sugar, and spices evenly coat the apples.
Then, spread the apples in a greased 8×8-inch baking dish.
Next, make the crumble topping. Stir together the remaining flour and sugar, the oats, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the cubed cold butter and toss to coat. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your hands to work it into the oat mixture until it becomes moist and crumbly.
Sprinkle the crisp topping over the apples in the baking dish.
Finally, bake the crisp. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are bubbling. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes or so, until the topping is golden brown and lightly crisp.
Let cool for 10 minutes before digging in!
- Serving tip: This homemade apple crisp is delicious plain, but I especially love it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. It’s great with whipped cream too!
How to Store Apple Crisp
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers of this homemade apple crisp, allow them to cool completely.
Then, cover them and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. They reheat nicely in the microwave or a 350°F oven.
Make-Ahead Instructions
This apple crisp recipe is one of my favorite desserts to make for fall entertaining.
When I’m hosting family and friends, I often prep the components ahead. Here’s how:
- Toss the chopped apples with the flour, sugar, spices, etc. Spread them in the baking dish, cover, and store in the fridge for up to 2 hours.
- Make the oat topping and store it separately in the fridge for up to 2 hours.
When you’re ready to serve, just assemble and bake!
More Apple Recipes to Try
If you love this classic apple crisp, try one of these delicious apple recipes next:
Easy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
For the apples
- 6 large apples, 2½ pounds, peeled, cored, and chopped into ¾-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Crumble Topping
- ¾ cup whole rolled oats
- ½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter, 1 stick, cubed, plus more for the pan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
- Prepare the apples: In a large bowl, place the chopped apples, flour, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss to coat the apples, then spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- Make the topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Use two forks, a pastry cutter, or your hands to work in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the apples.
- Cover the baking dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are bubbling. Uncover and bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown and lightly crisp.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
What kind of apples do you recommend to use?
I had to come here to say that I made this recipe and not only is it the best apple crisp ive ever made but it was the best dessert I’ve ever had, ever.
I mushed up the top crumble until it was more of a cookie dough consistency (by accident but it was the best mistake I’ve ever made) and added a few crushed up praline pecans to the top 10/10
Hi Sam, aww wow! I’m so glad you loved it!
I followed the recipe as written and it was delicious. I think it is the best apple crisp I have ever made. This recipe is a keeper and will be made again and again.
How can this be a vegan recipe when calling for unsalted butter?
Hi Petra, I think you may have arrived at this recipe through an outdated link. Sorry about that! You can make this recipe vegan by substituting vegan butter and omitting the salt in the topping. Or make our apple crumble recipe, which is vegan. I hope this helps!
Where is recipe for stewed apples? Every time I click on the link i get taken to apple crisp.
Hi Naomi, sorry about that! You can find the stewed apples here: https://dailycove.info/cinnamon-apples/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class=reply>
Had a bunch of leftover apples and didn’t want them to go to waste. Found this recipe and made it for me & my daughter we loved it! Didn’t even need the ice cream it was perfect as is. Would definitely make again!
Hi Iya, I’m so glad you both loved the apple crisp!
Made this for a family dinner and it was a hit. Best crumble I have ever made.