The weather is finally cooling down, school is back in session, and it feels like the start of a new season.
This weekend marks the first time my local orchards are open, and I can't wait to pick fresh apples to make this Apple Crisp!
There's nothing better than a warm bowl of this classic apple dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on a crisp fall evening.
Some pumpkin dessert fans may disagree with me. And with recipes like my Pumpkin Bread with Spice Cake Mix, Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies, and Classic Pumpkin Pie, I can see their point. But there's just something about apples and the autumn season.
This recipe is made with a mix of Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp for the perfect balance of tart and sweet.
The buttery crisp topping is loaded with old-fashioned oats, giving it just the right amount of crunch. Best of all, it comes together in under an hour, making it the perfect easy apple crisp to bake on a busy weeknight or after a fun day of apple picking.
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Why You'll Love This Apple Crisp Recipe
- Cozy Fall Flavors - It's a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and warm spices.
- Pantry-friendly Recipe - It requires simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Perfect for Apple Season - Great for apple picking season and a fun way to use fresh apples.
- The ultimate classic fall dessert - It's cozy, comforting, and always a crowd favorite.
- Delicious served warm with caramel sauce or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Substitutions & Variations
- Apples: For the best results, I recommend a mix of tart apples, such as Granny Smith, with sweeter ones like Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala. You want to pick apples with a firm texture.
- Oats: Use certified gluten-free old-fashioned oats if you need a gluten-free recipe.
- Nuts: Chopped pecans or walnuts add a crunchy topping, but feel free to leave them out if you prefer.
Natalie's Pro Tip
For perfectly uniform slices of apples, use a sharp knife or a food processor with a slicing attachment. I usually use my mandoline slicer to keep the apples the same thickness. Even slices ensure the apple filling bakes evenly, resulting in a perfect, tender texture every time.
As a time-saver, instead of measuring out the individual dry spices for this recipe, I make some of my Apple Pie Spice at the beginning of the fall baking season. Then, when a recipe like this calls for a blend, I use this as a substitute. For this recipe, I recommend using one and a half teaspoons instead of the individual spices.
Ingredients
*For specific ingredient amounts, please scroll down to the full recipe card.
How To Make This Easy Apple Crisp
Step 1. Preheat Your Oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish or similar-sized oven-safe dish.
Step 2. Prepare the Filling. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss until the apples are evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
Step 3. Make the Topping. In a medium bowl, mix the oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and, using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped nuts if using.
Step 4. Assemble. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apple mixture.
Step 5. Bake. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
Step 6. Cool Slightly. Remove the crisp from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes, allowing the juices to settle.
Step 7. Serve. Scoop warm apple crisp into bowls and top with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with caramel sauce if desired.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F until heated through, or reheat individual portions in the microwave.
- Freeze: Let the crisp cool completely, then wrap the prepared baking dish in layers of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat before serving.
FAQs
A mix of tart apples, such as Granny Smith, and sweeter varieties, like Honeycrisp or Gala, creates the perfect balance of flavor.
Yes! Assemble the apple filling and crumble topping separately, store them in the fridge, and combine right before baking.
Both are apple desserts, but crisps traditionally use an oat topping, while crumbles have a more streusel-like topping made without oats.
Peeling gives a smoother apple layer, but you can leave the apple peels on for extra texture and fiber.
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 6 medium apples mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice the juice from 1 large lemon
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
For the Topping:
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
To Serve:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish or similar-sized oven-safe dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss until the apples are evenly coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.6 medium apples, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and, using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped nuts if using.1 cup old-fashioned oats, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cubed, ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apple mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove the crisp from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes to allow the juices to settle.
- Scoop warm apple crisp into bowls and top with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Drizzle with caramel sauce if desired.Vanilla ice cream, Caramel sauce
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