This easy Caramel Apple Almond Crisp is a warm and comforting fall dessert, filled with fresh apple slices, cinnamon, and caramel, and topped with a crisp and buttery almond topping. Enjoy warm with a scoop of ice cream!

Caramel apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream


 

An Easy Apple Dessert

This Caramel Apple Crisp was inspired by an apple crisp recipe I used to make while I was in college. Only now, with a few tweaks to my old handwritten recipe card, it’s even better than I remember!

This recipe with caramel and almonds definitely gives my favorite apple crisp a run for the money. The apples are sweetened with the warm richness of caramel, and topped with a bulked-up oats and almond topping that’s crunchy, buttery, and just a little bit saltier than the norm…it’s absolutely irresistible!

It’s quick and easy to put together, a beautiful way to enjoy our fall apple harvest!

What You’ll Need

Both the caramel apple filling and the almond crisp topping are made with common baking ingredients. Grab some apples and your favorite caramel topping, and let’s get started!

FOR THE APPLE FILLING:

  • Apples – You want to use a firm, tart variety for your apple crisp. Granny Smith, Haralson, and Honeycrisp are all great options. They won’t turn to total mush when baked!
  • Orange juice – I love what a splash of fresh citrus does for this dish!
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cinnamon & nutmeg – Warm spices that work well with apple and give that wonderful apple pie taste.
  • Caramel topping – You can use any caramel topping you find at the store – this caramel is easy to find and works well.
  • Sugar – Just a little sugar is added along with the caramel to sweeten the apple filling.

FOR THE ALMOND CRISP TOPPING:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Oats – Be sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats, NOT quick cooking oats.
  • Brown sugar – I love the warmth of brown sugar!
  • Salt
  • Baking powder – Just a pinch to help the topping rise a bit. It helps to add that “crunch” to the topping.
  • Butter – The butter should be at room temperature but not melted.
  • Sliced almonds – Almonds add a subtle taste and texture to the crisp. A beautiful match with apples, cinnamon, and caramel!

How to Make Caramel Apple Almond Crisp

Crisps are one of my go-to desserts when I need something in a pinch during the fall and winter. They’re so easy to make – and nearly impossible to mess up!

  • Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
  • Prepare the apple filling. Sprinkle the apple slices with orange juice. Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and stir into the apples. Transfer the apples to the baking pan and drizzle caramel topping over them.
  • Make the almond crisp topping. Whisk together dry ingredients then cut butter in with a fork until there are pea-size crumbs. Fold in the almonds. Sprinkle topping mixture over the apples.
  • Bake. Bake for about 35 minutes, until the apples start to bubble and the top is golden brown.
Caramel apple almond crisp in a bowl

Tips for Success

A few tips and tricks for the best caramel apple crisp!

  • Use a tart, firm apple. When making apple crisp, you want to avoid overly sweet and soft apples as they won’t hold up during baking. I grew up with Haralson and Honeycrisp trees, they’re my favorite. But Granny Smith also works very well.
  • Cut in the butter evenly. For a topping that’s buttery and crumbly in every bite, be sure the butter is eventually distributed throughout the entire topping.
  • Enjoy warm on the day it’s made. For the true apple crisp experience, I recommend enjoying while it’s still a bit warm from the oven. The apple filling will be luscious with caramel, and the topping will be buttery-fragrant and crisp. (Warm from the oven is best but you can always pop it in the microwave if needed.)
apple crisp with caramel and almond in a low wide gray bowl, plus a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Serving Suggestions

This caramel apple crisp is fabulous when served warm from the oven, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. I love how the ice cream slowly melts into the warm crisp, creating pools of sweetened cream.

If you wanted to add even more decadence, drizzle a little more of that caramel topping over the ice cream!

If your apple crisp has cooled, I do recommend reheating it just a bit in the warm oven or microwave before serving.

Overhead view of caramel apple almond crisp topped with ice cream

How to Store Leftovers

If you’ll be eating it within a few hours, I recommend leaving your caramel apple crisp on the counter, uncovered. Covering it will soften the almond crisp topping faster. If it will be several hours or overnight, cover the apple crisp and place it in the fridge.

Bring it to room temperature and then pop in a warm oven to reheat. If you want to re-crisp the topping, first warm the apple crisp covered, and then place it under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp up the topping.

More Apple Recipes:

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apple crisp with caramel and almonds in a low wide gray bowl, topped with a scoop of ice cream

Caramel Apple Almond Crisp

Yield: 12 servings
prep time: 20 minutes
cook time: 35 minutes
total time: 55 minutes
This easy Caramel Apple Almond Crisp is a warm and comforting fall dessert, filled with fresh apple slices, cinnamon, and caramel, and topped with a crisp and buttery almond topping. Enjoy warm with a scoop of ice cream.
5 Stars (3 Reviews)
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Ingredients

for the apple filling:

  • 6 cups peeled and sliced 1/4″ thick apples – use a firm, tart variety such as Haralson, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ cup caramel topping – this caramel topping works well

for the almond crisp topping:

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats not quick cooking oats
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature (do not melt!)
  • ½ cup sliced almonds

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • For the apple filling: Place apple slices in large bowl and sprinkle with orange juice. Stir to combine.
  • In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle over apples and stir again to combine. Transfer mixture to a 9'' x 9'' baking pan.
  • Drizzle caramel topping over top of apples.
  • For the almond crisp topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add butter and cut it in with a fork or rigid pastry cutter until there are large pea-size crumbs. Then gently fold in the almonds. Sprinkle mixture over the apples.
  • Bake for about 35 minutes, or until apple mixture starts to bubble and the topping is nicely golden. This is best eaten on the day it is made, especially when it is still a bit warm. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

Adapted from my favorite Apple Crisp recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 575kcal Carbohydrates: 87g Protein: 6g Fat: 24g Saturated Fat: 13g Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 56mg Sodium: 357mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 55g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
apple crisp with caramel and almonds in a low wide gray bowl, topped with a scoop of ice cream

This post was originally published in 2012 and updated in 2021.