Apple Crisp
An easy Apple Crisp recipe with cinnamon apple filling and a crispy old-fashioned oats topping that actually stays crisp! It’s one of the best apple desserts!
Easy Apple Crisp with Oats
Classic Apple Crisp has always had my number. I think it’s one of the very best apple desserts, especially with a winning recipe like this where the topping actually stays crispy!
The cinnamony baked apples in this dessert are obviously wonderful, especially when made with crisp, juicy, just-picked fall apples. Minnesota has so many apples to offer, I love it!
But for those of you who’ve never really fallen in love with apple crisp, this recipe with its crispy, buttery oats topping is the real apple crisp clincher. The topping is thicker than most, crispier than most – and it’s rich with real butter flavor.
This easy recipe will make anyone an apple crisp lover!
The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
Blake and I were married in September 1999 – so apple season was in high gear during our first month together. And I was so excited to make him my favorite apple crisp.
As I was peeling apples, I asked Blake if he liked apple crisp. It was small talk, really. Because who doesn’t like warm homemade apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, getting all melty and delicious?!
But his exact words were, “I’ve never been a fan.” Hmmmm…I wondered, who is this man I just married?!
So I just kept peeling apples… (Because I knew deep down that I could eat the whole thing by myself if that’s what it came down to!)
And he liked it! And it wasn’t just a polite newlywed reaction. He said it’s all about the crispy, buttery oats topping – that he’d never had an apple crisp that tasted that good!
This really IS the very best apple crisp recipe!!
What You’ll Need
This apple crisp recipe is very straight-forward. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the apple filling:
- Flour – This adds a little bit of thickening to the apple mixture
- Sugar – Just a little, to sweeten the filling.
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg – Simple, classic warm spices for apple crisp.
- Apples – My recommendations are included below.
For the buttery oats topping:
- Flour – Combined with the rest of the topping ingredients, this helps to add bulk and crispy texture.
- Rolled oats – Be sure to use rolled oats, which have more texture and size than quick oats.
- Brown sugar – For rich, sweet flavor.
- Kosher salt – I love the saltiness in this crispy, buttery topping!
- Baking powder – Helps to puff the topping, for a bit more bulk. Also adds crispness.
- Unsalted butter – Gives rich flavor and crispness.
What Kinds of Apples are Best for Apple Crisp?
I insist on toothsome bites of apple in my apple crisp, and it all starts with using the right kind of apple. Use ones that are known for baking, that are firm and don’t turn to mush when cooked.
I prefer Haralson apples, no contest. They’re a Minnesota variety that’s firm and tart, and hold their shape when baked. I grew up with this late-fall variety on the farm in South Dakota; they’ve been a longtime favorite.
But when I can’t find Haralsons, I turn to Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, which are available year-round. They both work great.
To add a little more flavor and texture interest, I often use more than one apple variety when making this recipe.
Do You Need to Peel the Apples?
I recommend peeling the apples. The skin doesn’t break down during baking, so peeling your apples is the best way to get that classic apple crisp texture. (But if you’re a super fan of leaving the skin on the apple, go ahead!)
The Oatmeal Topping Takes this Apple Crisp Over the Top!
Are you wondering what is so persuasive about this particular apple crisp? Blake will quickly tell you that it’s all about the topping.
This flavorful topping has an old fashioned kind of vibe, with oats and brown sugar and plenty of butter. And it’s heftier and crunchier than most, with a bit of baking powder to add a little bulk and lightened texture.
No flimsy topping here, I promise. It’s actually a crispy oats topping!
If you’ve been searching for the best apple crisp recipe, I challenge you to try this one. Use one of my preferred apple varieties, and cut them big and chunky. Then make the topping, and bake just as described in the recipe card.
And once the pan is out of the oven, let it sit for about 45 minutes or so on a cooling rack. While the crisp is still nicely warm, transfer a big spoonful of it to a bowl and top it with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. Then grab a spoon and see if you don’t enjoy it just as much as we do. I’m betting that you will!
Tips for Success
- Apple varieties – Use apple varieties that hold their shape when baked. I also prefer a tart apple, but I know many people like to lean sweeter. I listed a few of my preferences already, plus in the recipe card.
- Use 2 or more kinds of apples – Incorporate more than one variety of apple for more flavor and texture interest.
- Make thick slices – Cut the apples into thick slices (about 1/2″ thick) for a more toothsome texture. If you slice the apples super thin, you’ll end up with an “apple mush” under your topping once it’s baked. That’s a no-no in my book!
- Leave some larger topping chunks – When making the topping, be sure to cut the butter in evenly, while still allowing some larger chunks.
- Make sure the filling is bubbling – Bake until the apple filling is bubbling and the topping is nicely browned.
- Cover if topping is browning too much – If the topping is browning quicker than you like, lay a piece of foil loosely over the top of the crisp to hold back further browning.
- Enjoy while still warm – Serve warm and freshly baked for optimum flavor and texture. Ice cream is always a wonderful bonus too!
Can Apple Crisp Be Made Ahead?
While this old fashioned crisp is at its peak when it’s still a bit warm from the oven, you can also make it ahead if you’re really in a pinch. Earlier in the day works great, but I would caution against making it any more than 24 hours in advance.
After baking the crisp, store it on the countertop, uncovered. If you cover it, the crispy topping will get softer much faster.
When serving this to company, I like to turn the oven on low – about 250° F – and heat the crisp back up again. If the topping has softened too much, I’ll also place the pan under the broiler just a bit to crisp it up. And then I serve it warm (with ice cream!).
After a day, keep the crisp in the fridge. To heat it up, just scoop out the amount of crisp you want to eat and pop it in the microwave to warm it up. For a crispier topping, place the apple crisp under the broiler in the oven for a bit. Then top it with ice cream and enjoy!
Like this apple dessert recipe? Save it to Pinterest!
A few more apple desserts for you!
- Apple Bread
- Cinnamon Apple Puffs
- Apple Muffins
- Homemade Applesauce
- Overnight Baked Apple Oatmeal
- Apple Bundt Cake
Apple Crisp
An easy apple crisp recipe with toothsome apple bites and a crispy old-fashioned buttery oats topping. My favorite apple crisp!
Ingredients
for the apple filling:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 8 cups peeled apples, quartered and then sliced crossways 1/2" thick – I like Haralson apples, but Granny Smith and Honeycrisp also work well
for the topping:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup rolled oats (not quick cooking oats)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¾ teaspoon Morton kosher salt (not table salt!)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (do not melt)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- For the filling: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg with the sliced apples. Spread in an even layer in a 9'' x 13'' pan.
- For the topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together the first five topping ingredients. Add butter and cut in with a fork or pastry cutter until you have large pea-size crumbs. Sprinkle over the apples.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the topping is nicely browned and some of the apple juices are bubbling through the topping.
Notes
This is best on the day it is made, especially when it is still a bit warm. The topping will be at its crispiest within the first four hours after being baked. Serve with scoops of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.
Adapted slightly from one of our family cookbooks, “Cooking Cousins, A Treasury of Recipes from Braun-German Tradition”, recipe from Marlene Le Clair Brandenburger.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 239Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 151mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 4gSugar: 26gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Nutritionix. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Where this Recipe Came From
This recipe has been tweaked from one found in this giant family cookbook. This is where I’m from.
My dad was born of a long line of Braun-German descendants. And a good many of them live in close proximity, near my own family’s farm in South Dakota. To give you a little perspective of my own generation of this line, when our family celebrated my Great Grandpa Braun’s 90th birthday in 1985, he had 97 great-grandchildren. Isn’t that fantastic?! And mind boggling?!
One of my favorite photos, this is my dad with his mom and grandparents on the farm I grew up on.
This post was originally published in 2010. I updated photographs and text in September 2019.
Hi from Cyprusโฆ Mediterraneanโฆ.
I love your recipeโฆ would it be ok to prepare
the whole dish in advance( before baking), and leaving in fridge covered with parchment paperย
if so ,forย how long a time span would that be possible ,so as not to create too much juice or spoil ย overall finish of dishโฆ ฮฯ ฯฮฑฯฮนฯฯฯ ย
Would love to try, but wondering how to make it in a 9 x 9 pan or if I made it in the 9 x 13 could I freeze some, as there are only 2 of us & a whole pan of this dessert would be a lot for us to eat before the topping gets soft & not crunchy. Thanks
I just made this for Thanksgiving. ย I did not have unsalted butter, so i just cut back on the Kosher salt that I used. My stepson is has celiac disease, so i used gluten free flour and gluten free oats. ย I only had Paula Reds on hand, so I used those. Just fantastic!! We all loved it! Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Brynne – I’m wondering if you used salted butter?? I specify unsalted butter in the recipe, and that does make a difference. Also – I specify kosher salt – if you used regular table salt, that would also make it more salty. I hope you give it another try and get the salt figured out! Thank you so much – enjoy!
This sounds like an amazing recipe!! My 14 and 16 year old sons like the topping best!! I prefer my apples slightly tender. Not crunchy!! But this recipe is definitely a must try!! Just got a bag of apples yesterday, I cheated and bought one of the white bags from the grocery store (I work too much to go to an orchard) but still can’t wait to make this all the same!! Thank you for sharing!
There’s nothing like a good apple crisp topping – I hope you like this!
Hi there! Do you use unsalted butter in this recipe?
Hi Natalie – I always use unsalted butter when baking. Thanks for the heads-up, I’ve updated the recipe. :)
This recipe looks so delicious! All your choices are wonderful. The only thing we like to do which is a little different is that we don’t peel one of the apples. This makes the pieces with peel on them stand up to the cooking process, keeping them a bit on the crunchy side. Very delicious!! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful family recipe!!
Hi Laura – thanks for the tip, I’ll give that a try! :)
This was so GOOD! Made a few substitutions though and worked with what I had in the house. Used almond flour and coconut sugar for both regular and the brown sugar ingredients and also added a little more cinnamon and it was DEEEEEEELICIOUS! Thank you!! There’s so much you can do to alter this recipe as well to accommodate tasty add-ins like nuts or cacao nibs…endless yumminess options! This is my new favorite apple crumble recipe for sure !
So glad to hear this! :)
okay ย so first time as single guy (63) cooking apple crisp. ย Really like this recipe. ย easy to read and follow, good hints. ย thanks for the measurements, even tho had to have explained T (big T) vs ย little t for measurement. Plus, after first batch no salted butter. ย ย There are 23 apple trees in my downtown anchorage alaska …. so went to neighbors and got permission to pick apples. ย There was mix of varieties. ย Some sweet, some tart, so each time is slighty different.. ย Apples small here, so lots of peeling listening to music. ย The crisp were a great and hit with folks at work and grandkids!ย
ย Thanks and Blessings for nice new experience and tasty treat.
Hi Tom – so glad to hear this recipe was a hit! I love how you mixed up the apple varieties. And my bad, I should have noted UNsalted butter. I’ve updated the recipe.
What Other apples could be used in this crisp? ย Thanks
Just use an apple that stays crisper when baked. Granny Smith would also be a good choice that’s always readily available.
I tried this tonight. It tasted delicious but was not at all crispy….more like a french apple pie. I followed the directions exactly….any suggestions?
I really don’t know what to tell you, Gabriela. I’ve made this recipe too many times to count and always have a crispy topping. Was your butter at room temperature (not melted), so you got pieces of crumble for the topping, at least the size of peas?
Ohh my this looks amazing!
This is now officially my “go-to” apple crisp recipe!
Yay! :)
Jonah hadn’t been to Hoversten’s Apple Orchard yet this year, so we decided to go last Friday when he arrived home from school…one last time before the end of the season… We played with the puppies and picked apples…Haralsons!!! We left with 20+ pounds. I made two batches of this apple crisp this week…one for home and one for work… Everyone loved it!
Yeah, and I love the picture too! I can remember it being taken!!!
Your little apple orchard is so dang quaint – wish we had one like that, without all the commercialization. Yay for Haralsons!! Glad your family enjoyed the apple crisp and that you shared with all your work friends!
That is THE best cookbook! I am jealous I was born a year too late! haha :)
This is my grandma’s recipe! I think it’s about time she made it again… Yum!
Hi Renae – well, having just met you this week, and now knowing it’s your grandma’s recipe…all I can say is, wow, this is fun!!
Adoring your blog… everything is wonderful!!
Thank you so much, Amanda!
Hi Paula! Please let me know how this compares to your MIL’s recipe. I would love to try the recipe you use, too! Yep, my Great Grandpa was something else. I am so blessed to have memories of him and my Great Grandma. His signature was Juicy Fruit gum. He was NEVER without a pack in his pocket, to share with everyone.
I love apple crisp and have only baked my MIL’s recipe. This is one I will definitely try. It looks wonderful and the crunchy topping is what is enticing me!
Your Great-Grampa certainly looks fit & healthy at 90 in the picture. WOW!
LOVE this post! Will be trying the apple crisp this week. Love the family photo too.
Oh yay!! Makes me wonder what apple varieties you have over there? And, yes, that last photo is a very special one. :-)
I can’t wait to try this. My favorite part of apple crisp is a crunchy topping–I just throw in apples for the fun of it. Thanks for sharing your story!
Hi Staci, I’m so glad us two SD girls got introduced today – thanks for stopping by!
Your Dad and I love this apple crisp too! When we left the farm four years ago we thought we were done with apple trees, but not so. We missed going out to pick a crisp, sweet apple right off the tree, so this spring we planted one in the back yard. Now for the waiting—!
Can’t wait to pick from your new tree, Mom & Dad!