Apple Crisp
Apple Crisp: An easy apple crisp recipe with toothsome apple bites and a crispy old-fashioned buttery oats topping. It’s one of the best apple desserts!
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An easy Apple Crisp recipe has always had my number. I think it’s one of the very best apple desserts.
My husband’s a different story, however.
We were married in September (we just celebrated our 20th anniversary this week!), so apple season was in high gear during our first month together. And I had set up to do what I knew best with apples. Make my favorite apple crisp, of course.
As I was peeling apples, I asked Blake if he liked apple crisp. It was small talk, really. Because I was just asking a question I was sure I knew the answer to. I mean, 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?
But there was no turning back, both in marriage and that particular pan of apple crisp. So I just kept peeling apples. I knew deep down that I could eat the whole thing by myself if that’s what it came down to.
Lucky for my waistline, that time never came. Because I had company at the apple crisp pan. He liked it! And it wasn’t just a polite newlywed reaction. If you know Blake at all, he says what he means, and means what he says. I knew his approval of my favorite apple crisp was for real.
Here are a few more (Blake-approved!) apple recipes:
- Apple Peanut Butter Cookies
- Cinnamon Streusel Apple French Toast Cups
- Apple Cake with Fluffy Brown Sugar Buttercream
- Apple Bundt with Brown-Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze
- Oatmeal Cookies with Apples, Raisins, and Pecans
- Chunky Homemade Applesauce
The best apples for apple crisp
I insist on toothsome bites of apple in this easy dessert.
For me, the best apples for apple crisp are Haralsons, no contest. They’re firm and tart, and hold their shape when baked. I grew up with this late-fall variety on the farm; they’ve been a longtime favorite.
And when I can’t find Haralson apples, I turn to Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, which are normally 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.
Besides using the right apple, it’s also important to incorporate larger pieces of apple. Take a look at the photo above. Those slices are about 1/2″ thick. 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!
The best apple crisp topping
If you’re wondering what is so persuasive about this particular apple crisp, Blake will tell you that it’s all about the crispy topping.
This flavorful topping has an old fashioned apple crisp 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 oats topping here, I promise.
If you’ve been searching for the best apple crisp recipe, I challenge you to try this one. Use one of my preferences for apples, and cut them big and chunky. Then make and bake the topping, 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 apple 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!
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My apple crisp 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.
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 T. all-purpose flour
- 3 T. sugar
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 8 c. peeled apples, sliced 1/2" thick – I like Haralson apples, Granny Smith and Honeycrisp also work well
for the topping:
- 3/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 3/4 c. rolled oats (not quick cooking oats)
- 3/4 c. brown sugar
- 1-1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (do not melt)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- for the apple crisp filling: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg with the sliced apples. Place in a 9'' x 13'' pan.
- for the apple crisp 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.
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.
Notes
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:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 237 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 20mg Sodium: 397mg Carbohydrates: 41g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 26g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 2g
And a few more apple desserts from my friends that I’d love to try!
- Baked Apple Cider Donuts from The Fauxmartha
- Mini Apple Crumble Pies from Noble Pig
- Apple Coffee Cake from TidyMom
This post was originally published in 2010. I updated photographs and text in September 2019.
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The filling was good, but the topping was salty. Is it really 1 1/2 tsp of salt?
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 so first time as single guy (63) cooking apple crisp. Really like this recipe. easy to read and follow, good hints. thanks for the measurements, even tho had to have explained T (big T) vs little t for measurement. Plus, after first batch no salted butter. There are 23 apple trees in my downtown anchorage alaska …. so went to neighbors and got permission to pick apples. There was mix of varieties. Some sweet, some tart, so each time is slighty different.. Apples small here, so lots of peeling listening to music. The crisp were a great and hit with folks at work and grandkids!
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.
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What Other apples could be used in this crisp? 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?
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Ohh my this looks amazing!
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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. :-)
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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!