Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
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This is the perfect apple dessert to kick off the fall season! Simple, easy, and foolproof, you will absolutely love this crunchy and sweet apple crisp. It's perfectly spiced with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, and sweetened with brown sugar. The topping is so crispy and crunchy - it is going to become your new favorite autumn sweet!
Exploring the Recipe
Is there anything better than apple desserts in the fall? When you are feeling like a classic autumn treat but don’t have a lot of time or energy, apple crisp is the perfect treat to bake! Like a pie but without the crust and similar to a cobbler, crisps have a crunchy topping usually made with rolled oats. This apple crisp is a classic fall dessert staple with its oatmeal topping and sweetly spiced filling, you can easily make this for a fall gathering or quick weeknight dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Crisp
Quick to Make. I love an easy dessert! As someone who doesn’t remember to make desserts ahead of time, this apple crisp is a great option for those of us who want something sweet at the last minute.
Simple Ingredients. You most likely already have all of these ingredients in your pantry! There’s nothing fancy, just the basics.
Customizable. This crisp recipe works for any type of fruit— how great is that? Swap out the apples for peaches, berries, or pears.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Apples. Any type of apple will work, though I think mixing different types makes for the best flavor. Try mixing tart and sweet apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp!
Lemon Juice. This ingredient can be omitted, but it helps to prevent the apples from browning and also brightens their flavor.
Sugar. You will need white granulated sugar and light brown sugar for this recipe.
Minute Tapioca. Used as a thickener in the filling, you can substitute tapioca for cornstarch.
Spices. I used cinnamon and nutmeg, but you can substitute those for other spices of your choosing such as allspice and cloves. If you’re looking for a quick solution, swap the cinnamon and nutmeg for apple pie spice!
Salt.
Rolled Oats. Use the old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick oats or steel cut oats.
Flour.
Butter.
How to Make Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
Step One: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch round baking dish or 9x9-inch square baking dish. Also, set aside a baking sheet.
Step Two: Begin by making the Apple Filling. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, lemon juice, sugar, tapioca, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss to combine, making sure all of the apples are evenly coated. Spread the apple filling into the prepared baking dish and set this aside for now.
Step Three: Next, make the Crunchy Oat Topping. In the same bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then, stir in the melted butter with a wooden spoon, until it forms large crumbles, about 2 minutes.
Step Four: Evenly spread the topping onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool slightly before transferring the topping to the baking dish with the apple filling. Spread the topping evenly over the apples.
Step Five: Then, place the crisp into the oven and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Step Six: Let the crisp cool on the counter for at least 20 minutes before scooping and serving warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Tips for Making Apple Crisp
Toast the Topping. In this recipe, the crunchy oat topping is toasted for about 5 minutes before baking it on top of the crisp. This helps prevent it from becoming soggy as it absorbs the juices from the apples!
Draw out Excess Juices. Some fruits are quite juicy. If you are finding your apples are releasing a lot of juices after being tossed with sugar, drain the extra juice— don’t add it to the baking dish!
Adjust the Sweetness. Some people prefer sweeter desserts, others like a more subtle flavor. Adjust the sweetness to your liking. Adding an acidic ingredient like lemon juice can help balance a crisp from being overly sweet.
Variations
Swap out the apples for other fall fruit like plums or pears.
For a crunchy texture, add some chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or shredded coconut to the oat topping.
Serving Suggestions
Being a fall dessert, this apple crisp is wonderful shared alongside other fall comfort foods. I prefer it with some vanilla ice cream or a cup of afternoon coffee, like a Pumpkin Spice Latte! Try some of these other fall apple desserts like Baked Apple Cider Donuts and Iced Apple Oatmeal Cookies.
Storage Instructions
Store the finished crisp, once fully cooled, covered in the fridge for about 5 to 6 days.
To Freeze, Unbaked: Assemble the crisp fully without baking. Cover the entire pan tightly with a layer of plastic wrap, removing as much air as possible. Then, cover with a layer of foil to protect the crisp from freezer burn. Label and date the crisp, including baking instructions. Freeze the crisp, storing for up to 3 to 6 months.
To Freeze, Baked: Bake the apple crisp and allow it to cool fully. Cover the completely cooled crisp with a double layer of foil. Label and date the crisp and freeze, as above. When ready to eat, that the crisp in the fridge overnight. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 30 minutes.
Tools You’ll Need
Mixing Bowl
Wooden Spoon or Silicone Spatula
Small Saucepan
9-inch Baking Dish or Pie Pan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best apples to use for apple crisp?
Tart apples are generally said to be the best for making crisp, but I like to use a mix of both tart and sweet apples for the best flavor.
How do you thicken a crisp that is watery?
It can be difficult to fix a watery crisp, so it is best to prevent it from happening. Use a thickener such as minute tapioca or cornstarch to help thicken the filling. Draining excess juices from the apples before baking can help, too! Allowing the crisp to rest for at least 15 to 20 minutes before eating can help to thicken the juices, too.
Can I make the crisp ahead of time?
Yes! This crisp can be assembled and left in the fridge for about 2 days before baking, making it a great option for a gathering or holiday meal.
Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
This is the perfect apple dessert to kick off the fall season! Simple, easy, and foolproof, you will absolutely love this crunchy and sweet apple crisp. It's perfectly spiced with notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, and sweetened with brown sugar. The topping is so crispy and crunchy - it is going to become your new favorite autumn sweet!
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2 tsp (10 ml) lemon juice, bottled or fresh
- 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 tsp minute tapioca
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 cup (90 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (55 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch round baking dish or 9x9-inch square baking dish. Also, set aside a baking sheet.
- Begin by making the Apple Filling. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, lemon juice, sugar, tapioca, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss to combine, making sure all of the apples are evenly coated. Spread the apple filling into the prepared baking dish and set this aside for now.
- Next, make the Crunchy Oat Topping. In the same bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. Then, stir in the melted butter with a wooden spoon, until it forms large crumbles, about 2 minutes.
- Evenly spread the topping onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool slightly before transferring the topping to the baking dish with the apple filling. Spread the topping evenly over the apples.
- Then, place the crisp into the oven and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Let the crisp cool on the counter for at least 20 minutes before scooping and serving warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
281Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
