Easy to make, this baked apple crisp is packed full of warm spiced apples and topped with buttery, crunchy oats and brown sugar.
This is truly the best baked apple crisp recipe I’ve ever tried. It’s packed full of tender apples with warm spices and a buttery, crunchy oat topping. Serve it on its own or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy and delicious dessert I guarantee the whole family will love!
I’m usually such a chocolate dessert person! Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, brownies…those are usually my jam. (But if you’re more of a fruity dessert person then you might love my Apple Cake too!)
Watch how to make it
What makes this Apple Crisp so good?
We’ve got two specific, delicious elements hard at work to make this one shine…
- A buttery, crunchy topping. The secret is in the CRUNCH! A crisp like this one is 100% about the topping, and I think I’ve perfected it.
- Warm, spiced, delicious apples. Isn’t there something nostalgic and comforting about a cooked apple?
Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated?
The good news is, it can sit out for a while. I enjoy it both warm and at room temp. I put any leftovers in the fridge and they’re good for about 3-5 days.
Best apples for apple crisp?
Honestly, you can use whatever kind you like, but here are a few of my favorites.
- Granny Smith
- Fuji
- Golden delicious
This recipe will absolutely be on my table at Thanksgiving this year. It’s easier to make and, in my opinion, BETTER than pie!
What should you serve with Apple Crisp?
Let’s talk ice cream, because you can’t pull a warm Apple Crisp out of the oven without someone reaching for the ice cream scoop. I actually feel conflicted on this right now! A bowl of warm crisp with vanilla ice cream melting over it is…well, that’s just heaven right there. This recipe is SO GOOD by itself though that you really don’t need the ice cream for an amazing dessert! Follow your heart on this one, friends.
More Fruity Desserts
If you’d like to keep making desserts that impress and feature some delicious, flavorful fruit (I hope you’re nodding your head YES!) you may want to check out some of these recipes…
- Plum Crumble
- Almond Berry Gallette
- Lemon Vanilla Butter Cake
- Puff Pastry Apple Tarts
- Peach & Blueberry Cobbler
Easy Apple Crisp with Buttery, Crunchy Oat Topping
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven baked
- Cuisine: American
Description
This is truly the best baked apple crisp recipe I’ve ever tried. It’s packed full of tender apples with warm spices and a buttery, crunchy oat topping. Serve it on its own or top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy and delicious dessert I guarantee the whole family will love!
Ingredients
- 4 pounds apples, (peeled, cored, and cut into wedges)
- 1 lemon, (zested then juiced)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
Crisp Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup oats
- 10 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, (diced)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×10 or 9×12 baking dish and set aside.
- In a large bowl add the apples, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Use a large spoon or clean hands to toss until the apples are evenly coated. Pour into prepared baking dish.
- Now make the crisp topping. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar salt, oats, and cold butter. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly. (You can also do this by hand in a large bowl and use your hands to make the crumbly mixture). Scatter evenly over the apples.
- Place the crisp on a sheet pan and bake for 1 hour until the top is brown and the apples are bubbly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Ina Garten
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Comments
kye
Hi Laney…. made this a few weeks ago and definitely a keeper! I did not put the sugar in with apples however. I did chop up about one cup of fresh cranberries and mixed with apples before adding topping on top. I currently have apples (and cranberries) in my kitchen to make another panful today! Thanks for the recipe, my family loved it!
★★★★★
Laney Schwartz
Oh that sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing and for leaving a review!
Jen
This was super delicious!! But very sweet. I’ll definitely be making again but maybe cutting some of the sugar coating the apples…
★★★★★
Melissa williams
Better than pumpkin pie any day! Third time making it..easy and so delicious 🤤
★★★★★
Laney Schwartz
Yessss! So glad you love it
Sarah Stephens
Do you know what the ratio of lemon juice would be, if I don’t have an actual lemon?
Life is but a Dish
About 2 tablespoons
Terri C.
Thank you for the recipe. I added 1/2 t. salt and 2 T. flour to the filling and used a 9×13/4 qt. baking dish. The topping is very good and crispy.
★★★★
Ashley
So easy and so delicious. Have made it 3 times and it’s always a hit!
★★★★★
Sheryl Terlecki
Thank you very much for this “YUMMY” recipe! I made it & took some to surprise my 98 yr old nana!! I LOVE her smile!❤
★★★★★
Laura
What do you think of replacing the butter with a non-dairy replacement to make the recipe non-dairy?
What would you suggest? Coconut oil? Or Barth Balance?
Thanks!
Life is but a Dish
I haven’t tried but what about ghee?
Chaundelle L Gage
I have Apple Crisp in the oven right now! Eeeeeee!
Life is but a Dish
Yay!!
Katie
Is any oats ok? All I have is quick cook rolled oats? Thanks!
Life is but a Dish
Should be ok
Hilary
Maybe for Thanksgiving breakfast with yogurt?
Life is but a Dish
Absolutely!
Rainna
Can this be eaten as a breakfast item? There is a French cafe where I live and they have a fruit crisp for breakfast. Its similar to this but
they have a mixture of fruit like apples, peaches, plums and strawberries
Life is but a Dish
Sure why not?!
Linda
What type of Apple do you use in your apple crisp recipe?
Life is but a Dish
I used Honey Crisp but you can use any
Emily
What type of Apple do you use in this recipe? I want to make it for Thanksgiving dessert this year -Looks YUMMY!!!
Life is but a Dish
I used honeycrisp but you can use any!
Dana Clayton
Can the apple mixture be put together the day before and then day of add the topping and bake?
Allie
Could you make this the night before and just keep in the fridge until ready to bake? Looks amazing!
Life is but a Dish
Sure!
Rose
So the crumb mixture Is baked separately from the apples?
Life is but a Dish
Nope! On top!
Beverley Litwin
When making the apple mixture you mention adding brown sugar to them, but brown sugar isn’t listed in the apple ingredients only in the topping one. How much brown sugar should be added to the apple mixture?
★★★★★
Life is but a Dish
Fixed! No brown sugar in the mixture. Just the topping