May 25, 2023
Review RecipeApple Crisp

Table of Contents
The tart flavor of juicy apples baked to bubbling and topped with a crunchy topping make this apple crisp a favorite fall dessert. Our easy recipe is just like Grandma used to make – sweet, warm, and delicious!

Best Apple Crisp Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need:
For the Crisp Topping
- ¾ cup of old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup of flour
- ¼ cup of light brown sugar
- ¼ cup of sugar
- 4 tablespoons of cold butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of nutmeg
For the Apple Filling
- 6 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup of light brown sugar
- ¾ cup of granulated sugar
- ¼ cup of all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons of cinnamon
Substitutions and Additions
GRANNY SMITH APPLES: Granny Smiths are the best variety of apples for apple crisp, but we also like Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp apples. You could also use a mix of apples if you’d like.
LIGHT BROWN SUGAR: If you don’t have this, you could just use regular white sugar.
OLD-FASHIONED OATS: These are also known as rolled oats. It’s fine to use quick-cooking oats instead if that’s what you have in the cupboard.
BUTTER: To make this recipe suitable for vegans, you could switch the butter to dairy-free margarine.
CARAMEL SAUCE: Optional but so yummy, why not drizzle some caramel sauce over the top?
How to Make This Apple Crisp Recipe
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray.
STEP TWO: First, make the topping. Take a medium-sized bowl and add the oats, flour, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Stir until combined.

STEP THREE: Add the butter to the dry ingredients and work together with a fork or your fingers until it’s crumbly. Set aside.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Be sure to slice or dice your apples consistently so that they cook evenly.

STEP FOUR: To make the filling, place the sliced apples into a large bowl and drizzle with lemon juice. Toss until well-coated.
PRO TIP:
Do not skip peeling the apples. Leaving the peels on will affect the consistency and texture of your crisp.

STEP FIVE: In a small bowl, add the flour, sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir until combined. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the apples and toss until they are coated.
PRO TIP:
Adding flour to your apples will help ensure that your filling is not crumbly.

STEP SIX: Layer the apples into the baking dish. Place the crumbly topping on top.

STEP SEVEN: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your crisp at the lower end of the recommended baking time.

STEP EIGHT: Serve warm topped with ice cream or whipped topping.
Best Apple Crisp Serving Suggestions
We suggest pairing this warm apple crisp à la mode with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream. If you are serving up leftovers the next day, make sure to warm it up again before enjoying a dish of this yummy dessert.
More of our classic apple recipes include our apple pie and caramel apple crisp bites.
MORE APPLE RECIPES
Apple Crisp Recipe Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: This classic apple crisp can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Allow it to cool completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Warm in the microwave or in the oven on low heat.
IN THE FREEZER: Apple crisp will last for three months in the freezer in an airtight container. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

The Best Apple Crisp Recipe
The best apple crisp recipe is homemade from scratch, but that doesn’t mean that it’s difficult to do. This traditional apple crisp recipe can be prepared in under 20 minutes, using ingredients that you already have in your cupboard.
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp FAQ
The best apples to use for apple crisp are tart apples or a mix of tart and sweet apples. Granny Smith is the top choice for baking followed by Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Honeycrisp.
For an apple crisp, you should peel the apples before adding them to the recipe.
You could make apple crisp without oats. Instead, top with a crumble topping of ¾ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 cup of all-purpose flour, and ½ cup of unsalted butter, melted. Combine and sprinkle on top of your apple mixture.
While both apple crisp and apple crumble are baked fruit desserts with a layer of topping, apple crisp has a crumbly topping that usually includes oats, while a crumble topping has a streusel topping made with flour, sugar, and butter.
A secret found in some apple crisp recipes to add extra crisp to the topping is to add ½ cup of graham cracker crumbs to the mixture.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Blackberry Cobbler
- Blueberry Dump Cake
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Peach Dump Cake
- Blueberry Hand Pies
- Blueberry Cobbler
- Applesauce Cake
- Apple Pie Filling
- Apple Pie Bites
- Crockpot Applesauce
- Campfire Apple Crisp in Foil Packets
- Apple Dapple Cake

Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Topping
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
- ¼ cup sugar
- ice cream or whipped topping, optional
Apple Filling
- 6 Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and sliced thin but not slivered)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray an 8×8-inch baking dish.
- In a medium-sized bowl add the oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and brown sugar.
- Add the cold cubed butter. Using a fork or fingers, work the butter into the flour and oat mixture until crumbly. Set this aside.
- In a large bowl, add the sliced apples.
- Drizzle the lemon juice over the apples. Toss the apples to coat them well with the lemon juice.
- In a small bowl combine the flour, sugar, packed light brown sugar, and cinnamon. Quickly stir together to combine.
- Sprinkle the flour mixture over the apples and toss to coat the apples.
- Evenly layer the apples into the lightly sprayed baking dish.
- Evenly sprinkle the oat mixture topping over the apples.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Serve warm and top with ice cream or whipped topping.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to slice or dice your apples consistently so that they cook evenly.
- Do not skip peeling the apples. Leaving the peels on will affect the consistency and texture of your crisp.
- Adding flour to your apples will help ensure that your filling is not crumbly.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your crisp at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
Comments
Natalie says
Can I use quick oats?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Natalie – yes, it will change the texture just a bit but will still be yummy! Enjoy!
Jeanne says
Fantastic! Simple to make and so flavorful.
Michele Ann says
Sounds delicious!
Carrie says
That recipe is so my time. We had the exact apple crisp in school way back. Will keep this recipe!
Sue says
This is the best and easiest apple crisp I have ever made and will use it all the time I need a quick dessert!! The first time I used 2 cans pie filling and that was still very good!
Charlene Coomer says
I’m going to use 1/2 Granny Smith and 1/2 Gala apples and double the recipe. Will it fit in an 11×14 pan alright? Also why does using quick oats for the topping change the texture?
Thank you.
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Charlene – we haven’t tried doubling so I don’t have input on the pan size working. Quick oats and old-fashioned oats cook differently, so the texture would be different. You could use quick oats in a pinch but we would recommend old-fashioned. Enjoy!
Lise says
This was most delicious and easy to make!