Nothing says comfort food like this easy Apple Crisp. Cinnamon apples are topped with a crispy oatmeal crumble topping and baked to golden perfection. This apple crisp recipe is one of the best, crowd pleasing fall desserts!
Besides this apple crisp crumble, during the fall we love making this Dutch Apple Pie, Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars and Apple Streusel Cheesecake Bars!
This homemade apple crisp is a simple dessert that is quick and easy to throw together. The filling is as delicious as apple pie, yet there’s no need to make a pie crust. Instead, this baked apple dessert has a crispy topping that gives the warm cinnamon apples a lovely crunch and adds lots of flavor!
Simple Apple Crisp Recipe
Is it a crisp, a crumble, a brown Betty, a cobbler? There are many names given to these baked fruit desserts and their differences are quite subtle. A crisp is usually topped with a buttery, sweet oat topping that sometimes includes nuts like pecans or walnuts.
The most similar to a tasty crisp is a crumble, although sometimes the streusel topping in a crumble doesn’t have any oats or nuts.
Whether you call it a cobbler or crumble, this simple apple crisp recipe is absolutely delicious, especially topped with vanilla ice cream! Check out our easy Peach Crisp recipe.
Simple Apple Crisp Ingredients
For the Fruit Crisp
- Apples
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar and granulated sugar
- All purpose flour
- Milk and buttermilk
- Baking Powder, salt
- Ground cinnamon, vanilla extract
For the Streusel Topping
- Regular oats
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar and granulated sugar
- All purpose flour
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
How to Make this Easy Apple Dessert
- Make The Crumbly Oat Topping: Start by making the crumb topping. In a food processor, place the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Give it a few pulses to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the butter resembles small peas. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the oats.
- While preheating the oven, melt the butter in a 9×13 baking dish.
- Bake The Apples: Toss the apples with brown sugar until the apples are well coated. Place the apple mixture in the baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Make The Batter: Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the milk, buttermilk, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. When the apples are ready, remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the batter over the apples.
- Add Oat Topping and Bake: Sprinkle the batter with the streusel oat topping and bake.
- Serve: Serve warm or at room temperature topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
What Are The Best Apples For Baking
The best apples for apple crisp are sturdy and crisp apples that can hold their shape when baked. Granny Smith apples are slightly tart and firm so they don’t turn mushy in the oven. Honeycrisp, braeburn and galas are also good for baking.
Of course, any type of apple can be used and I usually use what I have available at home. Feel free to use a combination of apples also. This gives the baked dessert some different textures.
That is up to you! Peeled or unpeeled apples can be used. I don’t mind the skin when eating fresh apples, but I must admit that when baking, I usually prefer peeled apples.
Homemade apple crisp can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Individual servings of apple crumble can be reheated in the microwave until warm through.
What’s the Difference between Apple Crisp, Apple Crumble, and Apple Blossoms Dessert?
Both apple crisp and apple crumble are similar desserts. They both are made with apples topped with a streusel mixture. While these apple desserts bake, the sweet apple juices seep through the topping creating the most delicious combination of flavors. The crisp streusel mixture always contains oats while the crumble does not.
Why Is My Apple Crisp Watery?
To prevent a watery apple crisp, it is important to follow a two-step baking process. A crisp gets watery when raw fruit gets topped with a batter or streusel then baked. While the topping gets fully cooked and golden, the fruit doesn’t have enough time to soften. To prevent a watery crisp, the apples should be cooked first before adding the topping. In this recipe, the apples are tossed with sugar and are baked for 15 minutes, then the topping is added and the crisp bakes until golden brown. The extra step gives the apples enough time to caramelize and become tender guaranteeing a perfect crisp!
Simple Apple Crisp Recipe Tips
- Cut the apples into 3/4 inch cubes. Cutting the apples evenly ensures overall tender apples.
- If you want to make this easy crisp recipe ahead of time, bake it and store it in the refrigerator. I don’t recommend storing the apple crisp unbaked as it tends to get soggy and watery in the fridge.
- Baked apple crisp freezes well for up to 3 months.
- This recipe for apple crisp can easily be made gluten free. Use a 1-to-1 gluten free flour replacement and gluten free oats.
Take A Look A These Other Fall Recipes:
- Apple Pancakes
- Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
- Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Chile Colorado
- White Chicken Chili
- Osso Bucco
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Easy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
CRUMB TOPPING
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoon cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
- ¼ cup uncooked regular oats
APPLE COBBLER
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 3 pound apples peeled and cut into ¾-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
- ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups milk
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Prepare Crumb Topping:
- Place the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and give it a few pulses to mix.
- Add the butter and pulse 5 to 7 times or until the mixture resembles small peas.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Stir in the oats with a spoon until mixture is crumbly. Chill until ready to use.
Prepare the Cobbler:
- Melt the butter in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish while the oven preheats.
- Combine the apples and brown sugar, tossing to coat. Spoon into the baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until the apples begin to soften and release juices.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add the milk, buttermilk, and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- When the apples are ready, remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the batter over the apples. Sprinkle with crumb topping.
- Bake at 375°F for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Chef’s Tips
- This recipe for apple crisp can easily be made gluten free. Use a 1-to-1 gluten free flour replacement and gluten free oats.
Nutrition
Amanda says
So delicious. Perfect for the season.