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This Classic Apple Crisp Recipe, made with fresh apples and topped with a crumbly, buttery topping for a comforting fall dessert. Perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
This recipe for apple crisp is one of my favorite apple recipes on All Things Mamma! If you love Apple Dump Cake, Caramel Apple Nachos, and Caramel Pumpkin Poke Cake, you’ll love this easy Apple Crisp!
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Pin RecipeA Comforting Fall Dessert!
There’s something special about making desserts from scratch, especially when it’s as comforting as this Classic Apple Crisp. Ella and I love spending time in the kitchen together, and apple season always brings us back to this cozy recipe. It’s sweet, simple, and reminds me of my mother-in-law’s perfect apple crisp, passed down and made to perfection.
After a few visits to our local orchard, The Apple Barn, we found ourselves with more apples than we could snack on! So, we decided to whip up a batch of this easy, no-fail apple crisp recipe, inspired by the one my mother-in-law used to make.
(Love this recipe? Try my Skillet Apple Crisp or Slow Cooker Apple Crisp next!)
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Full of Flavor: Warm apples and a perfectly spiced oat topping create a melt-in-your-mouth dessert.
- Easy to Make: Only a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps.
- Perfect for Sharing: This dessert serves six, making it perfect for family dinners, holidays, or any gathering.
Recipe Ingredients
- 6 Apples (peeled or unpeeled, sliced) – Choose your favorite variety.
- ½ cup Apple Cider or Water – Adds moisture and enhances the apple flavor. I prefer using cider.
- ½ cup Flour – Helps create the crispy topping.
- 1 ½ cup Sugar – Sweetens both the apples and the crumbly topping.
- 1 tsp Baking Powder – For a light, crispy texture.
- ½ tsp Salt – Enhances the sweetness and balances flavors.
- 1 tsp Cinnamon – Adds warmth; feel free to add nutmeg or allspice for extra spice or make your own!
- 1 Egg – Binds the topping.
- ½ cup Butter – Melted and drizzled over the top for extra richness.
- ¾ cup Old Fashioned Oats – Gives the crisp its signature crunchy topping.
Directions For How To Make Apple Crisp
Step 1. Gather your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking dish.
Step 2. Prepare the apples: Peel and slice the apples, then add them to the baking dish. Pour the apple cider or water over the apples.
Step 3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the egg and mix well until it forms a crumbly dough.
Step 4. Crumble the topping: Spread the dough mixture evenly over the apples.Drizzle with melted butter: Pour the melted butter over the topping to help it brown and crisp.
Step 5. Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Serve: Top with vanilla ice cream and enjoy while warm!
Variations
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free flour blend in place of regular flour.
- Vegan: Substitute the butter with coconut oil and replace the egg with a flax egg.
- Nuts: Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the topping for extra crunch.
Tips for Success
Apple Varieties: Granny Smith apples work well for a tart flavor, but Honeycrisp or Gala will make it sweeter.
Crisp Topping: Don’t overmix the topping—it should be crumbly, not smooth.
Serving Suggestion: For an extra indulgent treat, drizzle caramel sauce over the top before serving.
Serving Suggestions
- Pair this Apple Crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Enjoy it warm for dessert or serve it as a decadent breakfast alongside cinnamon oatmeal.
Storage + Reheating
- To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Freeze: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
- To Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 30 seconds or reheat the entire dish in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Granny Smith: These are the classic choice due to their tart flavor and firm texture, which holds up well during baking.
Honeycrisp: Known for their sweet yet slightly tart flavor and crisp texture, Honeycrisp apples are a great option for a sweeter apple crisp.
Braeburn: With a nice balance of sweet and tart, Braeburn apples also hold up well when baked.
Golden Delicious: These are a bit sweeter and softer but work well when paired with a firmer variety like Granny Smith.
Fuji: Fuji apples are sweet and juicy, so if you prefer a less tart apple crisp, these are a good choice.
The main difference between apple crumble and apple crisp lies in the texture of the topping:
Apple Crisp: The topping includes oats and sometimes nuts, giving it a crisp, crunchy texture when baked. The oats help form that signature crisp layer that many people love. In addition to oats, the topping may also include flour, sugar, and butter, mixed to form a crumbly dough that crisps up in the oven.
Apple Crumble: The topping is typically simpler, made without oats. It usually consists of just flour, sugar, and butter, resulting in a softer, more cakey or crumbly texture rather than a crispy one.
Both desserts have similar filling made from apples, sugar, and spices, but the topping sets them apart. The oat addition in crisps provides extra crunch, while crumbles have a softer, more delicate texture.
Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Apples peeled and sliced
- ½ cup Apple Cider or Water I used Cider
- ½ cup flour
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon nutmeg, (other spices if desired—e.g. clove, all spice)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter
- 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking dish.
- Peel and slice the apples, then add them to the baking dish. Pour the apple cider or water over the apples.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add the egg and mix well until it forms a crumbly dough. Spread the dough mixture evenly over the apples.
- Pour the melted butter over the topping to help it brown and crisp.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Top with vanilla ice cream and enjoy while warm!
Notes
- Apple Varieties: Granny Smith apples work well for a tart flavor, but Honeycrisp or Gala will make it sweeter.
- Crisp Topping: Don’t overmix the topping—it should be crumbly, not smooth.
- Serving Suggestion: For an extra indulgent treat, drizzle caramel sauce over the top before serving.
Nutrition
I promise that this will turn out perfectly for you if you follow the directions above. So go ahead and make it for your next family dinner or pot-luck – you’ll be the hit of the party and everyone will be asking for more!
Check out these easy recipes next!
This looks so delicious and the instructions are straightforward. I will get some apples from the farmer’s market this weekend and give it a try – thank you for the recipe.
Ooh, this sounds so good (and easy!). It makes me want to go apple picking!
Its looks greate
Reminds me of my grandmother’s pie 🙂
It really is an old-fashioned recipe with a warm feel. Perfect for this time if year!
The Apple Crisp looks so good i crave for it right now thank you for sharing the recipe 🙂
Thank you!!
That looks too delicious! I can’t wait to try it out 🙂
Let me know what you think if you do, Becca!
Ooh, looks awesome!
Thanks, Penelope!
just in time for apple picking season, thanks for reposting i’m going to try this one today
There are a lot of different apples that would go in this. One of my favorites is the Golden Delicious. Yummy!
Yum! Def need to bake this soon.
Good plan!
Kasey, I tried this recipe for the first time this weekend…the perfect dessert for a crisp cool fall day (even in Florida)! Thanks so much!!