Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: If fall was a dessert, it would be this easy Apple Crisp recipe.
Texture: Perfectly gooey apples. Crispy oat crumble topping. Melty vanilla ice cream on top. This recipe is texture heaven.
Ease: Very easy.
Appearance: Such a pretty, rustic dessert to bring to Thanksgiving or any fall gathering.
Pros: Great for serving a crowd (or to enjoy a few days of leftovers!). And your house will smell AMAZING while this bakes.
Cons: I can’t think of a single one.
Would I make this again? Absolutely!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
The smell in the air while this Apple Crisp recipe bakes in the oven is intoxicating.
I wish I could turn the scent into a candle… though a serving of apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top beats a candle any day.
Nothing embodies Fall quite like homemade apple crisp.
You really can’t beat gooey, warm, delicious apples loaded with spices and a crispy oat crumb topping.
This old-fashioned Apple Crisp recipe is such a comforting treat in the Autumn season or the summertime!
Plus, this recipe is way easier to make than Apple Pie, since you don’t have to bother with preparing a pie crust.
If you’re feeling ambitious, pair this warm crisp with a scoop of my Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe.
How to Make Apple Crisp
What is Apple Crisp? How is a Crisp Different From a Cobbler?
A baked apple crisp is made of apples, spices, and a crisp oat-y topping, essentially! There’s no crust or base to an apple crisp – just a simple streusel topping. This makes it simpler and faster to make than a pie – but you still achieve all the same wonderful fall flavors, along with a deliciously chewy crisp topping.
Cobblers, while similar, are topped with more of a biscuit-like or cake-like topping (and sometimes the same base, too) instead of an oat-y streusel topping.
What Type of Apple is Best for Apple Crisp?
- Golden Delicious and Honeycrisp have the perfect balance of sweetness to tartness and bake up beautifully.
- Feel free to use a mixture of apples!
- Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala apples are other great options.
Do I Need to Peel the Apples?
This is really a matter of personal preference, but I always opt to peel my apples to avoid the texture of cooked apple skins. If that texture doesn’t bother you, feel free to skip peeling the apples to save time.
Tips for the Perfect Apple Crisp
- Slice apples evenly so they cook evenly.
- Test apple doneness with a fork, toothpick or cake tester. Sure, you don’t want to burn or undercook your streusel topping, but you can’t just go on how the top looks for this one! Take a moment to pierce a few apples before calling the baking time – no one wants to eat a super crunchy apple in a crisp (or a super soggy one, either!).
- Adjust spice level to your preference, and based on how fresh they are. We all have a jar of allspice or cloves sitting in the back of our pantry, pulled out for just a handful of recipes every fall …. But how long has it been sitting there? Older spices carry less flavor; fresh spices will carry a LOT more flavor. So, just be aware of that, and adjust the spice level down a little if you prefer a less-spiced crisp, or if your spices are brand new, as this recipe is written to be spice-forward and based on the assumption that most spices aren’t brand new and fresh!
What Pan Should I Use for the Best Apple Crisp?
Use a 9×13-inch pan. Either a light-colored metal or glass baking dish is fine for this recipe. Ceramic works just fine for this apple crisp, too.
How to Halve This Apple Crisp Recipe:
Halve all the ingredients and bake in an 8×8-inch square pan. Reduce the baking time by a few minutes.
Can I Add Nuts to This Recipe?
Yes! Feel free to add a cup of toasted, chopped walnuts or pecans to the streusel topping, if desired.
Can I use Other Fruits Instead of Apples?
We have not tested other fruits in place of apples for this crisp recipe, so just be aware that other fruits may have different bake times, may not work with the listed spices, and may be too sweet or too liquidy for this recipe to be successful. However, we always encourage experimentation, so if you do give this recipe a try with other fruits, please let us know how it goes!
How Should I Serve Apple Crisp?
- The best way to serve this apple crisp, in my opinion, is warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
- You can get creative with other apple crisp toppings, like a drizzle of caramel sauce for an even more deliciously decadent dessert.
- Whipped cream would also be great with this apple crisp.
How Long Will This Apple Crisp Keep?
- Covered and refrigerated, this apple crisp will stay fresh for 3 days.
- Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 325°F for 10 minutes, or until warmed through.
- The streusel oat topping will begin to soften after the first day, so be aware of that (though it will still taste great regardless!).
- Apple crisp is also delicious cold!
Does Apple Crisp Need to be Refrigerated?
Though not required, I recommend that this apple crisp be refrigerated after it bakes and cools. This will keep it fresh longer and prevent it from spoiling.
Can You Freeze Apple Crisp?
This apple crisp is best enjoyed fresh, but if necessary, you can bake it, let it cool completely, cover well with layers of plastic wrap, and freeze for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and serving. To reheat, bake covered at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until heated through.
NOTE: I recommend thawing the baked crisp before reheating, but if you want to try to reheat from frozen and are using a glass pan, make sure it’s tempered glass, like this OXO option made from borosilicate glass. Borosilicate glass is designed to withstand extreme temperature changes (like from freezer to oven) without the risk of cracking or shattering. I don’t recommend baking from frozen if using a ceramic pan.
Can I Make this Apple Crisp Ahead of Time?
Yes! Here are some tips for making this recipe ahead of time:
- You can get a head start on making the crisp by preparing the streusel topping up to 2-3 days ahead of time and storing it in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.
- I prefer slicing the apples the day I plan to bake the crisp as they start to oxidize once they’re sliced and turn brown in color.
- Add a little extra fresh lemon juice to help prevent the apples from turning super brown.
- Prepare the entire apple crisp, cover well, and refrigerate the night before baking.
- Don’t wait any longer than overnight before baking, to prevent the apples from browning too much or drying out/spoiling.
- You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time to account for the cold fruit.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
- Peach Cobbler
- Caramel Apple Streusel Pie
- Apple Galette
- Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
- Salted Caramel Apple Sheet Cake
Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
For the streusel topping:
- ¾ cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (99 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup (100 grams) light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
For the filling:
- 7 to 8 fresh apples, such as Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 medium lemon)
- ¼ cup (32 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon (79 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon*
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger*
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice*
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves*
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg*
Instructions
Make the streusel topping:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch metal or glass pan with cooking spray or butter and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Whisk together until combined. With a pastry cutter or a fork, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs. Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the apple filling.
Make the filling:
- Core, peel, and slice the apples into ¼ -inch to ½ -inch slices until you reach 6 cups of sliced apples, weighing 650 grams. Place in a medium-sized bowl and immediately drizzle with the lemon juice, tossing until evenly coated.
- In a separate small bowl, mix together the flour, sugars, salt and spices (adjust to your preference). Pour dry mixture over the apples and toss to coat, mixing until evenly distributed amongst the apples.
- Pour the apple mixture directly into the greased pan. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the apples feel tender when pierced with a fork, and the topping is golden brown. Let the apple crisp cool for 20 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.
Recipe Notes
Photos by Joanie Simon.
September 2022 Baking Challenge
This recipe was the September 2022 selection for our monthly baking challenge! Every month you can join the challenge by baking the recipe and snapping a photo for a chance to win prizes! Learn more about my monthly baking challenges here. Check out everyone’s apple crisps:
The flavor was the best. I had never added cloves to my apple crisp in the past and adding this took the taste to a new level for us. This is a keeper!!!
We loved this Apple Crisp. The spices were perfect and added a wonderful flavor. I had never added cloves to my apple crisp in the past. The cloves kicked up the flavor nicely.
Super yum! I made a half batch because I’m not huge on fruit desserts (though my husband is) and now I’m hugely regretting not making a full batch. lol Yum, yum yum! Another HtH winner.
I loved this recipe, it was delicious!
This apple crisp was perfect! Sweet and crispy. I love that it’s not too heavy. I used a mixed blend of envy, green, and honey crisp apples. It turned out amazing. Will use this recipe again. Handle the Heat is my new go-to when every I start to bake.
Reminds me of fall so much! Absolutely delicious i
DELICIOUS! Simple to put together, so flavorful. Big hit at cookbook club!
I made this for my mom’s birthday and she loved it! It was super quick and easy to make and delicious! The spice ratio was perfect!
Completely earns 5 stars ⭐️ Perfect blend of spices.
I also added the zest of one lemon and reduced the sugar by half. My mom, who loves apple desserts, said this was the best apple crisp she had ever had and “needs” the recipe!
Delicious! Perfect blend of spices.
I added the zest of one lemon and reduced the sugar by about half.
My mom, who loves apple desserts, said it was the best apple crisp she has had and “needs” the recipe
This is the tastiest apple crisp I have made! I made the homemade caramel sauce to drizzle on top, and that brings it to another level. I may make it with even more apples the next time I make it! 🙂
Made this for the September baking challenge. Well definitely be adding to the fall rotation, one of the best apple crisps.