Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Allison · 132 Comments

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This is the BEST Apple Crisp recipe – a classic that you’ll come back to again and again! Tender cinnamon apples covered in and easy and delicious brown sugar-oat topping.

If you asked me to pick my favorite fall dessert, it would be this apple crisp. Because it’s old fashioned, because it’s cozy, and because the combo of warm fruit crisp and cold vanilla ice cream gets me every single time.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (1)

If you’ve made my Apple Cranberry Crisp, Strawberry Crisp, Peach Crisp, Blueberry Crisp or Apple-Pear Crisp, you will notice that this recipe is very similar.

Prefer a topping with NO OATS? Try this Apple Crumble. Prefer pumpkin? Try our Pumpkin Crisp.

Jump to:
  • Why you’ll love this recipe
  • Recipe overview
  • What type of apples to use?
  • Serving and storage
  • More apple recipes
  • Recipe

Why you’ll love this recipe

Ease: As far as homemade baking goes, this is about as easy as it gets! The hardest part is peeling and slicing the apples, other than that it’s just some stirring.

Flavor: An incredible combination of fresh apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Texture: Soft apples and a crunchy topping with a slight chewiness from oats.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2)

Recipe overview

*Full recipe below in recipe card*

Topping: Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt. Stir in melted butter. This is my favorite fruit crisp topping. The oats add heartiness, the brown sugar adds a depth of sweetness, and the melted butter ensures that every bite has a crisp buttery texture.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (3)

Apples: Thinly sliced apples are tossed with apple juice, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. A couple tablespoons of flour thicken the apple mixture, and then they get placed in a greased baking dish.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (4)

Assembly: Spread the apples into a greased baking dish. Crumble the topping over the apples.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (5)

Baking: Start baking the apple crisp covered with foil. This allows the apples to soften without any risk of the topping over-browning. After about 20 minutes, remove the foil and let the crisp finish cooking uncovered. Once the juices are bubbling, the topping is golden brown, and the apples are tender, it is done!

What type of apples to use?

Use your favorite baking apples. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady and Fuji are my favorite for this recipe. If you prefer a less sweet apple crisp, you can use Granny Smith apples.

Make sure you slice the apples thin (¼ inch or thinner). This way they bake evenly and tender every time.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (6)

Serving and storage

This apple crisp is best served warm topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also add a drizzle of caramel sauce, if you’re feeling like it.

Have leftovers? Place them in the refrigerator. You can eat the leftovers cold, straight from the fridge (breakfast of champions), or you can reheat it in the microwave to warm it up again.

Prefer a healthier version? Try my Healthy Apple Crisp!

More apple recipes

  • Apple Cinnamon Muffins
  • Cinnamon Apples
  • Apple Dumplings
  • Apple Cake

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Recipe

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (11)

Apple Crisp

The only Apple Crisp Recipe you'll ever need – Tender apples topped with an easy brown sugar topping.

4.99 from 92 votes

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Dessert

Servings: 6 – 8

Calories: 336kcal

Author: Allison – Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

Topping:

  • cup all purpose flour
  • cup old fashioned oats
  • cup light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Apples:

  • 6 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples, see note
  • 3 tablespoons apple juice (preferred) or orang juice
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch deep dish pie plate or 9×9 square baking dish. Set aside.

  • Topping: combine flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir until combined. Place in the refrigerator while you proceed with the filling.

  • Filling: In a large bowl combine apples, juice, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla. Stir gently until completely combined. Dump the mixture (and any accumulated juices) into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Crumble the topping over the fruit, occasionally pressing some of it together to form clumps.

  • Spray a piece of foil with nonstick spray and loosely cover the baking dish. Bake 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown, the apples are tender, and the juices are bubbling around the edges. Allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Video

Notes

Apples: You will need about 4-6 apples. Apples should be sliced ¼ inch thick or smaller. I recommend using Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji, or a combination of those.

Serving and storage: Serve warm topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can also add a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Have leftovers? Place them in the refrigerator. You can eat the leftovers cold, straight from the fridge or you can reheat servings in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 154mg | Potassium: 182mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 415IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1.1mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (12) Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!

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Comments

  1. Joann

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (13)
    This looks so good I can’t wait to try it. I do have a question; Has anyone ever tried using Golden Delicious? That’s my favorite apple and I just got a bushel. Thanks for any help you can give me. Have a wonderful day

    Reply

    • Allison

      Hi, Joann. Golden delicious are sweeter and softer, so as long as you don’t mind that they should work just fine. Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Mrs

    Hello. LOVE your recipes. Is it possible to freeze this crisp? And if so, how would it be reheated? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Allison

      Hi! Thank you! I find that the topping gets quite soft after freezing and thawing. If you want to freeze it anyways I recommend reheating individual portions in the microwave.

      Reply

  3. Slm

    See Also
    Apple Crisp

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (14)
    Made this last week and making again this week. Easy to make and not overly sweet. Delicious! Thanks for recipe.

    Reply

    • Allison

      You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  4. Hannah W

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (15)
    Delicious! The apples taste like caramel. Will definitely be making this again. Used Fuji apples and a kitchen aid mixer tool to slice apples.

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  5. Samantha

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (16)
    My go-to apple crisp recipe. Thank you Allison!

    My twist: instead of simply melting the butter, I brown it, which makes this an 11/10!

    Reply

    • Allison

      Yum! Great idea! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply

  6. Barb

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (17)
    I doubled the recipe and put it in a 13×9, used honey crisp apples and threw in a bit more cinnamon just because I really love it. I was sooooooo good! Oh and it needed to bake longer but it is definitely worth the wait!

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Reply

      • Barb

        Ok, I’m back! Just made it again for Christmas! You have ruined me for making an apple pie ever again…! LOL Who needs that?? No need to fool around with the time to make a crust plus the extra calories the crust offers. We all know that the crust has so much fat in it whether it be shortening or butter without delivering a lot of taste. Allows you to eat more of the good stuff! Exactly double the ingredients – Peel 12 honey crisp apples for a 13×9 pan and cook it until the center bubbles. I does take a lot longer in the oven until the center apples are soft but definitely worth the wait! Feeds a crowd and easy to transport. Bye Bye apple pie!
        !

  7. Sully

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (18)
    Truly the best apple crisp I have made! I always double the topping. Used orange juice with Granny Smith apples sliced thin. Delicious!

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply

  8. Gladis Flatt

    Hi, can I assemble the day before and then bake?
    Thanks!
    Gladis

    Reply

    • Allison

      Probably, but I haven’t tried it. Keep the topping and filling separate and tightly cover the apples so they don’t turn brown. You’ll need to leave the topping at room temp for a bit to soften before adding it to the fruit.

      Reply

  9. Jacquie

    Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (19)
    Made this and it was delicious and easy to make. I did add some nutmeg and clove to it as I do to my Apple Pie. We had it warm with Vanilla Ice Cream and enjoyed every bite!

    Reply

    • Allison

      I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply

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About

Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (20)Hi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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Apple Crisp Recipe - Celebrating Sweets (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

The lemon juice will keep the apples from turning brown. Set your prepared apple crisp aside on the counter until ready to bake. Put the apple crisp in the oven to bake just as you are serving dinner. And by the time dinner is over, this warm syrupy dessert will be ready.

What is the difference between apple crisp and apple crumble? ›

Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

What are the best apples to use for apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

How to thicken apple crisp? ›

One common method is adding a bit of cornstarch or flour to your apple mixture before baking. This helps absorb some of the juices and thickens things up. Another tip is to let the apple crisp sit a bit after taking it out of the oven; as it cools, the filling will naturally thicken a bit.

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

How do you keep Apple crisp from getting soggy? You need enough butter in your topping, try both melted or cold cut into the dry ingredients. Also, there needs to be enough texture to keep it from just flattening into the fruit below.

What can I use instead of lemon juice in apple crisp? ›

8 Clever Substitutes for Lemon Juice
  • Lime juice. Lime juice is the best substitute for lemon juice, as it can be used as a one-to-one replacement and has a very similar taste and acidity level ( 5 ). ...
  • Orange juice. ...
  • Vinegar. ...
  • Citric acid. ...
  • Lemon zest. ...
  • White wine. ...
  • Lemon extract. ...
  • Cream of tartar.
Jun 24, 2019

Why is it called Brown Betty? ›

This has led some historians to believe that Betty was the name of the cook and creator of the recipe and that brown was in reference to her skin color.

What's the difference between brown betty and apple crisp? ›

Both are very similar apple desserts, but the difference mainly comes down to the crumble topping: Instead of the flour and oat mixture used in an apple crisp, an apple brown betty uses breadcrumbs for its crumbly, delicious topping.

Why is my apple crumble topping not crunchy? ›

The main reason your crumble topping isn't crunchy is probably because you haven't used Demerara sugar. Although, it could also be that you've got your topping ingredient quantities wrong: either too much or not enough flour and butter alongside the sugar.

Why is my apple crisp topping dry? ›

If your apple crisp is dry, you didn't use enough butter. Make sure to follow this apple crisp recipe to ensure you've got the proper measurements.

How many apples is 2 pounds? ›

Since we know that three medium-sized apples (or four small ones) make a pound, you can use this as a guide to know how many large apples make up a pound. In general, 2 large apples can often make up a pound, with large apples that are close in size to a softball.

Which apples are not crispy? ›

As mellow as sweet apples come, Gala apples are known for their sweet, vanilla aroma and soft bite. Bittersweet and soft fleshed, the Red Delicious is a classic apple with mild crispiness. The Golden Delicious sits at the bottom of the crunch list with soft skin and mellow, yellow apple flavors.

Why did my apple crisp get mushy? ›

Avoid using overripe apples

Your pie will turn out very mushy and lack the flavor apple pie is known for. Apple pie relies on the tartness of apples to offset the ultra-rich ingredients of brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter.

Can I cut apples the night before for apple crisp? ›

We prefer to prep the apples when we make the crisp, but you can prep them ahead of time. Peel and slice the apples and toss them with lemon juice, then pack tightly in freezer bags and refrigerate for up to one day.

Why do you put lemon juice on apples? ›

The longer the enzyme is exposed, the browner each slice will become. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which is a natural anti-oxidant. Therefore, when you apply lemon juice to apple slices, it helps to prevent the oxidation process.

What is a substitute for lemon juice to preserve apples? ›

A Salt Water Brine Keeps Apples Unbrowned for Days

The instructions for this method couldn't be simpler: Mix 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt into 1 cup of water and stir until it's clear. Then simply soak apple slices in the brine for 10 minutes, shake them dry, and put them in airtight containers in the fridge.

What if I don't have lemon juice for apple pie? ›

Best Option: Lime Juice

Lime juice wins the spot for best overall substitute for lemon juice because of its similar taste (just a little sweeter) and acidity level.

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