This recipe for Old Fashioned Apple Crisp is the absolute best way to make Apple Crisp. The apples get soft and tender and the buttery crisp topping is spiced to perfection. After one bite, you will agree this Easy Apple Crisp recipe is the best!
This Apple Crisp makes a great fall treat especially when served alongside Mulled Cider. For more great fall treats, check out Healthy Pumpkin Muffins, Instant Pot Pumpkin Cheesecake, or Applesauce Muffins.
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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
This is an Old Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe that has been in my family for generations and still remains one of our all time favorite desserts.
This is a no frills, simple recipe for Apple Crisp, yet it is absolutely perfect! It is not too sweet, not too spiced, not too buttery–everything is balanced and in taste and textures.
Apples topped with a buttery crisp topping made with oats, are baked until tender and juicy. Each bite has notes of apple, cinnamon, and is soft,
The filling for this apple crisp is made with just apples. No lemon juice, no cinnamon, no sugar, no cornstarch. The apple flavor really stands out and is not cloyingly sweet or overwhelmed by the apple crisp topping. The topping is made with oats, butter, brown sugar, and spiced to perfection. And as this apple crisp bakes, the house is filled with the aroma of cinnamon and apples, and just smells of pure comfort.
Served warm, and paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp is sure to become a favorite at your house as well!
Ingredients for Apple Crisp
- Apples–The best apples for apple crisp are Granny Smith, McInstosh, or Gala apples. I would not recommend using Red Delicious, as they get mushy and mealy when cooked. Read here for more information on which apples are best for cooking. You can choose to peel or not peel the apples. Personally, I leave the skins on the apples for added fiber and nutrients.
- Oats–Use either old fashioned rolled oats or quick cooking oats for this apple crisp. Do NOT steel cut oats!
- Brown Sugar–Brown sugar adds so much depth and richness to the the apple crisp, so I much prefer using brown sugar to granulated sugar.
- Flour–All-purpose, whole wheat, white wheat all work for this recipe. Even a 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour mix works to make this gluten free apple crisp.
- Butter–Unsalted butter is a must for baking–that way you can control the salt in your baked good.
- Spices–Cinnamon and fresh nutmeg (freshly grated nutmeg is best) are the perfect pair for flavoring this homemade apple crisp.
How to Make Apple Crisp
Step One: Prepare the Baking Dish
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Butter a 8×8 or 2 quart casserole pan and set aside.
Step Two: Prepare the Apples
- Wash and dry apples.
- Peel (you can leave peels on, but your apple crisp will have more of a bite)
- Thinly slice apples.
- Place apples in the baking dish until it is three-quarters of the way full.
*I do not toss my apples with sugar or lemon juice, this is the way my family has been making it for generations. The crisp topping will melt into the apples as the crisp bakes, so no additional sweetener is necessary.
Step Three: Prepare the Oat Topping
- In a large bowl combine the flour, oats, and seasonings.
- Cut in the soft butter into the mixture with a pastry cutter, 2 forks, or your hands.
- Cover apples with oat crisp topping.
Step Four: Bake the Apple Crisp
- Bake covered with foil for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 20 minutes, until topping is browned and apples are cooked.
Step Five: Serve
- In my book, Apple Crisp must be served with a good quality vanilla Ice cream!
- Store leftover apple crisp in the refrigerator for up 3-4 days.
How To Prepare Apple Crisp In Advance
- Prepare apples and toss with toss with 1/4 cup water plus 1/4 cup lemon juice or pineapple juice.
- Store the apples in the juice mixture, covered, in the fridge, for up to one day.
- Make the crumble topping and put it in a separate container in the fridge.
- When ready to bake, remove apples and topping from the fridge.
- Place apples in buttered baking dish and then top with crisp topping.
- Bake as directed.
More Apple Recipes
- Apple Crisp Bars
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- Healthy Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples
Easy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 4 cups sliced peeled or unpeeled
- 2/3 cup cup brown sugar
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- ¾ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/3 cup butter softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 8x8 pan and set aside.
- Peel (if desired), and thinly slice apple, filling the baking dish three-quarters of the way full.
- Blend oats, sugar, butter, nutmeg, cinnamon and flour with hands until mixture is crumbly. Spread over apples.
- Bake for 20 minutes covered and then uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until apples are tender and topping is golden brown.
Notes
- Apples--The best apples for apple crisp are Granny Smith, McInstosh, or Gala apples, you can even use a variety of apples. You can choose to peel or not peel the apples.
- Oats--Use either old fashioned rolled oats or quick cooking oats for this apple crisp. Do NOT steel cut oats!
- Flour--All-purpose, whole wheat, white wheat all work for this recipe. Even a 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour mix works to make this gluten free apple crisp.
- Butter--Unsalted butter is a must for baking--that way you can control the salt in your baked good.
- Apple crisp can be stored for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
- This recipe can easily be doubled, simply use a 9x13 pan or a 4 quart baking dish.
Kristen Chidsey
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Very delicious. Very easy. I needed to cover mine with aluminum foil after the 20 mins and cook about 10 more minutes to soften the apples. I used ground nutmeg, not fresh. I used salted butter and it was delicious. I used whole wheat flour which I think gave it extra crunchiness. I will definitely make it again. Probably will double it so we’ll have more for the next day!
I am so glad you enjoyed Elizabeth and thank you for the notes on whole wheat flour 🙂
Also, my 16 year old daughter said “I’m not a big fan of apple crisp but that was really good!” I think it is because this is the first apple crisp I’ve ever made where the topping was actually crispy. 🙂
I LOVE hearing that <3
This looks amazing! I will have to try this apple crisp! Thanks for sharing on Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesdays link up.
You bet. I hope you try it Dina. It is always a hit at my house!
I am crazy for apple crisp, and I have been buying apples nearly every time I go to the store lately. I have to make this; old-fashioned versions are the best versions!
I’m not much of a baker but I think I can handle this. Looks great! There’s nothing better in Fall than a good apple crumble and yours looks delicious!
You can handle this, I promise–so easy!
I’ve been craving this for so many weeks now.. May have to break down and make it this weekend! Yum!
Yum!! Apple crisps are one of the reasons I love fall. Paired with some warm coffee :))
Oh yes, warm coffee and crisp are are GREAT combo!
I love apple recipes! I make a crisp with the same ingredients except the oats. I’d have to try that, seems like that would add more texture. Thanks for sharing.
-Natasha | http://www.lovelyyoublog.com
You need to try adding the oats–it adds a crumbly texture (plus makes it healthier!!)
Would you believe I’ve never had Apple Crisp? I know, I know, I need to get on that! This looks delicious!
No excuses, make this crisp NOW!!!
This just sounds like the perfect fall dish..and bet it would make the house smell wonderful, too.
Makes the house smell so incredible!
I’ve read how much you love oatmeal! I am gluten-free and am wondering if the flour in this recipe could be replaced with ground oats. I also cannot eat refined sugar so plan to try maple syrup instead. Do you think that would work?
Hi Grace! If you are not nut free, I would suggest using the topping for my Gluten Free Sweet Potato Casserole (you can use butter in place of coconut oil). That recipe is tried and true and refined sugar free. You could also use gluten free 1 to 1 flour blend in place of the flour. I will say the ground oats may work perfectly, along with the maple syrup–I just have not tried it with this recipe.
I love Apple Crisp. I have had it once and it was so good. The cinnamon and apple combination is so good.
I’m a huge apple crisp fan.
In fact, one year I made myself a crisp for my birthday since my husband and son don’t like cooked fruit. This way I had it ALL to myself.
I’ll give your recipe a try!
You must give this a try. You deserve this 🙂
Wow! This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Janae
Thansk Janae! I hope you give it a try soon!
I love apples and have been collecting different recipes for apple crisp. I’ve pinned this and will certainly try.
Awesome! This is by far the best apple crisp I have ever had!
This looks delicious, and it’s perfect for fall!
Thanks Sarah–it is the PERFECT fall dish 🙂