This simple, old-fashioned apple crisp recipe is just like Grandma used to make! It’s best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce for the ultimate comfort dessert.
A quintessential fall treat, this classic apple crisp evokes nostalgia and the flavors of generations gone by. Pop it in the oven and let the delightful aroma fill your home!
There are countless ways to bake with apples! Maybe you’ve already tried baked apples, apple cinnamon bread, or even indulged in apple cake and caramel apple upside-down cake. From apple cinnamon babka to other apple favorites, the possibilities are endless. But today, let’s focus on the basics.
This apple crisp is as simple as it gets—a timeless dessert that showcases the natural sweetness of apples. It’s a perfect end-of-meal treat, offering bold flavor with minimal effort.
Classic Apple Crisp Recipe
Servings: 6-8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling:
6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground allspice (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
For the Crisp Topping:
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
¾ cup all-purpose flour
⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
½ cup chopped nuts (optional, such as pecans or walnuts)
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or an 8×8-inch square pan, depending on how thick you’d like your crisp.
Prepare the Apple Filling:
In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice (if using), vanilla extract, and flour. Toss the mixture until the apples are well-coated. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
Make the Crisp Topping:
In another bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes, and using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped nuts, if using.
Assemble and Bake:
Evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the apple mixture in the baking dish. Make sure the apples are fully covered with the topping.
Bake:
Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
Cool and Serve:
Allow the apple crisp to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. It’s best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Tips:
Apple Variety: Granny Smith apples provide a tart contrast to the sweet topping, but you can also mix them with sweeter varieties like Honeycrisp for more flavor depth.
Make Ahead: You can prepare the topping in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days before using.
Add-ins: You can add dried fruits like raisins or cranberries to the apple filling for extra texture and flavor.
Enjoy your delicious, homemade Classic Apple Crisp recipe!
