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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
Assembly: Spread the apples into a greased baking dish. Crumble the topping over the apples.
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.
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
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Recipe
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Topping:
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- ⅔ cup old fashioned oats
- ⅔ 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
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Natalie
Crisps are my favorite dessert during this time of year. They are warming and hearty, so good. This apple crisp looks absolutely perfect. So flavorful. Love that ice cream scoop on top. SO yummy!
lauren
Honeycrisp apples make everything better in my opinion – I’m obsessed with them! This crisp looks so good. The crunchy oats on top are the best.
Michelle
Apple crumble is one one of my all time favourite desserts. This is very similar, so I’m sure I would love this. I usually add lemon juice to the apples when I make apple crumble so I’m intrigued to try the apple cider vinegar. Lovely recipe x
Kiki Johnson
You nailed the ratio apple:crisp! This is just how I love my apple crisp. I have never tried adding apple cider but now I need to try it! Sounds like the perfect project for next Sunday morning!
Anne Lawton
Yum! I love apple crisp! And that topping looks absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
Apple crisp is my weakness. My mom makes the best apple crisp ever but I love to try new recipes because they are all different and I just love the oat topping varieties. This is next on my list to make!
Michele
This apple crisp looks like perfection! I wish I had a big bowl with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Yum!
Emily Leary
I just love an apple crisp! This looks super tasty. I’d have it drowning is hot vanilla custard.
Amanda
I love anything involving Apple. This looks so delicious !!
Paula
I’m craving something sweet and this would def do the trick! So perfect for fall.