The only Apple Crisp Recipe you’ll ever need – Tender apples topped with an easy brown sugar topping.
If you asked me to pick my favorite fall dessert, I would say this Apple Crisp recipe. Because it’s classic. 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 my Apple-Pear Crisp, you will notice that this recipe is very similar.
MORE APPLE RECIPES: APPLE CAKE – BAKED APPLE RECIPE – APPLE DUMPLINGS – CINNAMON APPLES – APPLE BREAD – APPLE COBBLER – HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE
Recipe overview: Apple Crisp
Apples: Thinly sliced apples are tossed with apple cider, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. A couple tablespoons of flour thicken the apple mixture, and then they get placed in a greased baking dish.
Crisp Topping: Oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter. This here is my favorite fruit crisp topping. Stir it up and crumble it over the top of the apples. 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.
Baking: I like to start baking this Apple Crisp covered with foil. This allows the apples to begin to soften without any risk of the topping over-browning. After about 20 minutes, remove the foil and let the crisp finish cooking uncovered. Uncovering the apple crisp is what is going to make our topping crisp up. 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 really thin (¼ inch or thinner). This way they bake evenly and tender every time.
How to serve:
In my opinion, an Apple Crisp should be served warm, but not hot. It should be warm enough to slowly melt that big scoop of vanilla ice cream that I am undoubtedly placing on top.
Optional: A drizzle of caramel sauce over the top. Or you can even just spoon some of those sweet apple-cinnamon juices from the bottom of the baking dish over the top of your crisp.
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!
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Apples:
- 6 cups peeled and thinly sliced apples, see note
- 3 tablespoons orange juice or apple cider
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
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
- Vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 ½ inch deep dish pie plate or 9x9 square baking dish. Set aside.
- For the topping: combine flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir until combined. Set aside.
- 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. Using your fingers, crumble the mixture 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. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Diane Flanagan
This was very good!! I didn’t have juice so I used applesauce :). The only other change was I used 4 Tbsp of butter in the topping rather than 8. Will be making again very soon. Yummy
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Katie
Very delicious! Definitely a keeper recipe. Used Jonathan apples we got from a local fruit farm. For the topping, I made 1.5x the amount it calls for to make it extra crispy (1 cup flour, 1 cup oats, etc) and for the past few minutes put it on broil. Thanks for the recipe!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Gabrielle
Sooo good!! Ran out of brown sugar so used regular sugar in the topping but otherwise followed recipe to a T and it turned out really well. Will definitely make again!!
Allison
Thanks for the kind review. I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Miranda
We loved it so much that the first one was gone before I even got a chance to take a picture. Made a second one the very next day.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Teri
I made this for my nephew’s birthday this week and he loved it! It sure is easier than making an apple pie and it’s so yummy.
Jim Powers
The recipe I’ve been searching for to add to my file card recipe box. Thanks
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
Barb Hurley
Oh my…this is the 2nd time I have tried your recipe and it is the BEST apple crisp I’ve ever had. Thank-you for sharing!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Carol Humphreys
Twist it up a little for the holidays, add a handful of cranberries. Gives it a little tart taste and some beautiful holiday coloring.
Allison
Perfect! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Ayooitslexayy
Ran out of topping but made fhree batches and had to use splenda still delicious
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Jill
I made this for Thanksgiving and it was excellent!
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂