The Best Homemade Apple Crisp (Quick and Easy Recipe)

Who doesn't love an Apple Crisp? Delicious apple mixture, covered with a crisp topping that bakes to perfection and is perfectly golden brown. 

That's what you'll get in this post where I'll share with you the best apple crisp recipe ever. Try this recipe and you'll end up with a delicious Apple Crisp that's perfect for fall or any occasion.

Have it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or drizzle some caramel sauce on top for the most delicious apple dessert you've ever had. 

Want to learn how to make this delicious Apple Crisp? Then keep on reading!

Table of Contents

• What is an Apple Crisp?
• What’s the Difference Between Apple Cobbler, Apple Crumble, and Apple Crisp?
• What Makes This Apple Crisp Recipe Special?
• What Kind of Apples Work Best for Apple Crisp?
• Do I Need to Peel the Apples When Making This Recipe?
• What You Need to Make Apple Crisp at Home
• How to Make Apple Crisp (Step-by-Step)
• How to Store Leftover Apple Crisp
• How to Make Apple Crisp Ahead of Time
• How to Freeze Apple Crisp
• More Apple Recipes
• Recipe Card
• The Best Homemade Apple Crisp (Quick and Easy Recipe)
• Comments

What is an Apple Crisp?

An Apple Crisp is a delicious traditional and classic dessert that is made with a streusel topping and has an apple filling. It's different than an apple pie, but tastes similar to it and is one of the most perfect fall desserts ever! 

It's called a crisp, thanks to the crunchy top you get from combining oats, butter, and warm spices like cinnamon. Apple Crisp is an undeniably delicious dessert that's perfect for all occasions. 

What’s the Difference Between Apple Cobbler, Apple Crumble, and Apple Crisp?

All three desserts are very similar to one another. They all have the same apple filling, but the toppings make them unique and different from one another.

Apple crisp topping typically contains oats and also makes use of melted butter, both of which help produce a crunchier and crispier consistency when baked in an oven.

Apple crumble topping is a classic crumb topping that goes well with apple pie or crumb cake. The flour and sugar are combined with cold butter, resulting in a drier, almost sandy texture, hence the name.

Cobblers, on the other hand, have a biscuit or scone-like toppings.

What Makes This Apple Crisp Recipe Special?

I absolutely love apple pie, and my favorite way to have it is with French vanilla ice cream. Who doesn't?

This apple crisp is very similar in taste to the classic apple pie, only with much less sugar and calories. Just as delicious, much less guilt. I call that a win-win situation!

My sister shared this 'healthier version of an apple pie' recipe with me and it's been going like hotcakes at my house. Making pies can take as much time and effort as cakes, but this recipe takes much of that work and effort out, so why not substitute, right?

I'm all for easier and healthier recipes. And when one contains two of the most loved fall foods, oats, and apples, it's a no-brainer.

Toss ingredients into a casserole-style dish, bake and you're done. That gives you more time to spend with your family (and kiddos during the limited time they have at home during the school season). Sometimes you just need a quick recipe like this one!

When this apple crisp is baking, the aroma of cinnamon and baked apples fills the entire house and smells wonderful! It reminds you that fall has come, which is hard to believe that this year simply zoomed by. Add some ice cream for the topping and it's a perfect dinner dessert that your family will absolutely relish. 

What Kind of Apples Work Best for Apple Crisp?

You're going to want an apple variety that will hold its shape after baking and not turn to complete mush, but ultimately, this comes down to preference or what you have on hand.

I used a large bag of Jona Gold apples that I used for this recipe. Otherwise, you can use any variety of apples.

Granny Smith apples are traditionally thought to be the best for apple crisp, but Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady apples would also work well in this recipe or for a pie.

It all depends on the flavor you're going for, so if you want a tarter flavor, go for tart apples. The only thing to make sure is that they can hold their shape when baked. 

Do I Need to Peel the Apples When Making This Recipe?

Whether or not you want to peel the apples is entirely up to you. I've peeled apples in this recipe since that's what my family prefers more, but you can do whatever suits you best. 

In case you do intend to leave the skin on, then make sure to wash your apples thoroughly before using them. 

What You Need to Make Apple Crisp at Home

This delicious Apple Crisp recipe requires the most basic ingredients that you probably have in your pantry already. Here's everything you'll need:

• Apples: Of course, we have to start with apples first. I'm using Jona Gold apples but you can use any variety of apples you like, as long as they can hold their shape when baking.

• All-purpose flour: To give our dessert structure, we'll be using some regular all-purpose flour in this recipe. It's going to be used to create texture in the dish for the perfect crisp topping.
• Butter: We'll also need some unsalted butter for this recipe that we'll cut into strips and mash together for the perfect consistency.
• Oats: You'll also need some old-fashioned oats (rolled oats) for this recipe. As we learned above, the thing that distinguishes Apple Crisps from other apple desserts is that it includes this ingredient. It adds a crunch and will give you the best apple crisp topping.
• Salt: To balance out all the flavors, we'll be adding a little bit of salt to our dish. Trust me, it makes a give difference!
• Brown sugar: For added depth, we'll be using brown sugar instead of regular white sugar. The added molasses will give your homemade apple crisp the perfect level of sweetness.
• Cinnamon: To elevate the flavor to the next level, we'll also be using some ground cinnamon in this recipe. You can also add a pinch of nutmeg for added warmth.

How to Make Apple Crisp (Step-by-Step)

Making this delicious Apple Crisp is super easy. Here's what you need to do step by step:

Start by preheating the oven to 350 F (175 C).

Next, sift the flour into a medium bowl. Cut butter into small strips, add salt and mash together with a butter masher until it has a crumbly consistency. This will help get the best crumb. 

Next, add brown sugar and oats. Stir them in with a spoon. Finally, add ground cinnamon and mix everything together with a spoon once more. Set it aside until ready to use.

Time to prep the apples! Rinse, peel, and slice apples. I cut these slices in half once more, with a knife.

Lay out all the apple slices into an oven-safe baking dish or pan however you prefer.

Sprinkle prepped oats mixture over sliced apples. Dig down into the fruit with a spoon handle to better cover the apples.

Bake uncovered at 350 F for 45 minutes, or until the fruit slightly bubbles and your Apple Crisp has turned golden brown.

The more apples you use the longer the baking time. This means that 8 large Granny Smith apples would require 60 minutes of baking.

Remove from the oven and let it cool for 20 – 30 minutes before serving.

Your delicious Apple Crisp is ready to be served.

Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or drizzle some caramel sauce on top. 

Alternatively, you can add chopped nuts before serving, such as pecans and walnuts. 

How to Store Leftover Apple Crisp

You can store any leftovers you might have in the fridge for up to 3 days. Cover your baking dish with plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator. 

How to Make Apple Crisp Ahead of Time

To make ahead, follow the recipe for the apple filling but add an extra squeeze of lemon juice to prevent the apples from turning brown.

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to one day. Make the crumb topping and keep it separate in the refrigerator. Follow the rest of the recipe when it's time to bake your Apple Crisp making sure it's golden brown when you take it out.

How to Freeze Apple Crisp

You can also freeze your Apple Crisp. To do this, prepare and bake apple crisp as directed in the recipe. Let it cool completely, and then cover it with a double layer of aluminum foil. You can now freeze it for up to 3 months.

When you want to have it, let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes or until heated through.

More Apple Recipes

• Cinnamon Apple Bars
• Sweet Swirl Apple Buns
• The Best Apple Pie Recipe
• No Bake Caramel Apple Pie Cheesecake Parfaits

Check out all Fall recipes.

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This recipe was originally posted on Septembr 21, 2016 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.