Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

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Shelly 23 Comments

★★★★★5 from 5 reviews

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This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats is a no fail dessert just like grandma used to make! Sweet cinnamon apples are topped with a crunchy, buttery oat crumble topping, then baked to perfection! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate bite of apple crisp goodness.

EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Is The BEST Apple Crisp Recipe
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How To Make The Best Apple Crisp
  • Tips for Success
  • What to Serve with Apple Crisp
  • Proper Storage
  • Looking for More Apple Recipes? Try These!
  • Get the Recipe

Why This Is The BEST Apple Crisp Recipe

  • Oat topping. I love this crisp topping because it includes oats. They help absorb some of the moisture the apples release, while also keeping the topping crunchy!
  • Quick and easy. The hardest part of making this apple crisp recipe with oats is peeling the apples. The rest of it takes just a few minutes to prepare.
  • Perfect for fall. Old fashioned apple crisp is one of my favorite fall desserts and it makes a great alternative to apple pie during the holidays too.

Looking for more apple dessert ideas? Try myClassic Apple Pie recipe, Dutch Apple Pie, Apple Dump Cake, or thiseasy Skillet Apple Pie!

EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (2)

Recipe Ingredients

These easy apple crisp recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.

  • Apples – As mentioned above, I prefer Granny Smith but you can use other apples.
  • Orange – My secret ingredient! You’ll want both the zest and juice.
  • Salt – Helps to balance the other ingredients.
  • Brown sugar – Sweetens the apple filling and is also used in the topping.
  • Cinnamon – Adds the warm flavor to the apple crisp.
  • Butter – Be sure to use cold butter.
  • Flour
  • Quick oats – You can use old fashioned oats but I think quick oats create the best texture.
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (3)

How To Make The Best Apple Crisp

The hardest part of making this apple crisp recipe with oats is peeling the apples! Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions.

EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (4)
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (5)
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (6)
  • Prepare the apples. Peel and slice the apples. Stir in the orange zest and juice, salt, brown sugar, and cinnamon to coat the apples. Let rest to release the juices.
  • Prepare the topping. Combine the butter, flour, sugar, oats, and salt.
  • Bake. Spread the apples in a baking dish, discarding the excess liquid. Add the topping. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until the apples are bubbly and the topping is crisp and golden.

Tips for Success

I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I am going to share with you on how to make the best apple crisp. They are simple little things you can do to ensure success!

  • Add citrus. I feel like the top secret to my apple crisp recipe is adding orange zest and a little orange juice right into the apples. You can honestly use any citrus in place of the orange, but the subtle orange flavor is just special enough to make it different but not be too noticeable!
  • Use quick oats in your crumble topping. Quick oats are just rolled (old fashioned) oats cut into smaller pieces, which makes them less detectable and not as chewy.
  • Allow your apples to sit in the cinnamon, sugar, zest, and juice for a bit before baking. This will draw out some of the moisture from the apples, preventing your apple crisp from getting too soupy!
  • Use Granny Smith apples. This might be more of a personal preference, but I almost always prefer Granny Smith apples in baking. They hold their texture, release less juice, are easily available, and have a great balance of sweet and tart after they’re baked.
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (7)

What to Serve with Apple Crisp

Apple crisp is best served warm, either from the oven or microwaved for a few seconds. I like to top mine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream but whipped cream works too. You can even add a sprinkle of cinnamon or caramel drizzle to the top.

Proper Storage

  • Room temperature. Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Note that the longer it’s stored, the softer the topping will become so I prefer to eat it within a day.
  • Reheat. Pop individual servings in the microwave for 20 seconds store airtight for up to 2 days. The longer this is stored the softer the crisp layer will get, so I like to eat this within a day of being made.

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EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (8)

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Looking for More Apple Recipes? Try These!

  • Apple Fritter Bread
  • Easy Skillet Caramel Apple Pie
  • Apple Snickerdoodle Bars
  • Apple Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

This recipe was originally published in 2015. I have updated the images and the content with some tips and tricks.

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    EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (9)

    EasyApple Crisp Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 5 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    • Yield: 10 servings 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Dessert

    Rate

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    Description

    This EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp recipe is a no fail dessert just like grandma used to make! Sweet cinnamon apples are topped with a crunchy, buttery oat crumble topping, then baked to perfection! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate bite of apple crisp goodness.

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Apple layer

    • 5 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced approx 1/3″ thick
    • zest and juice of one large orange
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

    Crisp Topping

    • 1 cup butter, cold and cubed
    • 1 1/2 cups flour
    • 1 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 1/4 cup quick oats
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9×13 pan, or lightly coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
    2. Combine the apples, orange zest, orange juice, salt, sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir to coat evenly. Set aside while you prepare your topping.
    3. For the crisp topping, place butter, flour, brown sugar, oats, and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter or your hands combine all the ingredients until the mixture is crumbly.
    4. Spread the apples into the prepared baking dish, discarding any liquid the apples released.
    5. Sprinkle the oat mixture on top of the apples.
    6. Bake for 55-60 minutes until the crisp is lightly browned and the apples are bubbly.
    7. Serve warm or at room temperature

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The longer this is stored the softer the crisp layer will get, so I like to eat this within a day of being made.

    Serve with ice cream and caramel sauce, if desired.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 381
    • Sugar: 27.1 g
    • Sodium: 242.2 mg
    • Fat: 19.3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 50.1 g
    • Protein: 3.7 g
    • Cholesterol: 48.8 mg

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    FAQs

    What are the best apples for an apple crisp? ›

    What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

    Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

    Add a little extra fresh lemon juice to help prevent the apples from turning super brown. Prepare the entire apple crisp, cover well, and refrigerate the night before baking. Don't wait any longer than overnight before baking, to prevent the apples from browning too much or drying out/spoiling.

    How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

    How do you keep Apple crisp from getting soggy? You need enough butter in your topping, try both melted or cold cut into the dry ingredients. Also, there needs to be enough texture to keep it from just flattening into the fruit below.

    Should you refrigerate apple crisp before baking? ›

    You can prepare the crisp through step 3, then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day before baking. You can also freeze the unbaked crisp for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then continue with step 4. Bake time will be a little longer since the crisp will be cold.

    What is the sweetest and most crisp apple? ›

    Fuji: Fuji is the sweetest apple variety that Stemilt grows. Each crisp bite will remind you of the sweet taste of apple juice due to its naturally high sugar levels! Fuji apples are ideal for fresh applications like snacking, juicing, or freezing.

    What's the difference between apple crisp and apple crumble? ›

    Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

    Why didn't my apple crisp get crispy? ›

    How can I make my apple crisp crispy? If your butter to flour to sugar ratio is off, it will result in a less crispy topping. You want to be careful not to add too much flour or too little. Also, we love adding old fashioned rolled oats to our crumble because it really gives it a nice crunch.

    Can I substitute vinegar for lemon juice in apple crisp? ›

    Due to its tartness and acidity, vinegar is an excellent substitute. However, only substitute vinegar for lemon juice in cooking or baking when the amount called for is relatively small so it won't impact the flavor of your finished dish.

    Why is it important to use cold butter when preparing apple crisp? ›

    Use cold, cubed butter.

    Making the crumble with room temperature or melted butter will cause the topping to spread as it bakes, rather than creating a landscape of craggy, crunchy sweet pieces. Using cold butter will help all the crumble ingredients bind together before baking and then saturate them evenly in the oven.

    Can I prep apple crisp ahead of time? ›

    This Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp) recipe is the perfect cozy apple dessert. Made with sliced apples and an Oat Apple Crumble Topping, it comes together very easily, can be made ahead, and can also easily be scaled to whatever size you need - a small batch apple crumble or one which can feed a crowd.

    How many apples is 10 cups? ›

    According to this equivalent list, 10 cups of sliced apples requires 10 medium apples. To be on the safe side, buy one additional apple. You don't want to run short—after all, it's always better to have too many ingredients than too few!

    Can you make apple crisp ahead of time and reheat? ›

    From the brown sugar crumble topping to the cinnamon coated tender apples underneath, it is the kind of dessert that you can count on to be a crowd pleaser. And one of the best things about this sweet treat is how it can easily be made ahead and how great the leftovers are when reheated.

    Why does my apple crisp look dry? ›

    Adding melted butter makes for a quick fix

    In our Apple Pear Crisp recipe, we recommend melting the butter down to coat the oats and walnuts as well. And, if the dessert is still too dry, Southern Living says to add a tablespoon of melted butter over the top of the crust before baking.

    How long can apple crisp stay in the fridge before baking? ›

    Slice apples and mix with the other filling ingredients, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. You can mix together the topping in a bowl at the same time or make it fresh just before baking. The topping can be stored at room temperature for up to a day or refrigerated for up to 2 days.

    What are the three best apples for apple pie? ›

    The best apples for making apple pie
    • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
    • Cortland. ...
    • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
    • Golden Delicious. ...
    • Granny Smith. ...
    • Honeycrisp. ...
    • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
    • Northern Spy.
    Oct 8, 2021

    Which apples are Crispier Fuji or Gala? ›

    Texture & Use in Recipes: In terms of texture, Fuji apples are also a lot crisper, and less dense than Gala apples. So, they result in a firm bite with juicy flesh while Galas are softer and creamier. Their texture also means that Fujis are better for baking as they hold their shape better than Galas when cooked!

    Are Honeycrisp apples good for baking? ›

    Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

    Are Paula Red apples good for apple crisp? ›

    Later in the season, Paula Red apples develop a mealy, softer consistency suitable for several cooked preparations. The apples can be incorporated into crisps, cobblers, and crumbles, baked into scones, muffins, granola bars, and pancakes, or combined with firmer apple varieties in fillings for pastries.

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