When a recipe is called “award-winning,” you know it has to be something special. This apple crisp is exactly that. It’s a timeless, comforting dessert that perfectly balances tender, sweet-tart baked apples with a thick, buttery, and wonderfully crunchy oat crumble topping. Infused with a cozy warmth from a hint of cinnamon, this is the ultimate fall dessert. It’s incredibly easy to make and is the perfect way to celebrate apple season. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s pure, simple perfection.
What Makes This Apple Crisp “Award-Winning”?
This recipe has all the key elements of a truly perfect apple crisp.
- The Perfect Texture: The topping is the star here—it’s thick, buttery, and bakes up perfectly golden and crisp, providing a fantastic contrast to the soft, tender apples.
- Balanced Sweetness: The filling isn’t overly sweet, allowing the natural sweet-tart flavor of the apples to shine through.
- Incredibly Simple: While it tastes gourmet, this is one of the easiest fall desserts to make, with minimal prep work and simple, straightforward ingredients.
- A Cozy, Comforting Classic: It’s the quintessential fall dessert that evokes a sense of warmth and nostalgia, making it a favorite for family gatherings and holiday meals.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe is broken down into two simple components: the apple filling and the crisp oat topping.
For the Apple Filling:
- Apples: 6 cups of peeled, cored, and sliced apples (about 6-7 medium apples). A firm, tart variety like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp is ideal.
- Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon, to prevent browning and add brightness.
- Granulated Sugar: ½ cup.
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon.
For the Oat Crumble Topping:
- Rolled Oats: 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant).
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 cup.
- Brown Sugar: ½ cup, packed.
- Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (1 stick), melted.
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Get ready to make the best apple crisp of your life!
Part 1: Prepare the Apple Filling
- Preheat Oven: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix the Filling: In a large mixing bowl, add your peeled and sliced apples. Pour the lemon juice over them and toss to coat.
- Add Sugar and Spice: Add the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon to the bowl. Toss everything together until the apple slices are evenly coated in the sweet, spiced mixture.
- Arrange in Dish: Spread the prepared apple mixture in an even layer in a 9-inch baking dish or a 9-inch cast-iron skillet.
Part 2: Prepare the Crisp Topping and Bake
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, stir together the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, packed brown sugar, and salt.
- Add Melted Butter: Pour the melted butter into the dry ingredients. Use a fork to stir the mixture until it’s well combined and forms large, crumbly clumps.
- Top the Apples: Evenly sprinkle the oat crumble mixture over the top of the apples in the baking dish, covering them completely.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-40 minutes. The crisp is done when the topping is a deep golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender.
- Cool and Serve: Let the apple crisp cool on a wire rack for at least 10-15 minutes before serving. This allows the juices in the filling to set up slightly. It is best served warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Tips for the Best Apple Crisp
- Choose the Right Apples: For the best texture, use a firm baking apple that will hold its shape and not turn to mush. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious are all excellent choices. A mix of a tart and a sweet apple is even better!
- Use Old-Fashioned Oats: For that classic, chewy-crisp texture in the topping, be sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats, not quick-cooking or instant oats.
- Don’t Overmix the Topping: Mix the topping only until it’s crumbly. Overmixing can make it tough.
- Storage: Store any leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave for a quick and cozy treat.
The Best Award-Winning Apple Crisp
A classic fall dessert featuring tender, sweet-tart baked apples topped with a thick, buttery oat crumble. Infused with cinnamon warmth, this award-winning apple crisp is simple, cozy, and best served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- 9-inch baking dish or cast-iron skillet
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Fork
- Wire Rack
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 6–7 medium apples)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup packed brown sugar
- 0.25 tsp salt
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-inch baking dish or skillet.
- In a large bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice, granulated sugar, and cinnamon until evenly coated.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, stir oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add melted butter and mix with a fork until crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 30–40 minutes until the topping is golden and the apples are tender and bubbling.
- Cool for 10–15 minutes before serving warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor and texture. Always choose old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant) for a perfect crumble. Let the crisp rest for 10 minutes before serving so the filling sets.