Return to a classic, comforting dessert that feels like a warm hug in a bowl. This Old-Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp is the quintessential fall treat, featuring a generous layer of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples baked under a thick, buttery, and perfectly crumbly oat topping. It’s a simple, rustic dessert that doesn’t require any fancy techniques, yet delivers a truly spectacular result every time. Served warm from the oven, its incredible aroma alone is enough to make your home feel cozy and inviting.
Why This is the Only Apple Crisp Recipe You’ll Need
This recipe embodies everything that makes a classic apple crisp so beloved.
- Perfectly Textured Topping: The crisp topping is the star, with a wonderful crunch from the oats and a rich, buttery flavor from using cold butter cut into the mixture.
- Simple, Classic Flavors: This recipe focuses on the timeless and unbeatable combination of sweet-tart apples, warm cinnamon, and brown sugar.
- Incredibly Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, it’s a foolproof dessert for bakers of all skill levels.
- A Crowd-Pleasing Favorite: It’s the perfect dessert for family dinners, holiday gatherings, or any crisp autumn evening. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly heavenly experience.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe is broken down into two easy components: the spiced apple filling and the classic crisp topping.
For the Spiced Apple Filling:
- Apples: 6 Golden Delicious apples (or other baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and chopped.
- Granulated Sugar: 2 tablespoons.
- Ground Cinnamon: ¾ teaspoon.
- Lemon Juice: 1 ½ teaspoons.
For the Crisp Topping:
- Brown Sugar: 1 cup, packed.
- Old-Fashioned Oats: ¾ cup (quick oats can be used, but the texture will be slightly different).
- All-Purpose Flour: ¾ cup.
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon.
- Salt: A pinch of kosher salt.
- Cold Unsalted Butter: ½ cup (1 stick), diced into small cubes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Get ready to create the most comforting dessert of the season.
Part 1: Prepare the Apple Filling
- Preheat and Prep: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter an 8×8 inch baking dish or spray it with non-stick cooking spray.
- Mix the Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped apples, granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon, and the lemon juice. Stir everything together until the apple pieces are evenly coated.
- Arrange in Dish: Transfer the apple mixture to your prepared baking dish and spread it out in an even layer.
Part 2: Make the Crisp Topping and Bake
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, stir together the brown sugar, old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the pinch of salt.
- Cut in the Cold Butter: Add the small cubes of cold butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse, pea-sized crumbs. This cold butter method is key to a truly crisp topping!
- Top the Apples: Evenly sprinkle the crisp topping mixture over the apples in the baking dish. Gently pat it down to create an even layer.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-50 minutes. The crisp is ready when the topping is a deep golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Let the apple crisp cool on a wire rack for about 15 minutes before serving. This allows the saucy filling to set up slightly. It is best served warm, optionally with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Tips for the Perfect Old-Fashioned Crisp
- Use Cold Butter: For the crispiest, best-textured topping, it is essential that your butter is cold and cut into the flour mixture. Using melted butter will result in a softer, less crumbly topping.
- Choose the Right Apples: Firm baking apples like Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn are best because they will hold their shape during baking and not turn into applesauce.
- Don’t Overwork the Topping: When cutting in the butter, stop when the largest pieces are about the size of peas. Overworking it can make the topping tough.
- Storage: Store any leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for a quick treat.
Old-Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp
A classic fall dessert with tender, cinnamon-spiced apples baked under a thick, buttery oat topping. This old-fashioned apple crisp is simple, rustic, and perfect for cozy gatherings or family dinners—especially when served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- 8×8 inch baking dish
- Pastry cutter or fingertips
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Wire Rack
Ingredients
- 6 Golden Delicious apples (or Granny Smith, Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and chopped
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 0.75 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1.5 tsp lemon juice
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 0.75 cup old-fashioned oats
- 0.75 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 0.5 cup cold unsalted butter, diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter or spray an 8×8 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, toss chopped apples with sugar, ¾ tsp cinnamon, and lemon juice until coated.
- Spread apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- In another bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, and salt.
- Add cold butter cubes. Cut into mixture with pastry cutter or fingers until coarse crumbs form.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over apples and gently press down.
- Bake 40–50 minutes, until topping is golden brown and apple filling is bubbly at edges.
- Cool for 15 minutes before serving warm, optionally with ice cream or caramel.
Notes
Use cold butter cut into the dry ingredients for the crispiest topping. Choose firm baking apples like Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp. Let the crisp rest before serving so the filling sets properly.