When the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, there’s no dessert more comforting than a warm, bubbling apple crisp. This is truly the Best Apple Crisp Recipe for anyone who loves a classic, no-fuss treat. It’s an Easy Apple Crisp Recipe that features a base crust, a layer of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples, and a thick, crumbly oat topping that bakes to golden-brown perfection. It stands up to any famous version, whether it’s a Natasha’s Kitchen Apple Crisp Recipe or a Sally’s Baking Apple Crisp, by delivering pure, simple, and delicious results every time.
Why This is the Best Apple Crisp You’ll Ever Make
While there are many apple dessert recipes out there—from a complex Turkuaz Kitchen Apple Cobbler to savory dishes like those explaining How To Make Amish Apple Scrapple—the simple perfection of this crisp is unmatched.
- Unique Layered Texture: Unlike many other recipes, this version features a pressed oat crust on the bottom, a soft apple filling, and a crumbly oat topping, creating three distinct and delicious layers.
- Incredibly Simple to Make: This is a fantastic recipe for bakers of all skill levels. The steps are straightforward and the results are consistently delicious.
- Hearty and Comforting: Packed with apples and oats, this is a truly satisfying dessert that feels both wholesome and indulgent.
Your Simple Ingredient Checklist
This recipe uses classic pantry staples to create a truly spectacular dessert.
For the Apple Filling:
- Apples: 6-7 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced.
- Brown Sugar: ¼ cup, packed.
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 tablespoon.
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon.
For the Crust and Topping:
- Quick-Cooking Oats: 1 cup.
- Brown Sugar: 1 cup, packed.
- All-Purpose Flour: 1 cup.
- Baking Soda: 1 teaspoon.
- Baking Powder: ½ teaspoon.
- Ground Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon.
- Cold Butter: ½ cup (1 stick), cut into small cubes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This simple layering technique is the key to this unique and delicious apple crisp.
Part 1: Prepare the Apples and Crust
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
- Mix the Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine the diced Granny Smith apples, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of flour, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated. Set aside.
- Make the Crisp Mixture: In a separate medium bowl, stir together the quick-cooking oats, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 cup of flour, baking soda, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Cut in the Butter: Add the cubes of cold butter to the dry ingredients. Use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the mixture until it becomes crumbly and resembles coarse sand.
- Form the Crust: Take half of this crisp mixture and press it firmly and evenly into the bottom of your prepared 9×9 inch pan to form a bottom crust.
Part 2: Assemble and Bake
- Add the Filling: Pour the prepared apple filling over the top of the crust and spread it out evenly.
- Add the Topping: Sprinkle the remaining half of the crisp mixture evenly over the top of the apples.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Let the apple crisp cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set. It is fantastic served warm, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I make this apple crisp without oats? While this specific recipe is one of the great Apple Oatmeal Dessert Recipes, you can make an Apple Crisp Without Oats. To adapt this recipe, you would replace the 1 cup of oats in the topping with an additional ¾ cup of all-purpose flour and ¼ cup of brown sugar. Mix it with the butter as directed for a more sandy, crumble-like topping.
2. Can I add other fruits to this recipe? Absolutely! This is a fantastic base for Pear Apple Crisp Easy Recipes. You can easily substitute half of the apples with an equal amount of firm, ripe pears (like Bosc or Anjou). The combination of apple and pear is a classic for fall.
3. What are the best apples for the Best Apple Crisp? For the best apple crisp, you want to use a firm apple that holds its shape during baking and has a good balance of sweet and tart flavors. Granny Smith apples are a classic choice for their tartness. Honeycrisp, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious are also excellent options that won’t turn to mush in the oven.
4. How do I store and reheat leftovers? Store any leftover apple crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, you can warm individual portions in the microwave. For the best result and to re-crisp the topping, place the crisp in an oven-safe dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
Best Easy Apple Crisp
Equipment
- 9×9 inch baking pan
- Mixing bowls
- Pastry cutter or fingertips
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 6-7 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 0.25 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.5 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
- In a bowl, mix diced apples with ¼ cup brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon until evenly coated.
- In another bowl, stir oats, 1 cup brown sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon together.
- Cut in cold butter with fingertips or pastry cutter until mixture is crumbly.
- Press half of the crisp mixture firmly into bottom of prepared pan to form crust.
- Spread apple filling evenly over the crust.
- Sprinkle remaining crisp mixture over the apples as topping.
- Bake for about 40 minutes until topping is golden and apples are bubbly.
- Cool for 20 minutes before serving warm with ice cream.