The Ultimate Easy Baked Apple Crisp

Get ready to fall in love with the perfect autumn dessert. This is a truly classic Oat Apple Crisp that delivers on every level: a warm, gooey filling of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples and a thick, buttery, and perfectly crunchy oatmeal crumble on top. It’s an incredibly simple and forgiving recipe, making it the ultimate Easy Baked Apple Crisp for bakers of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a cozy family dessert or a festive treat for a party, this recipe is a guaranteed winner.

Why This is the Best Apple Crisp Recipe

This is more than just a dessert; it’s a comforting and delicious experience that’s perfect for the fall season.

  • Incredibly Flavorful: Using a mix of sweet and tart apples creates a perfectly balanced filling that is complemented by the warm cinnamon spice.
  • The Perfect Oat Topping: This recipe creates a generous, crunchy crumble that is the hallmark of a truly great Oatmeal Apple Crisp Easy recipe.
  • Perfect for Any Occasion: This is a fantastic dessert for a quiet night in, but it’s also festive enough to be the star of your Halloween Apple Crisp dessert table.

Your Simple Ingredient Checklist

This recipe uses straightforward ingredients for a classic, homemade taste.

For the Apple Filling:

  • Apples: 3 pounds of baking apples (a mix of Granny Smith and a sweeter apple like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady is perfect), peeled, cored, and chopped into 1-inch chunks.
  • Granulated Sugar: ½ cup.
  • Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon, freshly squeezed.
  • Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon (to thicken the filling).
  • Ground Cinnamon: 2 teaspoons.

For the Oatmeal Crumble Topping:

  • Butter: ½ cup unsalted butter, melted.
  • Rolled Oats: 1 cup, old-fashioned.
  • All-Purpose Flour: 1 cup.
  • Brown Sugar: ⅓ cup, packed.
  • Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  • Salt: ¼ teaspoon.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This simple method builds incredible flavor and texture.

Part 1: Prepare the Apple Filling

  1. Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Mix the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the chopped apples, granulated sugar, fresh lemon juice, cornstarch, and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Stir well until all the apple chunks are evenly coated.
  3. Arrange in Dish: Pour the apple mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out into an even layer.

Part 2: Make the Topping and Bake

  1. Melt the Butter: In a medium bowl, melt the butter in the microwave.
  2. Combine Topping Ingredients: Add the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, the remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the salt to the bowl with the melted butter. Stir with a fork until everything is well combined and a crumbly mixture forms.
  3. Top the Apples: Evenly sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top of the apples in the baking dish.
  4. Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes. The crisp is done when the apple filling is bubbly and tender, and the topping is a deep golden brown. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
  5. Cool and Serve: Let the apple crisp cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. This allows the saucy filling to set up slightly. It is best served warm, on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can I make this an Apple Crisp Recipe with Canned Apples? Yes, you can! This is a great shortcut. To make this an Apple Crisp Recipe Canned Apples version, use two (20-ounce) cans of apple pie filling. You can skip the filling ingredients (sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, cinnamon for the filling) and simply spread the canned pie filling in the bottom of your baking dish. Prepare the oat topping as directed and bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly.

2. How can I make this an Apple Crisp Without Butter? For a delicious Apple Crisp Without Butter, you can easily make a vegan version. Simply substitute the ½ cup of unsalted butter in the topping with ½ cup of melted coconut oil. This will create a wonderfully fragrant and equally crisp topping.

3. Can I use applesauce instead of fresh apples? While fresh apples provide the best texture, you can make an Applesauce Crisp. To adapt this into an Applesauce Crisp Recipe, use about 6 cups of a thick, chunky, unsweetened applesauce. Omit the sugar, lemon juice, and cornstarch from the filling. Mix the applesauce with the 2 teaspoons of cinnamon and spread it in the pan. Prepare the topping as directed and bake for about 30-35 minutes.

4. Can I use granola for the topping? For a super quick shortcut, you can make an Apple Crisp Recipe With Granola. Prepare the apple filling as directed. For the topping, use about 2 ½ cups of your favorite granola. You can toss it with 3-4 tablespoons of melted butter to help it crisp up and brown nicely in the oven. Sprinkle it over the apples and bake as directed.

The Ultimate Easy Baked Apple Crisp Recipe

Easy Baked Apple Crisp

A truly classic oat apple crisp featuring tender, cinnamon-spiced apples baked under a buttery, crunchy oatmeal topping. Perfectly simple, cozy, and ideal for fall baking.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 squares
Calories 295 kcal

Equipment

  • 9×13-inch baking dish
  • Mixing bowls
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Fork or spoon for mixing

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds baking apples (Granny Smith + Honeycrisp or Pink Lady), peeled, cored, and chopped into 1-inch chunks
  • 0.5 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.33 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for topping)
  • 0.25 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  • In a bowl, combine chopped apples with sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix well.
  • Spread apple mixture evenly into the greased 9×13 dish.
  • In another bowl, combine melted butter, oats, flour, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt. Mix until crumbly.
  • Evenly sprinkle crumble topping over the apple filling.
  • Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes, until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly. If browning too fast, cover loosely with foil.
  • Cool for 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm, plain or with vanilla ice cream.

Notes

For shortcuts, try using canned apple pie filling (bake 30-35 minutes). For a vegan version, replace butter with melted coconut oil. You can also make it with chunky applesauce or even a granola topping for a quick variation.
Keyword apple crisp, easy baked apple crisp, fall dessert, oat apple crisp