Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 4 comments
Published: Nov 13, 2020 Last Updated: Oct 16, 2023

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Tart granny smith apples laced with caramel and baked with a crunchy pecan topping. You’ll love this easy Apple Crisp loaded with fall spices and brown sugar!

Tis the season for all apple desserts. We are in love with this easy Apple Crumble Recipe! Readers adore our delicious Apple Hand Pies. Which one do YOU love?

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why this Recipe is Best
  • Crisp vs. Crumble
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Fall Baking Recipes
  • Easy Apple Crisp Recipe Recipe

Why this Recipe is Best

Folks, I’m not kidding when I say this Apple Crisp knocks every other apple crisp recipe off the charts. I know, I know. Crisps are such basic desserts.

But THIS apple crisp? It takes the delicious and comforting taste of classic apple crisp and makes it even better with the addition of buttery caramel, plenty of crunchy pecans!

If you love caramel apples, this is bound to become your new favorite apple dessert.

You can serve this on its own but I (of course) love it best with a giant scoop of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. Don’t forget the extra caramel drizzle on top!

Did I mention that this recipe is also super easy? Just mix the filling together, sprinkle on the topping, bake and dig in.

There is a time and place for Apple Pie and French Apple Pie, but if you’re looking for an easy, throw it in a baking dish type of dessert, this is for you.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (2)

Crisp vs. Crumble

Wondering what the difference is between a fruit crisp and a fruit crumble? You’re not alone.

The two terms are used interchangeably most of the time for any dessert that involves fruit baked with a crispy and crumbly topping. You work butter into flour with sugar and, sometimes spices.

Crisps, though, almost always involve oats to make them more crispy! In this variation on traditional Apple Crisp, I also added pecans for even more texture.

I love the combination of soft apples, swirled with caramel and finished with the crisp buttery pecans and oats. It’s impossible not to.

Ingredient Notes

  • Granny Smith Apples – This variety of apple is extra tart and crisp making it perfect for baking. You can sub another tart variety of apple, but Granny Smiths are by far my favorite.
  • Unsalted Butter – If needed, you can use salted butter in the topping, just omit the added salt.
  • Old Fashioned Rolled Oats- Instant oats will be too small and soft and steel cut oats would be too hard. Be sure to check the labels to make sure you’re using the correct oats!
  • Pecans – Walnuts works great as a substitute or you can leave the nuts out entirely.
  • Caramel – Caramel ice cream topping or jarred caramel sauce for both the filling and for drizzling on top.

Step by Step Instructions

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (3)

STEP 1. Apple filling

Add slices of apples to a large bowl and toss with the other filling ingredients to combine. Pour the apple mixture into a prepared casserole dish.

STEP 2. Topping

In another bowl, mix together all of the topping ingredients to combine. Sprinkle it over the apple mixture.

STEP 3. Bake

Bake the apple crisp uncovered for about 1 hour. When it’s ready, the apples will be soft, the juices bubbling and the edges of the crisp lightly browned.

Drizzle the crisp with extra caramel sauce and serve in bowls with a ice cream or fresh Whipped Cream.

Does it get any better than the taste of warm apple crisp with a spoonful of cold ice cream melting through the layers? If you think of anything else that’s quite so satisfying in the fall, let me know.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (4)

Recipe FAQs

Do I need to peel the apples first?

Up to you! I like the texture the apple skins add to the crisp. If you don’t enjoy that, feel free to peel them.

What kind of pan do I need for the crisp?

I make this crisp in a standard sized 2 qt casserole pan. You could also use a glass square baking dish.

Can other apples be used besides Granny Smiths?

I LOVE the tartness that Granny Smiths give the crisp, but sure, other apples will work too. I recommend apples that are juicy and at least a little tart, like Honeycrisps or Pink Ladies.

Can this be served at room temperature?

The flavors will be good but I much prefer it when it’s warm, especially alongside the cold ice cream.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (5)

More Fall Baking Recipes

  • Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
  • Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Pumpkin Pie Recipe
  • Pumpkin Dump Cake
  • Apple Cobbler
  • Instant Pot Apple Crisp

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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (10)

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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

5 from 6 votes

By: Aimee

This apple crisp recipe is made with tart granny smith apples laced with caramel and topped with a crunch crisp topped loaded with pecans. It's sure to be a winning dish at all of your fall gatherings!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

Filling:

  • 6 granny smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons caramel sauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Topping:

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • ½ cup old fashioned oats
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Serve with:

  • Caramel drizzle
  • Vanilla ice cream

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8×8 or small casserole dish with nonstick spray and set aside.

  • Add the evenly sliced apples (about ¼-inch thick), sugars, flour, caramel sauce, vanilla, apple pie spice, and salt to a large bowl and toss to combine.

  • Transfer the apple mixture to the greased baking dish.

  • In a medium bowl, mix together the topping ingredients until completely combined and sprinkle over the top of the apple mixture.

  • Bake for 1 hour until the top is golden brown, the apples are tender, and the juices are bubbling around the edges of the pan.

  • Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Notes

  • Other kinds of apples can be used but I love the tartness of granny smith with the caramel sauce.
  • Salted butter may be used in the topping, just omit the salt in the mixture.
  • Quick oats will be too soft for this recipe and steel-cut oats are too hard.
  • Walnuts could be used instead of pecans or the nuts can be omitted if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 38mg, Sodium: 206mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 48g

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

The best Apple Crisp recipe is also the easiest! Fill your kitchen with the intoxicating aroma of baking apples and spices, then sit back and dig into a bowl of warm, fresh Apple Crisp.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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

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.

What are the best apples to use for apple crisp? ›

Under the simple butter-sugar-flour-and-oat topping is the apple filling scented with cinnamon. Our test kitchen says baking apples, like Rome or Cortland, are the best varieties to use for apple crisp, but Empire, Gala, or Braeburn apples are also good in this recipe.

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

The lemon juice will keep the apples from turning brown. Set your prepared apple crisp aside on the counter until ready to bake. Put the apple crisp in the oven to bake just as you are serving dinner. And by the time dinner is over, this warm syrupy dessert will be ready.

How do you keep apple crisp from getting watery? ›

The best way to prevent a watery apple crisp is to use a thickener in the filling – some recipes use flour, but I've chosen to use cornstarch in this recipe (or arrowroot starch, which can be substituted 1:1 for cornstarch) because I think it provides superior thickening power.

What's the difference between brown betty and apple crisp? ›

Both are very similar apple desserts, but the difference mainly comes down to the crumble topping: Instead of the flour and oat mixture used in an apple crisp, an apple brown betty uses breadcrumbs for its crumbly, delicious topping.

Why is it called Brown Betty? ›

This has led some historians to believe that Betty was the name of the cook and creator of the recipe and that brown was in reference to her skin color.

Do you peel apples before baking? ›

Unpeeled apples will add a bit of color and texture to your pie, but they may prevent the apples from melding together when baked. Peeled apples will give you a delicately soft pie with no tough surprises, but some people argue that you lose the apple's nutritional value once the peel is removed.

Which apples are not crispy? ›

As mellow as sweet apples come, Gala apples are known for their sweet, vanilla aroma and soft bite. Bittersweet and soft fleshed, the Red Delicious is a classic apple with mild crispiness. The Golden Delicious sits at the bottom of the crunch list with soft skin and mellow, yellow apple flavors.

What four apples are best used for baking? ›

Which apples bake best? For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

Why are my apples mushy in my apple crisp? ›

Picking the wrong apples

Softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. So avoid those, and opt for a variety that's firm and crisp like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp.

How to tell if apple crisp is done? ›

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the fruit. Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes.

Why isn't my apple crisp crispy? ›

Why is Apple Crisp not crispy? Don't forget to evenly distribute the butter with the topping. That melted butter helps crisp everything up on top for the perfect texture and flavor!

What kind of apples are best for apple crisp? ›

When it comes to finding the best apple for your crisp, go with a crisp, tart variety that stands up well to baking, like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Or, go for it – try mixing the two together if you've got both on hand. Golden Delicious is another great choice for crisp hausarbeit schreiben lassen kosten.

How do you thicken apple crisp filling? ›

One common method is adding a bit of cornstarch or flour to your apple mixture before baking. This helps absorb some of the juices and thickens things up. Another tip is to let the apple crisp sit a bit after taking it out of the oven; as it cools, the filling will naturally thicken a bit.

Can I cut apples the night before for apple crisp? ›

I prefer slicing the apples the day I plan to bake the crisp as they start to oxidize once they're sliced and turn brown in color. 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.

Why is my apple crumble not crispy? ›

The main reason your crumble topping isn't crunchy is probably because you haven't used Demerara sugar. Although, it could also be that you've got your topping ingredient quantities wrong: either too much or not enough flour and butter alongside the sugar.

What is apple crumble called in America? ›

Apple crisp is a dessert made with a streusel topping. In the US, it is also called apple crumble, a word which refers to a different dessert in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

What makes it a cobbler? ›

Cobbler is usually topped with batter or biscuits in lieu of crust. Cobbler's name comes from its sometimes cobbled texture, which is a result of spooning or dropping the topping over the fruit rather than distributing it equally. This way, the filling can peek through.

What is the difference between a crisp apple and a mushy apple? ›

Explanations for soft textured apples include maturity, variety, storage, and bruising or damage. Unripe or overripe apples may have a soft or mealy texture. When an apple is mature, its cells are fully developed and filled with moisture, contributing to its crisp texture.

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