The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

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byAshlyn Edwards on Oct 4, 2019 (updated Sep 16, 2022) 389 comments »

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4.97 from 942 ratings

This Apple Crisp recipe is the best fall dessert! Fresh sliced apples are topped with a buttery cinnamon oat topping that tastes divine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

For more delicious Fall Recipes, be sure to check out my Crockpot Pumpkin Dump Cake, Southern Sweet Potato Pie, and The Best Chocolate Pecan Pie.

The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (1)

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This Apple Crisp Recipe was the first thing on my mind when my family took a little trip to a local apple orchard this past weekend. It wasn’t really the best day to go; it was drizzling, and the temps were in the 50s.

But our kids still had a good time, especially since it was their first time going apple picking. Plus, we came home with a “peck” of apples to put to good use!

The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (2)

While there are lots of great recipes for apples that we could have made, apple crisp is always my favorite.

We were lucky enough to pick my favorite kind of apples, Honeycrisp. Their sweet yet tart nature and sturdy composition make an irresistible dessert and the perfect choice for this apple crisp recipe!

Ingredients for The Best Apple Crisp Recipe

  • fresh apples
  • granulated white sugar
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla extract
  • all purpose flour
  • old fashioned oats
  • brown sugar
  • salt
  • butter

How to Make Homemade Apple Crisp – Step by Step

Step 1: Preheat oven

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a baking dish with butter. Grab a large bowl and combine about 5 cups of sliced apples (this comes to about 2 pounds of apples, or 4 large ones) with some granulated sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (3)

Step 2: Add to baking dish

Pour that yummy goodness into your baking dish. Next make the topping by combiningflour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in some melted butter and stir until well coated and crumbly (I usually put my hands in there to get it mixed up well). Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the apples.

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Step 3: Bake

Now pop that dish into your waiting oven for 45-60 minutes, and get ready for heavenly smells to start floating your way! I cook mine until my apples are soft and tender. Once it’s done baking, allow it to cool slightly then serve. It tastes amazing warm with some vanilla ice cream on top!

FAQs

What kind of apples work best for Apple Crisp?

This kind of comes down to preference, or what you have available, but generally you’re going to want a variety of apple that will hold its shape after baking and not turn to total mush. We had a huge bag of Honeycrisp apples (my personal favorite) to use up, so that’s what I used. Granny Smith are usually considered the best apples for apple pie, but Golden Delicious, Braeburn, and Pink Lady apples would all work well for this apple crisp recipe, or for a pie.

Do I need to peel the apples?

My short answer for this is no! But that’s because I don’t like to do more work than I have to, and I don’t mind apple peels, especially once they’re baked. If you would prefer your apple crisp without the peel, though, feel free to remove them!

Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated?

You can store your prepared and baked apple crisp covered tightly on the counter top for up to three days. You do not need to refrigerate it unless you would like to. Due to its crisp, crumbly topping, apple crisp tastes best when served the same day, as the topping can get soggy the longer it sits. Just keep that in mind!

Can you freeze apple crisp?

Yes! Prepare the apple crisp recipe as directed and allow it to cool completely. Cover with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 4 months. Allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

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More Tips and Notes for the Best Apple Crisp Recipe

  • Slice your apples evenly. I slice my apples using this slicer to speed up the process and remove the core easily. I then slice the apples one more time each with my knife so that the widest part of the slice is roughly 1/2 an inch wide. You can also chop them into big chunks if you would prefer, but just make sure that you chop your apples to a uniform size to ensure even baking in your apple crisp.
  • Prevent over-browning. If your topping is starting to get too brown but your apples still need more time to cook, simply place some aluminum foil loosely over the top of your pan and continue baking.
  • Optional additions: Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts would be a delicious addition to the topping! I didn’t add any to ours because my son has a nut allergy.
  • Serving: this apple crisp tastes AMAZING with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! You could also top it with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Yum!

More Awesome Apple recipes

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!

The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (6)

4.97 from 942 ratings

Recipe: The Best Apple Crisp

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 45 minutes mins

Total Time: 55 minutes mins

This Apple Crisp recipe is the best fall dessert ever! Fresh sliced apples are topped with a buttery cinnamon oat topping that tastes divine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

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Ingredients

Filling:

  • 5 cups fresh apples, sliced
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a deep dish pie plate or large baking dish with butter or cooking spray and set aside.

  • Combine the sliced apples with the sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a large bowl and mix until all of the apples are evenly coated. Pour into the prepared baking dish.

  • In a separate medium size bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and stir until well coated and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top of the apples.

  • Bake in the preheated oven for 45-60 minutes until fruit is soft and the topping is golden brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Slice your apples evenly. I slice my apples using this slicer to speed up the process and remove the core easily. I then slice the apples one more time each with my knife so that the widest part of the slice is roughly 1/2 an inch wide. You can also chop them into big chunks if you would prefer, but just make sure that you chop your apples to a uniform size to ensure even baking in your apple crisp.
  • Prevent over-browning. If your topping is starting to get too brown but your apples still need more time to cook, simply place some aluminum foil loosely over the top of your pan and continue baking.
  • Optional additions: Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts would be a delicious addition to the topping! I didn’t add any to ours because my son has a nut allergy.
  • Serving: this apple crisp tastes AMAZING with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! You could also top it with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. Yum!

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Author: Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

Calories: 253kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 15mg, Sodium: 130mg, Potassium: 129mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 39g, Vitamin A: 219IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you make this recipe?Let me know! Mention @TheBelleoftheKitchen on Instagram or tag #BelleoftheKitchen.

This site contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission.

Dessert Fall Fruit Holidays

originally published on Oct 4, 2019 (last updated Sep 16, 2022)

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389 comments on “The Best Apple Crisp Recipe”

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  1. Kristi B Reply

    Great recipe. I love how crispy the topping came out. When I make it again I will reduce the white sugar by a little. It was a tad too sweet for my tastes.

  2. Ivana Reply

    I love this recipe. The only thing I do differently is I put apples on the top. It is juicier this way.

  3. Laura Reply

    We love this apple crisp! I make double the topping 🙂 so good!

  4. Ann Reply

    I made it last night. To be honest, I’ve never made an Apple Crisp before, so I have nothing to compare it too. All I have to say was it was delicious, and everyone loved it. My family asked me to make it again. Thank you for the recipe!

  5. Jessy Reply

    Is it 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup butter? Kinda confused by the instructions

    • Ashlyn Edwards Reply

      Hi, it’s 1/4 cup of butter which is the same as 1/2 of a stick.

  6. Lillian N Reply

    Best Apple Crisp I have ever ever made. I thought I had saved and realized I hadn’t. Almost full on terror thinking I wouldn’t find again!

  7. Cheryl Reply

    Yumlicious!! I made up a new word to describe how yummy and delicious this recipe is! Served warm with vanilla ice cream is the best.

  8. Amber Reply

    I’ve made this many times! Such a hit. Only thing different I do is add lemon juice to the apples at the beginning

  9. Brittany Sage Reply

    Will update.

    Started this but ended up cutting too many apples so I tripled the recipe. I did blend together the topping and apples and then did another set of topping for the top. Kind of nervous. Lol. Will update in about an hour or so.

  10. Marjory Knothe Reply

    Best apple crisp recipe I’ve ever made. I followed ingredient list and baking instructions exactly as written.

  11. Melissa Hanks-Parris Reply

    This is so very good! I always add more cinnamon because I love it but I love the vanilla in the apples and the topping is crunchy as long as you bake it long enough! Definitely delicious and worth making! Thank you!

  12. Susan Chandler Reply

    I have made this 3 times in the last week and a half

The Best 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 for apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

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

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. Don't wait any longer than overnight before baking, to prevent the apples from browning too much or drying out/spoiling.

How do you keep apple crisp crispy? ›

How do you keep Apple crisp from getting soggy? You need enough butter in your topping, try both melted or cold cut into the dry ingredients. Also, there needs to be enough texture to keep it from just flattening into the fruit below.

What is the secret to good crumble? ›

❓FAQ
  • Use cold butter. This will help to create a crumbly texture that will not stick together when baking.
  • Use a mix of flour and oats. The oats will add a bit of crunch and texture to the topping.
  • Don't overmix the ingredients. The crumble topping should be made with a "coarse" crumb.
Jun 5, 2023

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? If it's soggy, you've got to remember to refrigerate the topping with butter before you add it to the crisp. It doesn't need long, just enough time as you prepare the rest of the dessert so that it will cook up crispy rather than turn soggy.

How do you make Martha Stewart apple crumble? ›

In a large bowl, toss together apples, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; transfer to prepared dish. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter with brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in 1 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt until large pieces form. Scatter over filling.

How do you thicken apple crisp? ›

Adding cornstarch and flour to the apple mixture will help bring your crisp's filling together. You want to make sure you have a nice balance of the sweet and tart in your dessert.

Can you use any apple 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.

Can you make apple crisp ahead of time and reheat? ›

From the brown sugar crumble topping to the cinnamon coated tender apples underneath, it is the kind of dessert that you can count on to be a crowd pleaser. And one of the best things about this sweet treat is how it can easily be made ahead and how great the leftovers are when reheated.

Should apple crisp be refrigerated? ›

Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated after baking? While some sources suggest that fruits pies and crisps can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, I highly recommend refrigerating it to be on the safe side. Can you reheat apple crisp? Yes!

Why didn't my apple crisp get crispy? ›

How can I make my apple crisp crispy? If your butter to flour to sugar ratio is off, it will result in a less crispy topping. You want to be careful not to add too much flour or too little. Also, we love adding old fashioned rolled oats to our crumble because it really gives it a nice crunch.

Should I cover my apple crisp while baking? ›

Baking: Start baking the apple crisp covered with foil. This allows the apples to soften without any risk of the topping over-browning. After about 20 minutes, remove the foil and let the crisp finish cooking uncovered. Once the juices are bubbling, the topping is golden brown, and the apples are tender, it is done!

Should you refrigerate apple crisp after baking? ›

Remove from the oven, place on a wire rack, and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm, room temperature, or cold; plain or with salted caramel and/or vanilla ice cream. Cover leftovers and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

What is the difference between crumble and crisp? ›

So what's a crumble vs. a crisp? A crumble is just a crisp without oats in the streusel. It may feature nuts, but the streusel topping is usually a simple combination of butter, flour, and sugar that is more clumpy than that of a crisp.

What is the difference between a crumble and a crisp and a cobbler? ›

Cobbler: A fruit dessert made with a top crust of pie dough or biscuit dough but no bottom crust. Crisp/crumble: In Alberta, the terms are mostly interchangeable. Both refer to fruit desserts similar to cobbler but made with a brown sugar streusel topping sometimes containing old-fashioned rolled oats.

Why is my apple crumble topping not crunchy? ›

Too much butter and your topping will become a greasy blob or disappointingly soggy. Some recipes will ask you to cut in cold butter along with your dry ingredients, resulting in pea-size pieces that are sprinkled across the hot fruit filling.

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. Ingredients usually include cooked apples, butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and often oats and brown sugar, ginger, and/or nutmeg.

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