Apple crisp is a fall staple on any dessert table. This easy homemade apple crisp recipe with fresh apples and an oat crumble topping is delicious, flavorful, and the perfect dessert for a cozy fall night.
When you think of fall dessert recipes, your mind probably goes straight to apple crisp. There’s just something that is so cozy about the juicy apples coated in the warm spices and topped with the buttery crumb topping! This recipe is the best apple crisp recipe that I have tried, and I know that you will feel the same way as soon as you taste it. Not only is it easy to make, but it fills a large baking dish, making it the perfect option for when you are entertaining or attending a potluck or fall party!
This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe is hands down the best apple crisp you will ever make. It will take you back and remind you of the old-fashioned way your mom and grandmother used to make it. The perfect treat for a chilly fall day.
I love this homemade apple crisp recipe because it is so easy to make. It is in my top five of my favorite fall desserts to make. I took my grandmother’s recipe and made a few tweaks to make it my own. One of the biggest differences about this apple crisp recipe is that the crumble topping is not as thick as it can be on some apple crisp recipes. I have always felt like the thicker crumble topping can be a little too sweet and really takes away from the flavors of the apples, so I toned it down a bit for this recipe.
This easy apple crisp is such a breeze to make! You’ll start by prepping your apples. You’ll want to peel them, slice them, and remove the core and the seeds. Once they’re prepped, toss them in cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and lemon juice. Now you’re going to make your topping in a different bowl. To make the topping, mix together the brown sugar, oats, and flour. Melt your butter then add it into the topping mix. Next, put a thin layer of the topping in the bottom of the baking pan. Add the apple mixture on top, then sprinkle the rest of the topping on top of the apples. All that’s left to do is bake! Oh, did I mention that it will make your house smell amazing? Talk about an added bonus!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Apple Crisp
- This easy apple crisp is very simple to make!
- You probably already have most of the ingredients for this fall dessert in your kitchen!
- It is a great way to use up your stockpile of apples before they go bad.
- This is the best apple crisp recipe, packed with cozy fall flavors.
- This apple crisp recipe is the perfect fall dessert to serve when you are entertaining or to take with you to a fall party!
Ingredients Needed to Make this Easy Apple Crisp
- Fuji Apples – Have a sweet taste and can be substituted for any apple.
- Granulated Sugar – Brings just a bit more sweetness to the apples.
- Nutmeg – Adds a sweet and nutty flavor to the apples.
- Ground Cinnamon – The perfect spice to bring out the fall flavors.
- Lemon Juice – Adds a bit of tartness and keeps the apples from turning brown.
- Brown Sugar – Adds the sweetness to the topping and creates the sauce when baked.
- Old Fashioned Oats – This is what gives you all the texture in the topping.
- All-Purpose Flour – Helps bind all the ingredients in the topping together.
- Butter – This will be the liquid that will bring the topping together.
How To Make This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then spray an 9×9 baking dish with a nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Step 2: Peel apples and remove the core, stem, and seeds. Then chop them into ¾ chunks and set aside.
Step 3: In a large mixing bowl add chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice. Mix well until apples are completely coated in spices. Then set aside.
Step 4: In a separate large mixing bowl add brown sugar, old fashioned oats, and all-purpose flour. Stir until well combined. Then melt butter and pour half of it into the dry ingredients and mix. Pour in remaining butter and mix well until everything is well combined.
Step 5: In the prepared baking dish evenly spread 1½ cup of the topping in the bottom of the dish and pack it down. Then add half of the apple mixture and evenly spread it out. Add another 1 cup scoop of topping and evenly spread it out over the apples. Add remaining apples and spread them out evenly. Finally, evenly spread out the remaining topping over the entire dish. Pat it down gently with a spoon or spatula.
Step 6:Place in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the topping is a golden brown and bubbly.
Step 7: Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Popular Substitutions & Additions
You can use any of your favorite apples for this apple crisp. I prefer to use Fuji apples because of their sweetness. Granny Smith and Golden Delicious are also both delicious in this homemade apple crisp. You can also feel free to combine different types of apples. This is what I like to go by when choosing apples for recipes:
- Granny Smith Apples – Crisp with a very tart taste.
- Fuji Apples – Sweet and firm.
- Gala Apples – Sweet with a hint of tartness.
- Honey Crisp Apples – Sweet with a bit of tartness and very juicy.
- Red Delicious Apples – A crisp apple with a hint of sweetness and mild tartness.
What to Serve with Homemade Apple Crisp
My favorite way to eat this apple crisp (have I mentioned yet that it’s the best apple crisp recipe?) is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If I’m wanting something extra sweet, I’ll also add a drizzle of caramel syrup. It is so good! If you feel like getting creative, you can also add a crushed-up candy bar on top! Think Heath Bars, Butterfingers, or even Reese’s! Whipped cream is another go-to topping for apple crisp. Do you have more apples on hand that you want to use up? Try these delicious Caramel Apple Nachos or these Easy Homemade Fried Cinnamon Apples.
Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe FAQ’s
Do I have to peel the apples?
No! It is totally up to you. I have prepared it both ways. But my favorite way is with the peels removed. I like having a consistent texture in the apples. Plus it is a bonus if I don’t have to listen to my kids complain about the peel. Either way that you make it is equally as good and it comes down to your personal preference. The easiest way that I’ve found to peel the apples for this apple crisp recipe is to use a potato peeler.
What is the best way to cut the apples for this apple crisp recipe?
One of the biggest tips I can give you on how to cut the apples is that you need to make sure they are thin enough so that they will cook all the way through and not be crunchy. I personally like to cut my apples into chunks so that I don’t have to cut through the apples when eating them. You can also slice them into thin slices, but ultimately it comes down to preference.
Does it matter if I use quick oats or old fashioned oats?
Nope! You can use either one for this apple crisp recipe.
Do I Have To Peel The Apples?
No! It is totally up to you. I have prepared it both ways. But my favorite way is with the peels removed. I like having a consistent texture in the apples. Plus it is a bonus if I don’t have to listen to my kids complain about the peel. Either way that you make it is equally as good and it comes down to your personal preference.
What Is The Best Way To Cut The Apples?
One of the biggest tips I can give you on how to cut the apples. Is that you need to make sure they are thin enough. That they will cook all the way through and not be crunchy. I personally like to cut my apples into chunks. So that I don’ have to cut through the apples when eating them. You can also slice them into thin slices. But ultimately it comes done to preference.
Other Fall Dessert Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Fuji Apples (Peeled and chopped into ¾ pieces)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon (divided 1 tsp for apples, 1 tsp for topping)
- 1½ tsp lemon juice
- 1½ cups brown sugar
- 1½ cups old fashioned oats
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Then spray an 9×9 baking dish with a nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Peel apples and remove the core, stem, and seeds. Then chop them into ¾ chunks and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl add chopped apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Mix well until apples are completely coated in spices. Then set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl add granulated sugar, brown sugar, old fashioned oats, and all-purpose flour. Stir until well combined. Then melt butter and pour half of it into the dry ingredients and mix. Pour in remaining butter and mix well until everything is well combined.
- In the prepared baking dish evenly spread 1½ cup of the topping in the bottom of the dish and pack it down. Then add half of the apple mixture and evenly spread it out. Add another ¾ cup scoop of topping and evenly spread it out over the apples. Add remaining apples and spread them out evenly. Finally evenly spread out the remaining topping over the entire dish. Pat it down gently with a spoon or spatula.
- Place in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, until the topping is a golden brown and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
This apple crisp is so good! And I love how easy it is to make!
Apple crisps are amazing and I love making them during apple season! Such a great dessert paired with some vanilla ice cream. 🙂
I love how you did the two layers for the apple crisp, I definitely going to try making it this way.
That is my favorite way to make it.
This is really amazing! A great way to enjoy all those apples!
Exactly!
I think apple crisp might be one of my favorite fall desserts! Thanks for breaking down, which apples to use. I’m always unsure about what’s best.
Im so glad we can help!
Love that you started with your grandmother’s recipe, but then made it your own. And yeah … I can definitely get behind your little upgrade of mixing the topping throughout – that’s my favorite part of an apple crisp, so I love having it mixing and mingling more thoroughly with the apples!
Thank you. We also love the topping!
This apple crisp is the perfect Fall dessert I was looking for! Cannot wait to make it again!
Im so glad you like it!
Oh my goodness this recipe is so delicious and so perfect for Fall. We love apple crisp and this recipe is our new go-to! I love it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it’s the best! Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it!
This is an incredible apple crisp. Just perfect!
Thank you so much!
I loved it!! Such a great way to enjoy the apple season!
So glad you liked it!
Apple crisp is a perfect seasonal treat. It’s one of my favorite Fall recipes. So comforting and delicious. I love your recipe. Looks so good. I will give it a try.
Thank you, let me know what you think when you try it!
I’m about to make this, but don’t see where you include the 2 Tb of granulated sugar.
You add it in with the flour and rolled oats.