Easy Classic Apple Crisp Recipe: Warm & Cozy Fall Comfort

Apple crisp tantalizes taste buds with its warm, comforting essence of autumn’s bounty.

Sweet fruit nestles beneath a golden, crumbly blanket of buttery goodness.

Layers of complex flavors meld together in a delightful symphony that awakens nostalgic memories.

Seasonal ingredients enhance simple components into a magical dessert that speaks directly to the soul.

Rustic and unpretentious, this beloved treat celebrates the natural sweetness of ripe fruit enhanced by a crunchy topping.

Textures contrast brilliantly between soft, caramelized fruit and crisp, buttery crumble.

Homemade comfort radiates from every spoonful, promising a heartwarming experience that connects you to cherished culinary traditions.

Must-Have Ingredients for Classic Apple Crisp

• Apples: Sweet-tart baking apples work best, with firm texture that holds shape during baking.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel sweetness and helps create syrupy apple coating.

• All-Purpose Flour: Thickens apple juices and creates smooth filling consistency.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides warm background flavor and enhances apple sweetness.
• Ground Cinnamon: Classic warm spice that complements apple's natural flavor.
• Ground Nutmeg: Adds subtle warm, earthy undertone to the filling.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies overall flavor profile.

• All-Purpose Flour, Brown Sugar, Ground Cinnamon: Creates sweet, spiced base for crumbly texture.
• Cold Butter: Ensures flaky, crumbly topping with rich flavor.
• Rolled Oats: Adds hearty texture and nutty taste to crisp topping.

Apple Crisp: How to Make It the Traditional Way

Step 1: Warm Up the Cooking Space

Crank the oven to a cozy 350°F. Grab a 9×13-inch baking dish and give it a quick spray of cooking oil to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Prepare the Fruity Base

• Crisp apples
• Brown sugar
• All-purpose flour
• Vanilla extract
• Ground cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Pinch of salt

Toss everything in a big mixing bowl. Stir until each apple slice gets a tasty coating. Spread this delightful mixture into your prepped baking dish.

Step 3: Craft the Crunchy Topping

• All-purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Cold butter
• Rolled oats

Whisk flour, sugar, and cinnamon together. Slice in the chilly butter using a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like sandy crumbs. Sprinkle oats throughout and mix gently.

Step 4: Create the Delicious Layer

Shower the crispy topping evenly over the apple mixture. Make sure every inch gets some love!

Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the dish into the heated oven. Let it bake for 45 minutes until the top turns a gorgeous golden brown and fruit juices bubble around the edges.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Pull the crisp out and let it rest on a cooling rack for 5 minutes. Serve up this warm, comforting dessert.

Classic Apple Crisp Tips for Golden Results

• Choose the Right Apples: Select firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn that hold their shape and provide perfect balance of sweetness and acidity during baking.
• Prevent Apple Browning: Toss sliced apples with a splash of lemon juice to maintain their fresh color and prevent oxidation while preparing the filling.
• Create Crispy Topping: Ensure butter is ice-cold when cutting into the crumble mixture to achieve a wonderfully crunchy, golden-brown topping with distinct texture.
• Achieve Even Baking: Slice apples uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking and prevent some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
• Store and Reheat Smartly: Cover leftover crisp with foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, reheating in a 350°F oven for 15 minutes to restore the topping's delightful crispness.

Store and Reheat Classic Apple Crisp with Care

• Refrigerate: Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a sealed container to maintain freshness.
• Reheat: Warm individual servings in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or place the entire dish in a preheated 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes until heated through. This method helps restore the crispy topping's texture.
• Freeze: Wrap the cooled apple crisp securely in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving to enjoy its original delicious taste.

Apple Crisp Accompaniments Worth Serving

• Elevate with Vanilla Ice Cream: Scoop creamy vanilla ice cream directly onto the warm, cinnamon-spiced apple crisp for a classic dessert combination that balances the hot, gooey fruit with cool, smooth sweetness.
• Pair with Caramel Drizzle Drink: Create a complementary salted caramel latte or warm caramel apple cider to enhance the dessert's rich, sweet notes and bring out the deep, comforting flavors of cinnamon and brown sugar.
• Match with Nutty Beverage: Serve alongside a smooth hazelnut coffee or a nutty bourbon to highlight the crisp's oat and cinnamon undertones, creating a sophisticated flavor profile that warms and delights the palate.
• Complement with Whipped Cream Twist: Top the apple crisp with a dollop of freshly whipped cream spiked with a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg, adding an extra layer of creamy indulgence to the dessert.

Ways to Personalize Classic Apple Crisp

• Rustic Berry Blend: Swap apples with a mixed berry combination of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries for a vibrant summer-inspired dessert.
• Nutty Peach Crumble: Replace apples with sliced fresh peaches and add chopped almonds or pecans to the topping for extra crunch and depth.
• Spiced Pear Crisp: Use ripe pears instead of apples, and enhance the topping with ground ginger and cardamom for a warm, aromatic flavor profile.
• Gluten-Free Caramel Apple Version: Substitute regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend, and drizzle homemade caramel sauce over the finished crisp for added richness.

Reasons to Keep This Classic Apple Crisp Recipe on Repeat

• Savor Homemade Comfort: This apple crisp delivers pure, nostalgic warmth with its perfectly balanced blend of sweet, tender apples and crunchy, buttery oat topping that transports you straight to grandma's kitchen.
• Master Simple Baking Magic: Anyone can create this dessert with minimal cooking skills, using basic ingredients and straightforward steps that guarantee a delicious result every single time without complicated techniques.
• Customize Your Dessert Delight: Flexible recipe allows personal touches like mixing apple varieties, adjusting spice levels, or adding nuts to the topping, making it a versatile crowd-pleaser for family gatherings, potlucks, or cozy weekend treats.
• Quick and Effortless Dessert Solution: From preparation to baking, this recipe takes under an hour, providing a fast and impressive dessert that looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen with minimal actual effort.

Classic Apple Crisp Recipe

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4.6 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Homemade classic apple crisp delivers warm comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Buttery oat crumble nestles perfectly atop tender spiced apples, creating a dessert that promises sweet memories with each delightful spoonful.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruit:

• 8 medium apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 10 cups or 1200 grams / 42.3 ounces)

Filling Ingredients:

• 0.5 cup (100 grams / 3.5 ounces) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 0.25 cup (31 grams / 1.1 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoon salt

Topping Ingredients:

• 0.75 cup (94 grams / 3.3 ounces) all-purpose flour
• 0.75 cup (150 grams / 5.3 ounces) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 cup (113 grams / 4 ounces) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 cup (85 grams / 3 ounces) old-fashioned whole rolled oats

Optional Serving Suggestions:

• Salted caramel
• Vanilla ice cream

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Instructions

1. Warm up the oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a thin layer of grease to prevent sticking.
2. Slice apples into uniform pieces, ensuring consistent cooking and texture throughout the dessert.
3. Mix apple slices with brown sugar, creating a sweet base that will caramelize during baking and enhance the natural fruit flavors.
4. Incorporate flour into the apple mixture to help thicken the juices and create a luscious, cohesive filling.
5. Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt to elevate the apple mixture’s depth and complexity of flavor.
6. Transfer the seasoned apple blend into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to ensure uniform cooking.
7. Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a separate mixing bowl to create the crisp’s signature crumbly topping.
8. Work cold butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse, sandy crumbs.
9. Fold rolled oats into the butter mixture, providing a hearty, textural component to the crisp’s topping.
10. Generously distribute the oat-butter crumble over the apple filling, covering the surface completely.
11. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling fruit edges.
12. Remove from the oven and allow the crisp to rest for 5-10 minutes, letting the filling settle and cool slightly.
13. Serve warm or at room temperature, optionally accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of salted caramel for extra indulgence.

Notes

• Select ripe, firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
• Slice apples uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dessert.
• Keep butter cold when making the crumble topping to create those delightful, crispy, golden-brown clusters.
• Allow the crisp to rest briefly after baking, letting the juices settle and flavors meld together for a more intense taste experience.
• Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, reheating gently to maintain the topping’s delicious crunch.
• Elevate the dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of salted caramel for an indulgent finishing touch.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 305
• Sugar: 26g
• Sodium: 137mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 31mg