This easy apple crisp is made the old fashioned way like Grandma used to make, and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce!
A true classic Fall dessert, this easy apple crisp recipe is reminiscent of generations past. Pop this apple crisp in the oven and wait for the delicious smell to waft through your house!
Do you have a classic Fall dessert that you just LOVE? I have several, but one of them is definitely this apple crisp recipe! Growing up, my Mom had two classic desserts that she made… one was her famous Carrot Cake, and the other was a mouthwatering apple crisp.
This isn’t her exact recipe, but it’s one that I’ve tweaked and been working on for a while, and I’ve finally gotten it just right! While I do love pumpkin, apple is actually my favorite Fall flavor. Mostly because of this crisp lol.
Some apple crisp recipes don’t use oats, which is totally fine if that’s your thing, but I LOVE the crispy oat topping, so I made sure to add a good amount of it.
What apples do I use for this easy apple crisp
Simply put, you can use any apples that you like! My personal favorite for this recipe is the golden delicious variety, but Granny Smith or Fuji are some other great varieties.
To peel, or not to peel
It’s 100% up to you! I’ve made this recipe both ways, and I like them both equally. Generally, when I make this easy apple crisp, I’m making it for my family, and my kids wouldn’t eat it with the skins on, so I peel them more often than not. I’m sure this goes without saying, but if you choose to leave the skins on, be sure to wash the apples thoroughly 🙂
That right there is my FAVORITE way to enjoy hot apple crisp… with a cold scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and drizzled with my luscious browned butter salted caramel sauce! If you’ve never tried it that way… you totally need to!
Looking for other recipes that use that caramel sauce?
- Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream
- Vanilla Chai Cheesecake Bars
- Butterfinger Toffee Cookies
I invite you all to join me in making my favorite Fall dessert… this easy apple crisp. Once you have it in the oven, you’ll LOVE the smell that fills your house!
Shop the recipe
- 8″ baking dish – I love the clean white look, plus it bakes beautifully!
- Vegetable peeler – You probably already have one, but in case you don’t, this one is my personal favorite!
- Pastry Cutter – I love that this is sturdy and the blades don’t bend nearly as easily as some other brands!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
Spiced apples
- 6 golden delicious apples peeled and chopped (other varieties can be used, can also be sliced)
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
Crisp topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup old fashioned oats quick oats can be used, but it may have a slightly different texture
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- pinch of kosher salt
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter diced into small cubes
Instructions
Prepare
- Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Butter an 8×8 baking dish, or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Make spiced apples
- In a mixing bowl, add chopped apples, granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp of the cinnamon and lemon juice. Stir to combine, then transfer to prepared baking dish.
Make topping
- In a separate mixing bowl, add topping ingredients (brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, salt, and diced cold butter).
- Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the oat mixture, using a slight downward twisting motion, until mixture resembled pea-sized crumbs. Alternatively, you can use two forks or even your hands to cut butter into the mixture.
Bake
- Spread topping over apples in baking dish, and gently pat to even it out. Bake 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
Serve
- Serve warm and enjoy! We love to top ours with some vanilla bean ice cream, or whipped cream.
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Chef Tips
- The amount of chopped apples would be about 6-7 cups.
- Note that all ovens bake differently, so yours may take a little less or a little more time to bake.
- I don’t have an issue with my crisp being watery (due to the water content in the apples), but if a little juice at the bottom is something you want to avoid, you can try adding a little all purpose flour to the apple mixture.
Make-Ahead Directions:
- Bake as directed. After the crisp cools, cover and refrigerate until the next day. When you’re ready to reheat, set it out at room temp for 20 minutes or so, then bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, or until hot throughout.
- I haven’t tested assembling this ahead of time (although I’m pretty sure other readers have done this successfully – you’d have to check the other comments).
- I haven’t tested freezing this recipe, although many other readers have frozen it successfully.
Video
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Jenny says
This is the best apple crisp! We doubled the recipe and put it in a 13×9 pan and served with vanilla ice cream. I like the chunks vs. slices too. It was a hit with our family and our friends! This is now our go-to recipe!
Tracy says
I LOVE apple crisp. I make it at least 1/2 dozen times in the fall and winter for the last 25 years. I have my own recipe, friend’s recipe, some from online. This IS the BEST so far! I want to make every recipe on the chunky chef site. Outstanding job, thank you for sharing!
Rose says
Husband loved the apple crisp. Thank you. The leftovers do you put them in the Reefridge? And eat in the microwave?
Amanda says
So happy he loved it! Yes, refrigerate the leftovers, covered tightly, and either reheat in the microwave, or baked at 325 until hot throughout 🙂
Emily says
Already made this twice within a week! This is my absolute favorite apple crisp recipe! I definitely suggest that everyone makes this! Its is crazy good, crazy easy, and amazing! A fan favorite in my home! I love how easy it is to sub ingredient based on what you have as well! I only had instant oats and used those as well as I had to make my own brown sugar and it still tastes great! This is definitely going to be our new family staple in the fall time.
Anita says
Went apple picking and have huge bag of Honeyscrisp. Can I make ahead and freeze?
Amanda says
I’ve not tried it personally, but I know several other readers have made this recipe and frozen it successfully 🙂
Carol says
Can I use Quick oats?
Amanda says
Yes, it might change the texture ever so slightly, but should work just fine 🙂
Kathy Roberts says
It was too sweet for me. Next time I’d cut the brown sugar by half
Kris says
This was so delicious! My entire family loved it
Christine says
Thanks for the recipe! Amazing!
Susie says
Delicious! Thanks for sharing
Caroline vickers says
Made this many times. I use one tablespoon of sugar with the apples.
Anna says
Made 2x….I use amounts as a guide and generally add more of everything but butter- added flax to dry ingredients for fiber and just general health – vanilla and a little apple butter to wet! Sooooo good.
Kimberly Ann says
Best Apple crisp recipe! I’m going to make a pan of this today!
Terri says
Nine family members loved this. I had two substituions – because that is what ihad in the pantry….used gluten free flour and instant oats. Thank you from a new baker.
Chuck Summers says
World class….thank you! The old man cook, you make me look like an expert.
Jill says
Family loved it. I only added a few more apples and made in a 13*9, delicious.Thank you for sharing.
Bianca says
Oh my gosh my husband and son loved it! We’ve been craving a simple and tasty apple crisp and this one hit the spot. Do you have any applesauce recipes by chance?
Amanda says
Glad you all loved it!! I do have one, it’s an Instant Pot recipe, but I’ve also included crockpot and stovetop instructions https://www.thechunkychef.com/instant-pot-applesauce/
Karen says
I always add a splash of maple syrup on the apples and I put a teaspoon of maple sugar to the topping mixture
Carrie says
Love this recipe! Turned out so good when I made it for the first time last month and now about to make it for the 3rd time tomorrow!
Susan Jones says
Best apple crisp recipe!
Christine Croff says
I drizzled caramel syrup on top & then baked