Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

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Shelly 23 Comments

★★★★★5 from 5 reviews

This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats is a no fail dessert just like grandma used to make! Sweet cinnamon apples are topped with a crunchy, buttery oat crumble topping, then baked to perfection! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate bite of apple crisp goodness.

EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Why This Is The BEST Apple Crisp Recipe
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • How To Make The Best Apple Crisp
  • Tips for Success
  • What to Serve with Apple Crisp
  • Proper Storage
  • Looking for More Apple Recipes? Try These!
  • Get the Recipe

Why This Is The BEST Apple Crisp Recipe

  • Oat topping. I love this crisp topping because it includes oats. They help absorb some of the moisture the apples release, while also keeping the topping crunchy!
  • Quick and easy. The hardest part of making this apple crisp recipe with oats is peeling the apples. The rest of it takes just a few minutes to prepare.
  • Perfect for fall. Old fashioned apple crisp is one of my favorite fall desserts and it makes a great alternative to apple pie during the holidays too.

Looking for more apple dessert ideas? Try myClassic Apple Pie recipe, Dutch Apple Pie, Apple Dump Cake, or thiseasy Skillet Apple Pie!

EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (2)

Recipe Ingredients

These easy apple crisp recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.

  • Apples – As mentioned above, I prefer Granny Smith but you can use other apples.
  • Orange – My secret ingredient! You’ll want both the zest and juice.
  • Salt – Helps to balance the other ingredients.
  • Brown sugar – Sweetens the apple filling and is also used in the topping.
  • Cinnamon – Adds the warm flavor to the apple crisp.
  • Butter – Be sure to use cold butter.
  • Flour
  • Quick oats – You can use old fashioned oats but I think quick oats create the best texture.
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (3)

How To Make The Best Apple Crisp

The hardest part of making this apple crisp recipe with oats is peeling the apples! Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions.

EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (4)
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (5)
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (6)
  • Prepare the apples. Peel and slice the apples. Stir in the orange zest and juice, salt, brown sugar, and cinnamon to coat the apples. Let rest to release the juices.
  • Prepare the topping. Combine the butter, flour, sugar, oats, and salt.
  • Bake. Spread the apples in a baking dish, discarding the excess liquid. Add the topping. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, until the apples are bubbly and the topping is crisp and golden.

Tips for Success

I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I am going to share with you on how to make the best apple crisp. They are simple little things you can do to ensure success!

  • Add citrus. I feel like the top secret to my apple crisp recipe is adding orange zest and a little orange juice right into the apples. You can honestly use any citrus in place of the orange, but the subtle orange flavor is just special enough to make it different but not be too noticeable!
  • Use quick oats in your crumble topping. Quick oats are just rolled (old fashioned) oats cut into smaller pieces, which makes them less detectable and not as chewy.
  • Allow your apples to sit in the cinnamon, sugar, zest, and juice for a bit before baking. This will draw out some of the moisture from the apples, preventing your apple crisp from getting too soupy!
  • Use Granny Smith apples. This might be more of a personal preference, but I almost always prefer Granny Smith apples in baking. They hold their texture, release less juice, are easily available, and have a great balance of sweet and tart after they’re baked.
EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (7)

What to Serve with Apple Crisp

Apple crisp is best served warm, either from the oven or microwaved for a few seconds. I like to top mine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream but whipped cream works too. You can even add a sprinkle of cinnamon or caramel drizzle to the top.

Proper Storage

  • Room temperature. Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Note that the longer it’s stored, the softer the topping will become so I prefer to eat it within a day.
  • Reheat. Pop individual servings in the microwave for 20 seconds store airtight for up to 2 days. The longer this is stored the softer the crisp layer will get, so I like to eat this within a day of being made.

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EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (8)

Looking for More Apple Recipes? Try These!

  • Apple Fritter Bread
  • Easy Skillet Caramel Apple Pie
  • Apple Snickerdoodle Bars
  • Apple Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

This recipe was originally published in 2015. I have updated the images and the content with some tips and tricks.

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    EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp | The Best Apple Crisp Recipe (9)

    EasyApple Crisp Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 5 reviews

    • Author: Shelly
    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
    • Yield: 10 servings 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Dessert

    Rate

    Print

    Description

    This EasyOld Fashioned Apple Crisp recipe is a no fail dessert just like grandma used to make! Sweet cinnamon apples are topped with a crunchy, buttery oat crumble topping, then baked to perfection! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate bite of apple crisp goodness.

    Ingredients

    Scale

    Apple layer

    • 5 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced approx 1/3″ thick
    • zest and juice of one large orange
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

    Crisp Topping

    • 1 cup butter, cold and cubed
    • 1 1/2 cups flour
    • 1 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 1/4 cup quick oats
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9×13 pan, or lightly coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
    2. Combine the apples, orange zest, orange juice, salt, sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir to coat evenly. Set aside while you prepare your topping.
    3. For the crisp topping, place butter, flour, brown sugar, oats, and salt in a large bowl. Using a pastry cutter or your hands combine all the ingredients until the mixture is crumbly.
    4. Spread the apples into the prepared baking dish, discarding any liquid the apples released.
    5. Sprinkle the oat mixture on top of the apples.
    6. Bake for 55-60 minutes until the crisp is lightly browned and the apples are bubbly.
    7. Serve warm or at room temperature

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The longer this is stored the softer the crisp layer will get, so I like to eat this within a day of being made.

    Serve with ice cream and caramel sauce, if desired.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size:
    • Calories: 381
    • Sugar: 27.1 g
    • Sodium: 242.2 mg
    • Fat: 19.3 g
    • Carbohydrates: 50.1 g
    • Protein: 3.7 g
    • Cholesterol: 48.8 mg

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    FAQs

    What are the best crisp apples for apple crisp? ›

    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.

    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.

    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!

    How do you keep apples from getting mushy in apple crisp? ›

    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.

    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.

    Why add flour to apple crisp? ›

    Flour- Flour helps to create the perfect topping and bind it all together. I used all-purpose. You can definitely substitute with gluten-free flour but I'm not sure how oat flour, coconut flour or almond flour would work. Butter- The butter gives the best flavor and texture and holds together the dry ingredients.

    How do you make apple crisp not watery? ›

    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. Taste your apples for sweetness before adding sugar to your filling.

    Can you prep apple crisp the night before? ›

    Tips and Tricks. You can make this the evening before or the morning of the day you plan to serve it. Take it through step 4 and then cover the apples and streusel topping with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until ready to bake. Then just remove the plastic wrap and bake.

    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.

    Is apple brown betty the same as 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.

    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.

    Why did my apple crisp get mushy? ›

    There are two essential factors, the type of apple you choose and the cooking method. Some varieties of apple turn to mush when cooked. Macintoshes and Red Delicious are among these. Granny Smiths stay firm but are tart.

    Why is my apple crisp always dry? ›

    Not enough butter, and your topping will be a dry, floury mess. 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 are the top 5 apples for baking? ›

    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.

    What are the three best apples for apple pie? ›

    The best apples for making apple pie
    • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
    • Cortland. ...
    • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
    • Golden Delicious. ...
    • Granny Smith. ...
    • Honeycrisp. ...
    • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
    • Northern Spy.
    Oct 8, 2021

    Which apples are Crispier Fuji or Gala? ›

    Texture & Use in Recipes: In terms of texture, Fuji apples are also a lot crisper, and less dense than Gala apples. So, they result in a firm bite with juicy flesh while Galas are softer and creamier. Their texture also means that Fujis are better for baking as they hold their shape better than Galas when cooked!

    Which apples are the most crisp and sweet? ›

    Fuji. Due to their low acidity, these ultra-sweet, crispy and juicy apples are a go-to choice for snacking and baking, as well as homemade baby food or apple butters.

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