Apple Crisp

This easy apple crisp with oat streusel topping made with apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon comes together quickly and easily using just one mixing bowl! Serve warm and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and it’s the easiest Fall dessert to serve during the holidays!

 

When it comes to the holidays, I love making an apple pie but let’s face it sometimes you want all the goodness in a homemade apple pie without the fuss. Enter this simple apple crisp. It’s one of those easy dessert recipes you need to have in your back pocket.

An apple crisp with oat topping is the way to go instead. So much easier! And I’m a huge fan of apple crisp recipes around here, like my Apple Cranberry Crisp, healthy apple crisp or my caramel apple crisp recipe. But today we’re talking about the classic apple crisp recipe with a brown sugar oat topping.

I perfected this apple crisp to make it one bowl. You just need to give it a quick wipe in between making the apple filling and the oatmeal crisp topping. Hooray for less dishes around the holidays!

Testing This Recipe To Perfection

It took a few attempts to get to make this the best apple crisp recipe. I wanted the perfect ratio of apple filling to oat topping. I went through a few rounds of too much apple, not enough oat topping before landing on this version.

The apples then get peeled (optional but worth it!) and diced. Then tossed with some lemon juice, spices, and sugar.

And the streusel topping is just as easy made with melted butter, old fashioned oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. It all gets baked together to golden brown perfection that really is so easy to make you might wonder why you bothered with apple pie before! And I think now I have finally achieved the best apple crisp recipe.

Ingredients Needed

• Flour – You can also swap and use gluten free 1:1 flour.
• Old fashioned oats – I prefer old-fashioned rolled oats because they are bigger and provide a better texture. But quick oats can also be used, but the topping may be a bit more powdery.
• Light brown sugar – I used light brown sugar but dark brown sugar will also work. If you have run out, try my homemade brown sugar.
• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Lemon Juice– Helps keep the apples from browning.
• Apples – You need to peel and dice the apples into 1-inch chunks or you can use apple slices. If you want you can skip peeling the apples. But I prefer them peeled. I recommend using an apple peeler which will do all three at once! Then all I do is simply use a knife and dice them into cubes – such a time saver!
• Unsalted butter – I bake with unsalted butter instead of salted butter so I can control the amount of salt and prefer the flavor. But if you use salted butter, simply omit the added salt.

How To Make This Apple Crisp Recipe

Prep oven and pan. Preheat the oven to 375^oF (190^oC). Lightly grease a 8×8” baking dish.

Make apple filling. In a large bowl, toss apples, all-purpose flour, sugar, ground cinnamon, and lemon juice in bowl until the apple are evenly coated.

Spread the apples into the prepared baking dish.  I used an 8×8 square baking pan, but you could also use a 9×9 baking pan. I just give it a quick spray with cooking spray or you could grease with butter.

Wipe out bowl. You could use a second mixing bowl, that’s up to you but I’m trying to save you from extra dishes, friend. You’re welcome! I just give it a quick wipe with a paper towel and it’s ready to go.

Make the oat topping. In the same mixing bowl, stir together the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Stir in the melted butter. Stir until mixture is thoroughly moistened and crumbly.

Crumble the oat mixture over apples evenly. 

Bake. Bake at 375oF for 40-45 minutes until top is golden brown and apples are tender. A glass baking dish will take longer to bake than a metal baking dish. If using a glass dish, then add on an additional 5 minutes of baking time.

Cover loosely with foil if topping is getting too dark. I didn’t find this to be needed, but every oven is different. If your oat topping is browning too much, just place some foil over the top until the apples are tender and the crisp is baked through.

Cool slightly before enjoying. 

Eat with whipped cream, vanilla ice-cream, or just as is! Or maybe a drizzle of caramel sauce! I think it’s best eaten the day it’s made and the topping can lose crispness each day as it sits.

Leftover apple crisp can be stored in the fridge, for up to 5 days, but just be aware that the crisp topping can begin to soften with each day.

More Recipes To Try

If you’re craving more crisp, then be sure to try my peach crisp version! It’s the perfect summer dessert. Just top with some ice cream and watch it get devoured.

If you loved this easy apple crisp then be sure to try my apple cider cookies with apple cider glaze! Or if you’re in a bit of a sweet and savory mood looking for a great appetizer this apple crisp baked brie is the answer!