This Easy Apple Crisp recipe is no fail, simple, and ALWAYS a favorite! Sweet, cinnamon apples are topped with a crunchy, buttery, oat crumble topping and baked to perfection! Add a scoop of ice cream to truly make it THE BEST!
Apple Crisp is a dessert recipe that you can make for a crowd or just for your family. It’s perfect for entertaining, holidays, or just a cozy Sunday night. Everyone loves apple crisp, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to make, and it makes your house smell amazing while it’s baking!
I have been on an apple kick recently, sharing both my favorite Apple Pie Recipe, and also my Dutch Apple Pie Recipe! I am fully enjoying fall baking and apple season. I haven’t met a person who doesn’t love a classic apple dessert, and this Apple Crisp does not disappoint.
Apple Crisp Is Like A Less Fussy Apple Pie
I love a crisp recipe so much. If you haven’t tried my Berry Crisp Recipe yet you really should!
They come together quickly, are best served with a scoop of ice cream and are just a casual option compared to pie. I feel like people get so nervous about making pie…the crust, the filling, trying to get a pretty slice…
Crisps are just the opposite! They have all the same best parts, but are way less stress-inducing!
What Makes This the BEST Apple Crisp?
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!
Secret #1
I feel like the top secret to my apple crisp recipe is adding orange zest and a little orange juice right into the apples. It’s a trick I stole from Ina Garten many moons ago after watching an episode of The Barefoot Contessa on Food Network!
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!
Secret #2
Use Quick Oats in your crumble 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!
You CAN use old fashioned oats in place of quick, but I like the texture the oats give without feeling like I am eating oats, does that makes sense? Quick Oats are just rolled (old fashioned) oats cut into smaller pieces, which makes them less detectable and not as chewy!
Secret #3
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!
Secret #4
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. Yes you CAN use other apples, but I prefer Granny Smith.
How To Make This Easy Apple Crisp
The process for this recipe is so super simple. The hardest part is peeling the apples! You can have this prepped and ready to go in under 20 minutes and then pop it in the oven before dinner, so it’s warm and bubbly when you’re ready for dessert!
- Peel and slice all your apples. I list 5 large Granny Smith apples in the ingredients, with no weight measurement. This is because you don’t have to be exact for this recipe, which is great!
- Stir in the orange zest, orange juice, salt, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Make sure all the apple are coated in the mixture and let the apples rest a bit to release some of the juices.
- Prep the crisp topping by combining butter, flour, brown sugar, oats, and salt. You can use a pastry cutter or your hands for this step, just make sure the it’s all coated in butter, so you don’t have dust in the bottom of the bowl.
- Spread the apples into a baking dish, discarding any excess liquid the apples have released. This will prevent your crisp from becoming soupy.
- Bake it until the apples are bubbly and the topping is crisp and golden!
Looking for More Apple Recipes? Try These:
This recipe was originally published in 2015. I have updated the images and the content with some tips and tricks.
Description:
Easy Apple Crisp has sweet cinnamon apples with a thick layer of crunchy, buttery crumble topping!
Ingredients:
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:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9×13 pan, or lightly coat with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- 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.
- 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.
- Spread the apples into the prepared baking dish, discarding any liquid the apples released.
- Sprinkle the oat mixture on top of the apples.
- Bake for 55-60 minutes until the crisp is lightly browned and the apples are bubbly.
- Serve warm or at room temperature
Notes:
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.
Serve with ice cream and caramel sauce, if desired.
Keywords:: cookies and cups, apple crisp, apple recipe, fall baking, crumb topping
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