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Our classic Apple Crisp recipe is the best dessert of fall! It has tender cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a buttery, golden oat crumble.
The Best Apple Crisp You'll Ever Make
This apple crisp recipe could be my most treasured dessert recipe I make from September through the entire winter season–I will never get tired of it!
Mostly it's such an easy dessert that gives apple pie vibes but without the time commitment. It's definitely the biggest crowd pleaser, especially when I serve it with my homemade vanilla ice cream!
The secret to a perfect apple crisp is using a mix of apple varieties. Granny Smith apples hold their shape and add tartness, while Honeycrisp or Fuji apples add natural sweetness. If you don't have a Johnny Apple Peeler yet, buy one (it peels, cores and slices the apples for you–making this dessert come together so FAST!)!
Try more of my apple recipes, like Fresh Apple Cake, Baked Apples, Applesauce, Apple Coffee Cake, Caramel Apple Dip, and How to make Caramel Apples!
How to make Apple Crisp:
Crumble Toppings: In a medium size bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until well combined. Refrigerate crumble while you prepare the apple filling.
Apple Filling: (I use a Johnny Apple Peeler to peel, core and slice the apples all at once.) In a small bowl, stir together melted butter and flour until smooth. Add lemon juice, milk and vanilla then stir. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour butter mixture over apples and toss to coat.
Bake: Pour apple mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the apples. Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and top is set. Remove from oven and cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
Serve with homemade vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce, if desired.
Apple Crisp
Equipment
Ingredients
Crumble Topping:
- 2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup salted butter, , cut into small pieces
Apple filling:
- 3-4 large Granny Smith apples*, , peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 Tablespoons salted butter, , melted
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 Tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
For serving (optional):
- vanilla Ice Cream
- Homemade Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Crumble Toppings: In a medium size bowl combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or fork until well combined. Refrigerate while you prepare the apple filling.2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ cup salted butter
- Apple Filling: (I use a Johnny Apple Peeler to peel, core and slice the apples all at once.) In a small bowl stir together melted butter and flour until smooth. Add lemon juice, milk and vanilla and stir. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour butter mixture over apples and toss to coat.3-4 large Granny Smith apples*, 3 Tablespoons salted butter, 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 3 Tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Bake: Pour apple mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the apples. Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown and top is set. Remove from oven cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce, if desired.vanilla Ice Cream, Homemade Caramel Sauce
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe November 2017. Updated September 2021, November 2023 and September 2026.
Holy Moly!!!! Amazing! and the Caramel Sauce????? I want to eat it with a spoon!!! My husband and I have eaten Keto for 4 years – so when we splurge – we want the best and THIS IS IT!
This is one of the best recipes for Apple Crisp I’ve made – simple and very tasty. Topped with a large helping of homemade whip topping – so good! I made it for Thanksgiving and it was a hit. The 8×8 pan was just enough for the 4 of us with some left over the next day. My family doesn’t care for much pie, except for my Corn Syrup-free Pecan Pie; so I decided this Crisp would compliment the desert table nicely. I wasn’t wrong! Thanks again! Darren
Sooooo good. Not too sweet. Not too tart. I even bought the apple slicer gadget so I can make more anytime. Good job.
By far the best apple crisp I’ve ever made! Personal favorite at our house. The taste is wonderful and not overly sweet. I added about 1/2 cup of chopped pecans to the crisp recipe.
I added pecans also. Takes it up a notch. This time I did it in a bottom pie crust, for Dutch apple pie 🥧 😋
Yummy! This is the closest I’ve found to my mom’s apple crisp (she passed away about 20 years ago). Made this recipe a few days ago and my wife (who speaks only spanish) asked me to translate it. Thanx!
Forgot to add rating
Made it a couple of days ago and am going to make it again this weekend
Sorry, forgot to give a rating w/my review. This is a dangerous recipe (in a good way, though).
Love the ‘gravy’. Not too sweet, just right. Thanks for sharing! This is a keeper, but also one I know I’ll share!
Fantastic! So good & easy. The ‘sauce’ poured over the apples really makes this crisp special. I usually cut the sugar down in recipes but didn’t with this one and felt it was perfect – not too sweet. I used 3 small honey crisp & 2 large Granny Smith. [Be sure to slice Granny Smith apples very thin so they cook down enough as they are a very firm apple!] I added finely chopped walnuts to the topping as someone suggested and it was a nice addition. I assembled and baked the crisp 3 hours before dinner and then left it out on the counter (the house smelled wonderful!). After dinner I reheated it for 10 minutes @ 350° until it was hot and bubbling; served with vanilla ice cream. Company loved it. Highly recommend.
I always bake with honey crisp apples, they are the best. I have never had a bad one.
This has been my go to apple crisp recipe since 2016! So excited to make it this weekend!
Thank you, this was delicious. My only addition was that I toasted my oats first.