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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!
I grew up having apple crisp with a bottom crust of the same ingredients as the top crust. So I doubled the crumble topping and used it for a bottom crust and a top crust. I also doubled the apple mixture because I just moved and didn’t have a smaller 8 x8 pand nor a 13×9. I used a 14×10 inch pan and I did add some nutmeg to the crumble mixture . it came out great. When I made this years ago I remember just adding brown sugar and cinnamon to the apple mixture. I like this sauce (as I call it)
I love the idea of adding a crumb crust as well! YUM! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I want to try this! If one doesn’t like dessert too sweet, is this a recipe that may be good with less sugar? Or is ur just right?
You could add a little less sugar, although I don’t think it’s overly-sweet 🙂
Just made this and put it in the oven. Can’t wait to try it
Amazing!!!!!!! I just made thisdish and was going to wait for after dinner but it smelled and looked so yummy, I had to try it. I put some in a dish with some ice cream and my mouth is still watering for more. Awesome dish.
We. Ate. The. Whole. Thing! It smelled so good none of us could even stand to let it cool a bit before digging in to it! We ate it straight from the oven! Definitely saving this recipe!
I just had to comment. I am not great at baking, cooking…any of it. But I just made this and my hubby and I both agree it was the best we ever had. Thanks for the great recipe!
Made this on Christmas as a dessert it was amazingly delicious. I couldnt stop eating it. I did make a few changes, I didnt have the apples the recipe called for however i had some Gala apples that were a bit too soft for me to eat so i used them instead. I made mine completely gluten and dairy free. I substituted flour for a gluten free all purpose flour and in place of milk i used soy milk. I couldnt tell it was gluten and dairy free. I will be making this soon. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
Ok first time baker, and the crumbs on top were just flour even after over 45 minutes, then the oats started to burn so I removed it. I think the butter quantity in the crumbs mix is off? I cant imagine it even being close to the pic without more butter.
hi! I know this sounds super lazy but would the apple pie filling in a can work?? I really want to make it now but don’t have enough apples!!
Of course! You could use your apple pie filling for the base and then add the crumble on top 🙂
How many servings does this recipe serve??
About 5 servings