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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 was a nice recipe! I loved the taste and crunchiness!!
Thank you!
Loved the filling it was so great I’m trying to decide what else I can add it to. I used rice flour instead of reg flour and it was fantastic, I don’t think there was a difference. Thanks for the great recipe.
Just popped it in the oven!
P.S. We have the same clear casserole with lid.
Just made the Apple Crisp and it was amazing! Thanks sooo much for posting it.
Sorry but my family did not like this. Very bland.
Lauren, Thank you so much for sharing this recipe – it is phenomenal! As promised, it is easy to make and, I will never use my old recipe again. My husband loves it as much as I do and he never turns down apples when anyone asks him if he would like some; he brings them home to bake now. Again, thank you so much! This one will definitely go into the family cookbook!
Sincerely,
The Page’s
My all time favorite. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Simon
this looks awesome.
but i was wondering if i make it ahead of time, shall i heat it before serving?
thanks, A
I made this today… it was sooooooo amazing. When making the crumb topping I didn’t realize that I used the 2/3 measuring cup so I added a little more of the other ingredients and put crumbs on the top and bottom… it was sooooooooooooo good!!!
I had some extra apples from Christmas that I received in a gift box that I needed to get rid of. So after searching a few recipes I picked this one because it was less time baking than the other recipes. The recipe was simple. I used a few granny apples and a delicious sweet red apple. We didn’t have Oatmeal so I used a packet of instant oatmeal. I cut the recipe in half and the instant bag was just shy of the 1/4 cup I needed. I was a bit worried when the crumb topping wasn’t crumbing up. I eventually just used my hands to combine it and it was fine.
Surprisingly, it came out great. It was enough for four and I have to say it was the best I’ve had. My kids thought it was delicious too and said it was better than any desert I’ve ever made. LOL. I’m sure it tastes really good with some real Oatmeal! Thank you for this wonderful recipe!