Apple Crisp
Apple Crisp, also known as Apple Crumble, is a deliciously light and healthy dessert option! Warm, baked spiced apples nestled with crispy oats, apple pie spice and brown sugar…and it’s even better topped with vanilla ice cream!
This is a perfect Fall dessert recipe your friends and family will love and your house will smell amazing!
This simple apple crisp recipe is easy to make and your house will smell absolutely wonderful!
It’s the perfect Fall dessert- when apples are in season and when the temperature drops just a bit, but it’s really good anytime of year!
You’ll love this recipe
The hardest part of this recipe is coring the apples…dog-gone-it…go buy an apple corer at the grocery store…you won’t regret it!
- All-natural – apples, oats, butter, flour, honey, lemon, spices – that’s it!
- Your house will smell amazing!!! When Fall rolls around, THIS is exactly what you need!
- Not too rich or too fattening – your waistline will appreciate the healthy ingredients!
This easy apple recipe was in my Grandmother’s vintage recipes, so there’s no preservatives or additives! It’s the real deal!
Here’s what you’ll need
I usually make this easy apple crisp recipe in the Fall, when apples are in season. I use Honeycrisp apples, but you can use Gala, Fuji or Granny Smith apples. I do not recommend Red Delicious apples because their texture is more grainy and they turn to mush.
Ingredients – apples, oats, brown sugar, flour, butter, honey, apple pie spice and lemon.
Seasonings – You can use straight cinnamon instead of apple pie spice, but I like the Apple Pie spice because it contains cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice–three key spices to any apple dish!
Do not forget to get a lemon! Lemon juice will keep the cup apples from turning brown.
Here’s how to make it
This easy apple dessert has two parts: the filling and the oat topping. You’ll definitely want to invest in an apple coring tool and a good, sharp paring knife.
Peel and core apples; cut apples and drizzle lemon juice over them
Make oat topping
Place apples in baking dish; sprinkle oat topping over apples and bake!
What kind of apples do I use?
Use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala or Fuji apples. Each of these varieties holds up well when baked- they stay slightly firm.
Red Delicious apples are not ideal for this recipe simply because they don’t hold up well under heat and turn to mush.
Yield
This makes about 8 cups of Apple Crisp. If you serve in 1/2 cup portions, you’ll get about 16 servings from this recipe.
Making it for a crowd?
If you’re making this for a large group (say 20 or more), double the recipe and bake it in a big aluminum pan.
How to make it gluten-free:
If you want to make this yummy dessert gluten-free, use a certified gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour.
While oats typically do not contain wheat, there is a strong possibility for cross contamination across oat and wheat fields.
For this reason, I recommend investing in certified gluten-free oats, like Bob’s Redmill.
They produce a line of gluten-free baking ingredients including GF all-purpose flour and oats.
Storage and reheating
Store apple crisp in an airtight container for up to 3-days. To reheat, place a scoop of this delicious apple dessert in microwavable bowl for 1-2 minutes, or reheat in a 300ºF oven (cover dish with foil) until it is warm throughout.
If you want smaller portions of this easy Apple Crisp, make them in small ramekins! It’s a perfect “little” dessert! And don’t forget to put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Related recipes
- Orange Italian Cream Cake
- Foolproof Peach Cobbler
- Southern Pecan Pie
- Fresh Apple Cake (vintage recipe)
- Classic Buttermilk Pie
- No Bake No Egg Lemon Icebox Pie
- Salted Caramel Cheesecake
- Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
- Orange Olive Oil Cake
- Original Texas Sheet Cake
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Spiced Cranberry Sauce
- Candied Sweet Potatoes
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below! I love to hear from you! Thank you!

Equipment
- Apple corer
Ingredients
Apple Crisp Filling
- 8 large Honeycrisp apples cored, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
- 1 tablespoon flour , all-purpose
- ½ cup light brown sugar , packed
- 1 teaspoon Apple Pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Apple Crisp Topping
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup flour , all-purpose
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar , packed
- 1 tablespoon Apple Pie spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ cup butter , salted or unsalted; melted
Instructions
Prepare the Apples
- Core and peel apples; cut into cubes; place in large bowl8 large Honeycrisp apples
- Pour lemon juice over apples; toss apples in lemon juice to coat evenly; cover and set aside¼ cup lemon juice
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, Apple Pie spice and salt; combine well1 tablespoon flour, ½ cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon Apple Pie spice, ½ teaspoon salt
- Sprinkle brown sugar/flour mixture over apples; toss apples to coat well
Prepare the Topping
- Combine all topping ingredients into a large bowl and mix lightly (see recipe notes)1 cup oats, 1 cup flour, ⅔ cup light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Apple Pie spice, 1 tablespoon honey, ¾ cup butter, ½ teaspoon salt
Final Assembly
- Preheat oven to 350ºF
- Lightly butter or oil a baking pan; pour spiced apples into pan
- Using your hands, sprinkle oat mixture over apples
- Bake on middle rack, uncovered for 45 minutes or until apples are tender and oat mixture is crisp
Apple Crisp is one of my favorite desserts. It doesn’t get any better than warm apples with a big scoop of ice cream!
Thank you, Debi! No it doesn’t!:)