This is the best Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp recipe made with caramelized cinnamon apple slices and topped with crispy oat crumbles! Serve with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a scoop of ice cream for the most flavor!
There is nothing better in the Fall than a comforting dessert, like this amazing old-fashioned Apple Crisp. It’s made with soft and tender apple slices and topped with crispy oat crumbles.
Like in my Classic Apple Pie Recipe, Apple Pie with Puff Pastry, and Apple Coffee Cake, I add a good amount of cinnamon to elevate the warm flavors that help balance apple desserts.
Why you will love this recipe
- So easy to make with minimum prepping time.
- Great balance of soft caramelized filling and crispy topping.
- Perfect throw-together dessert for a big party.
How to make Apple Crisp
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a baking dish, put together all filling ingredients (sliced apples, all-purpose flour, lemon juice, vanilla extract, light brown sugar, and cinnamon) and mix it until evenly combined. (Photos 1-6)
In a separate mixing bowl, add all topping ingredients (all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and cold cubed butter). Using a pastry cutter or your hands, rub the butter into the dry ingredients, creating pea size crumbles. (Photos 7-12)
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apple/cinnamon mixture. (Photo 13)
Bake at 350°F for about 40-50 minutes or until the top is golden/brown and the filling is bubbling. (Photo 14)
Remove from the oven and let sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes to cool off. Serve with French Vanilla Ice Cream and Homemade Caramel Sauce.
Tips for best results
- If you like to have chunks of apple in your crisp, you can slice your apples in bigger pieces. If you are like me, and like them softer and creamier, cut them in smaller pieces.
- If your topping is getting too dark and the apples are not fully cooked yet, just loosely cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil and continue baking.
- To add more crunch to the topping, you can add some chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts.
- If you are having a big party, just double the ingredients and bake it in 9×13 baking pan.
Frequently Asked Questions
I prefer to use Granny Smith because the tartness of this variety better balances the overall sweetness of the dish. Although you can easily use any apples you have on hand, like Fuji, Gala, Honey Crisp, or Macintosh.
It’s totally up to you! I make it both ways, and personally prefer to remove the skin to get softer texture.
If you have any leftovers left, you can cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. To reheat, just put it in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes.
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Ingredients for Filling
- 4 Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, sliced
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Ingredients for Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter cold, cubed
Instructions
- In a baking dish, put together all filling ingredients (4 sliced apples, 1 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp lemon juice, ½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp light brown sugar, and 1 tsp cinnamon) and mix it until evenly combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add all topping ingredients (½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup old-fashioned oats, ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp salt, and ⅓ cup cold cubed butter). Using a pastry cutter or your hands, rub the butter into the dry ingredients, creating pea size crumbles.
- Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apple/cinnamon mixture.
- Bake at 350°F for about 40-50 minutes or until the top is golden/brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Remove from the oven and let sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes to cool off. Serve with French Vanilla Ice Cream and Homemade Caramel Sauce.
Notes
- If you like to have chunks of apple in your crisp, you can slice your apples in bigger pieces. If you are like me, and like them softer and creamier, cut them in smaller pieces.
- If your topping is getting too dark and the apples are not fully cooked yet, just loosely cover the pan with a piece of aluminum foil and continue baking.
- To add more crunch to the topping, you can add some chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts.
- If you are having a big party, just double the ingredients and bake it in 9×13 baking pan.
Looks tasty! Love the addition of the oat crunch as well, seems to compliment the dish very well.
Rustic desserts are the best and I love how quickly you can throw them together. I had some extra apples and this crisp looked so good I made it yesterday. Our family got together last evening and the apple crisp was a huge success. I had some homemade cinnamon ice cream I put on top of the warm dessert and it was amazing. It won’t be the last time I make it.
I am loving this old fashioned apple crisp! Such simple ingredients yet good. The buttery oat crunch on top was perfect. Your step by steps pics are perfect and was so helpful!
I love all crisps all year long – haven’t made an apple one in a while!! Excited to make it this weekend!
Loving those big oat crumbs on top! This looks so beautiful and satisfying. Perfect for fall!
Apple Crisp is one of my favorite fall dessert. Your pics are gorgeous and recipe is so flavorful. Pinned to try this soon.
Your old fashioned apple crisp comes very close to tasting like my grandmother used to make—I lost her recipe but am redeemed since I now have yours! So glad I tried this recipe. I will be saving this to make again this fall! I loved it.
I love the step-by-step instructions for this recipe! It was so easy and delicious. Thank you so much we loved it!
Wow, I didn’t realize apple crisp needed so little prep time! Those apples looks delicious and the old fashioned oat crumble sounds amazing! Perfect for a hearty fall dessert.
Ahhh there is NOTHING like the aroma of a freshly baked apple crisp! I wish I could smell this one right through the screen!
Comforting fall flavor … and so much easier than a pie! Thanks for the great tips, like whether or not you need to peel the apples and which apples are good choices, and (yum!!!!) the suggestion to add nuts to the topping!