Nothing says fall like an easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp! Sweet-tart apples in a lightened-up cinnamon-sugar mixture and topped with a lighter buttery oat crumb topping. Plus, easily make gluten-free and dairy-free!
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We have been making this recipe for decades, but I haven’t made it in a while. It was time I not only dusted it off but lightened this decadent fall dessert up a bit. I reduced the butter and sugar by half—without sacrificing any of the flavor and crunchy crumb!
If you love apple desserts or recipes with crumb toppings, then these recipes are a must try — Apple Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Honey Bun, Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb bars and this amazing Giant Blueberry Muffin.
Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp
Oats or no Oats?
Every apple crisp I have ever eaten was made with oats, for me it’s part of what truly makes it a crisp, versus a crumble. And we all know that oats and brown sugar go together, like PB & J, Lucy and Ethel (I may have just dated myself!)
I love the flavor, chew factor and slight nuttiness that oats bring to this fall dessert. Here are the health benefits of oats:
- oats are high in antioxidants
- loaded with fiber
- naturally gluten free (but watch where they are processed)
- may lower blood sugar, cholesterol and are heart healthy
What are the best apples to bake with?
- How about whatever apples you have on hand! Told you it’s not fussy.
- I used Sweet Tango’s
- Granny Smith’s are traditionally used in baking, they are tart and it beautifully compliments the sweet.
- I also love baking with my favorite eating apple, Honeycrisp apples. Bottom line, you decide!
SHOULD YOU PEEL YOUR APPLES WHEN BAKING?
Totally, 100% your preference! I personally love the added fiber and color that red apples tint the slurpy goo in apple desserts. For this apple crisp, I partially peeled my apples, peel away or give them a good scrubbing and dice them up! My favorite peeler, careful it really is sharp!
Apples are one of my “must buy organic” fruits, since I do love the peel so much, they are much cleaner for you this way.
INGREDIENTS
Topping
- Rolled Oats | Not instant, be sure to confirm Gluten Free if you are Celiac
- All-Purpose Flour | easily substitute with a good 1-to-1 GF Flour
- Real Butter | remember if it’s soft coming out of the fridge it’s not real butter
- Brown Sugar | light or dark, your preference, I used organic light
- Baking Powder | just a touch, raises the PH helping to brown the topping
- Cinnamon | can you really have too much cinnamon?
- Kosher Salt | brings out the amazing flavor in the oats
- Pecans | roasted, chopped — these are totally optional
- Fleur de Sel | optional, adds a sweet salty affect to the crisp topping
Apple Mixture
- Apples, coarsely chopped | you will need about 5-6 small, 3-4 larger
- Cane Sugar | I use organic all natural cane sugar
- Flour | sub with GF flour if needed
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg | it’s Fall Y’all!
HOW TO MAKE A CRISP FROM SCRATCH
This dessert comes together so quickly you might just make it weekly! (wink-wink)
- Start by making the crisp topping; in a medium bowl add oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking powder, mix to combine. Add softened butter, using your hands, squish into the dry mixture until you have some larger marble sized pieces and the ingredients are mixed well.
FRESH COOKY TIP | I use soft instead of cold butter for my crumb and crisp toppings, adding the ingredients to a ziplock baggie and smooshing them together with my hands, then toss the whole thing in the freezer for 10-15 minutes while finishing the recipe. Firming the butter back up results in a crunchy, crumbly crumb topping every time.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and butter or spray an 8×11 (thicker crisp) or 9×13 pan (thinner crisp).
- Coarsely chop apples and toss with sugar, flour and cinnamon; coating well. Pour evenly into prepared pan.
- Top with chilled crisp oat topping, breaking up larger chunks and evenly covering the apples. If desired, sprinkle some chopped pecans on top. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes until apples are soft, crisp topping is lightly browned. Bake longer for soft and tender apples, less time if a crisp tender apple is desired.
- Remove from oven and if desired, sprinkle with a little flaky sea salt, and a little fresh grated nutmeg.
- Serve warm with a scoop of cinnamon or vanilla ice cream, grating a little fresh cinnamon and/or nutmeg over the top. You may swoon now!
MY VERY FAVORITE BAKING DISH IS THIS STAUB 8X11″ DISH, BAKES EVENLY, CLEANS UP SPOTLESS!
I USE THIS MICROPLANE ALL-THE-TIME FOR ZESTING AND FRESH GRATING SPICES.
CAN I MAKE APPLE CRISP GLUTEN FREE OR VEGAN (OR BOTH)!
We are not a gluten free or vegan house (hello Beer Beef Stew!), however; I have family and friends with severe allergies requiring no gluten, no dairy and I take it as a challenge to come up with alternatives for them to bake.
I recently had a ladies luncheon and one of my friends is dairy and gluten free.
GLUTEN FREE APPLE CRISP
- Replace the all-purpose flour with a good Gluten Free Flour, this is my favorite GF 1-to-1 flour. Make sure you replace it both the apple mixture and the topping.
- Make sure your oats are gluten free, especially if someone is celiac, better to spend a few extra dimes and buy Gluten Free Oats.
VEGAN (OR DAIRY FREE)
- Replace butter with with coconut oil (liquid or solid) or Olive Oil
- If desired, replace 1 tablespoon of brown sugar with equal amount of maple syrup
- Mix topping ingredients well with oil of choice above, place in freezer for 10 minutes to firm back up slightly, bake as directed.
HOW DO YOU KEEP APPLE CRISP FROM GETTING SOGGY?
Topping will get soggy with refrigeration, or if covered before cooling.
How to Fix a Soggy Crisp
- Soggy crisps happen. Have no fear, because this is best warm anyway.
- To rewarm and crisp up the topping; preheat oven to 300 degrees F, place apple crisp uncovered in oven rewarming for about 20 minutes.
TIPS FOR THE BEST APPLE CRISP
Can I Make this Ahead of Time?
To make an apple crisp ahead of time, if not baking right away, several hours is fine, days, not so much. Assemble as planned, cover and store in fridge until ready to bake. Bake as directed.
Can I Freeze It? Baked or Unbaked?
You can freeze assembled apple crisp, unbaked or baked. If baking first, be sure to cool completely and then double wrap in aluminum foil.
To rewarm a frozen baked crisp place in preheated 300 degree oven covered for about 30 minutes, removing the foil 10 minutes prior — bake longer if not warmed through.
If unbaked, bake from frozen covered for first 30 minutes; remove foil and bake until golden, tender and lightly browned on top. If it starts browning too much, lightly place a piece of foil over the top.
What’s the best way to store apple crisp?
Baked apple crisps will last covered at room temperature for 3-4 days. 7-8 days refrigerated and up to 3 months frozen.
Well that’s it, told ya it’s the Best Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp, it’s not fussy at all and it’s what fall weekends were made for! Make it for breakfast, brunch or serve it with ice cream for a fabulous fall dessert!
If you are a crisp lover, then please try this Chocolate Pumpkin Graham Skillet Crisp.
Like this recipe?
Don’t forget to give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and leave a comment below the recipe!
Equipment
Ingredients
TOPPING
- ¾ cup rolled oats not instant; be sure to confirm Gluten Free if you are Celiac
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour unbleached; substitute with GF flour
- ½ cup butter softened
- ¾ cups brown sugar packed; light or dark, your preference. I used organic light
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup pecans roasted, chopped (optional)
- Fleur de Sel optional
Apple Mixture
- 5-6 cups apples coarsely chopped; peeled, partially peeled or unpeeled (about 5-6 small apples)
- 3 tablespoons cane sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour sub with GF flour if desired
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Instructions
- Start by making the crisp topping; in a medium bowl add oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking powder, mix to combine. Add softened butter, using your hands, squish into the dry mixture until you have some larger marble sized pieces and the ingredients are mixed well.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and butter or spray an 8×11 (thicker crisp) or 9×13 pan (thinner crisp).
- Coarsely chop apples and toss with sugar, flour and cinnamon; coating well. Pour evenly into prepared pan.
- Top with chilled crisp oat topping, breaking up larger chunks and evenly covering the apples. If desired, sprinkle some chopped pecans on top. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes until apples are soft, crisp topping is lightly browned. Bake longer for soft and tender apples, less time if a crisp tender apple is desired.
- Remove from oven and if desired, sprinkle with a little flaky sea salt, and a little fresh grated nutmeg.
- Serve warm with a scoop of cinnamon or vanilla ice cream, grating a little fresh cinnamon and/or nutmeg over the top. You may swoon now!
- Baked apple crisps will last covered at room temperature for 3-4 days. 7-8 days refrigerated and up to 3 months frozen.
Notes
GLUTEN FREE APPLE CRISP
- Replace the all-purpose flour with a good Gluten Free Flour, this is my favorite GF 1-to-1 flour. Make sure you replace it both the apple mixture and the topping.
- Make sure your oats are gluten free, especially if someone is celiac, better to spend a few extra dimes and buy Gluten Free Oats.
VEGAN (OR DAIRY FREE)
- Replace butter with with coconut oil (liquid or solid) or Olive Oil
- If desired, replace 1 tablespoon of brown sugar with equal amount of maple syrup
- Mix topping ingredients well with oil of choice above, place in freezer for 10 minutes to firm back up slightly, bake as directed.
Nutrition
KC
So yummy! I used 5.5 c. apple slices cut into bite size pieces. I love that it uses more oatmeal than flour, especially since I have to use gluten free flour. I think next time I’ll add more apples, but everyone thought it was delicious!
Thank you! So glad you loved it! I love more oats too personally. And that’s the beauty of a recipe like this you can easily add more apples.
Chris
My sister found your recipe and shared it. We’ve been making it over and over again for our families and when delivering meals to friends. So delicious warmed with vanilla ice cream. Everyone loves it!
Hi Chris, thank you so much!! It’s on repeat at our house too!!
Jenna Sellers
This crisp is so delicious and easy on my sensitive stomach. Thank you for the alternative ingredients that make this possible for me to eat in confidence.
Tasia ~ two sugar bugs
This is the perfect season for apple crisp! I love that generous and buttery topping!
Thank you Tasia! I agree love the buttery topping!