Apple Crisp

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/29/21
Tested by
Laurel Randolph
Photo of Laurel Randolph
Tested by Laurel Randolph
A fervid lover of the culinary arts and all things Instant Pot, Laurel has been writing about food for 10 years. One of her cookbooks was the #2 cookbook of 2017.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Apple Crisp recipe

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

Crisps, cobblers, crumbles—there's a lot of confusion in the fruit dessert with a sweet topping world. The apple crisp might be the best of the category: sweet and tender apples topped with a crispy, buttery combination of oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter. It's warm and lightly spiced, making it perfect for fall.

First, make the simple topping using a food processor or by hand. Peel and slice the apples and toss them in a little cinnamon and brown sugar before topping with the oatmeal mixture and baking. Any good baking apples will work for this recipe. If you'd like a tarter crisp, use a tart apple like Granny Smith. For a sweeter crisp, use a variety like Braeburn, Pink Lady, or Fuji. Or try using a mix for the best of both worlds.

Apple crisp is equally good served warm or at room temperature. Try topping with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream. It also makes a delicious breakfast leftover.

"Apple crisp is a classic fall dessert—it's hard to beat the buttery, crispy top. I ended up baking mine for 45 minutes and then covering the top with foil and baking another 10 minutes to soften the fruit. Depending on how you like your apples cooked, you may want to do the same." —Laurel Randolph

apple crisp
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

For the Topping:

For the Filling:

  • 2 1/2 to 3 pounds apples (about 5 to 6 large apples)

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Apple Crisp ingredients

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish or six to eight 1- to 2-cup baking dishes.

    greased baking dishes

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  3. Combine the flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and butter in a mixing bowl or food processor bowl.

    flour, sugar and butter in a food processor

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  4. Work the butter in with hands or pulse in a food processor until the mixture is clumping together.

    crust mixture in a food processor

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  5. Add the oats and mix or pulse to blend thoroughly. Set aside.

    crisp mixture in a food processor

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  6. Peel, core, and slice the apples. If desired, chop a few of the apples further for a varied texture.

    apple slices on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  7. Add the apple slices in a bowl with the lemon juice and toss periodically to keep the apples from becoming brown.

    apple slices and lemon juice in a bowl

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  8. Add the 1/3 cup brown sugar and cinnamon to the apple and lemon juice mixture and toss.

    sugar and cinnamon added to the apples in a bowl

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  9. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish(es).

    apple mixture in the baking dishes

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  10. Top the apple mixture evenly with the crumb mixture.

    crisp on top of apples in baking dishes

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  11. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the apples are tender and topping is browned and crisp.

    Apple Crisp in baking dishes

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Tip

A variety of apples make a good apple crisp. Look for apples that have a firm texture so they don't turn to mush when baked. For a sweeter crisp, use Braeburn, Jonagold, Fuji, or Pink Lady. For a tarter crisp, use Granny Smith or Winesap. Using a mix of two or three varieties is also a nice option.

Recipe Variations

  • For some added texture and quicker prep, don't peel the apples.
  • Make this recipe vegan by swapping the butter for a vegan butter substitute.
  • Make the recipe gluten-free by swapping the flour for your favorite gluten-free blend.
  • Swap some of the apples for pears for a slightly different flavor.

How to Store

  • Store cooled leftover crisp covered in the fridge. It will last for up to three days.
  • Leftover apple crisp can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the microwave.

What’s the Difference Between an Apple Crisp and an Apple Crumble?

The words crisp and crumble get used interchangeably sometimes in recipes, but typically a crisp's topping contains oatmeal and a crumble does not.

Why Is My Apple Crisp Soggy?

If your apple crisp isn't as crispy as you were hoping, there are a few possible reasons. Make sure to use the right proportions of butter, flour, and oats in the topping, or it won't crisp up. Be sure to sprinkle the topping on top and don't mix it into the apples. Also, make sure to bake it long enough so that the topping gets crisp, and let it cool a few minutes before serving so the juices can thicken slightly.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
356 Calories
12g Fat
62g Carbs
3g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 356
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 7g 36%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 43mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 62g 23%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 42g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 8mg 41%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 261mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)