Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp (2024)

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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 10/29/2017

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This easy apple crisp is made the old fashioned way like Grandma used to make, and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce!

A true classic Fall dessert, this easy apple crisp recipe is reminiscent of generations past. Pop this apple crisp in the oven and wait for the delicious smell to waft through your house!

Do you have a classic Fall dessert that you just LOVE? I have several, but one of them is definitely this apple crisp recipe! Growing up, my Mom had two classic desserts that she made… one was her famous Carrot Cake, and the other was a mouthwatering apple crisp.

This isn’t her exact recipe, but it’s one that I’ve tweaked and been working on for a while, and I’ve finally gotten it just right! While I do love pumpkin, apple is actually my favorite Fall flavor. Mostly because of this crisp lol.

Some apple crisp recipes don’t use oats, which is totally fine if that’s your thing, but I LOVE the crispy oat topping, so I made sure to add a good amount of it.

What apples do I use for this easy apple crisp

Simply put, you can use any apples that you like! My personal favorite for this recipe is the golden delicious variety, but Granny Smith or Fuji are some other great varieties.

To peel, or not to peel

It’s 100% up to you! I’ve made this recipe both ways, and I like them both equally. Generally, when I make this easy apple crisp, I’m making it for my family, and my kids wouldn’t eat it with the skins on, so I peel them more often than not. I’m sure this goes without saying, but if you choose to leave the skins on, be sure to wash the apples thoroughly 🙂

That right there is my FAVORITE way to enjoy hot apple crisp… with a cold scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and drizzled with my luscious browned butter salted caramel sauce! If you’ve never tried it that way… you totally need to!

Looking for other recipes that use that caramel sauce?

  • Caramel Apple Pie Bars
  • Bourbon Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Vanilla Chai Cheesecake Bars
  • Butterfinger Toffee Cookies

I invite you all to join me in making my favorite Fall dessert… this easy apple crisp. Once you have it in the oven, you’ll LOVE the smell that fills your house!

Shop the recipe

  • 8″ baking dish – I love the clean white look, plus it bakes beautifully!
  • Vegetable peeler – You probably already have one, but in case you don’t, this one is my personal favorite!
  • Pastry Cutter – I love that this is sturdy and the blades don’t bend nearly as easily as some other brands!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!

Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp (7)

Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp

4.93 from 1433 votes

Author: The Chunky Chef

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Calories: 301

This easy apple crisp is made the old fashioned way like Grandma used to make, and is perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce!

Ingredients

  • 6 golden delicious apples, peeled and chopped (other varieties can be used, can also be sliced)
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
  • pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Butter an 8×8 baking dish, or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

  • In a mixing bowl, add chopped apples, granulated sugar, 3/4 tsp of the cinnamon and lemon juice. Stir to combine, then transfer to prepared baking dish.

  • In a separate mixing bowl, add topping ingredients (brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, salt, and diced cold butter). Use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the oat mixture, using a slight downward twisting motion, until mixture resembled pea-sized crumbs. Alternatively, you can use two forks or even your hands to cut butter into the mixture.

  • Spread topping over apples in baking dish, and gently pat to even it out. Bake 40-50 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.

  • Serve warm and enjoy!

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

Chef Tips

  1. The amount of chopped apples would be about 6-7 cups.
  2. Note that all ovens bake differently, so yours may take a little less or a little more time to bake.

Make-Ahead Directions:

  • Bake as directed. After the crisp cools, cover and refrigerate until the next day. When you’re ready to reheat, set it out at room temp for 20 minutes or so, then bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes, or until hot throughout.
  • I haven’t tested assembling this ahead of time (although I’m pretty sure other readers have done this successfully – you’d have to check the other comments).
  • I haven’t tested freezing this recipe, although many other readers have frozen it successfully.

Video

Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp (8)

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Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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Leave a Comment

  1. Calli says

    Amazing! First time making apple crisp, and I’d say it’s one of my new favorite desserts!! Thank you!!!

    Reply

  2. Kristi says

    My husband said, “This is better than usual apple crisp!” Was that a compliment or a slam to my cooking!? Either way, this is my new go-to!

    Reply

  3. Maru says

    Love it!

    Reply

  4. Rhonda Schafer says

    I doubled this because I had a bunch of apples to use up-it’s fabulous! I like it for breakfast with my coffee and dessert with ice cream. So good!

    Reply

  5. Kt says

    Delicious recipe, though the 1 cup of brown sugar is VERY sweet for the topping. Made it a second time and I cut it to half a cup and added chopped walnuts.

    Reply

  6. Debbie Chase says

    Excellent recipe..very tasty, the topping really makes it..make sure you hear before serving and add a scoop of ice cream…Yum!

    Reply

  7. KJ says

    I was very happy the way this turned out. I would definitely make it again. Very Good. I used a tarter apple. Jazz Apple.

    Reply

  8. Kg says

    I used a glass pie plate instead of square. Left it in for under an hour at 350. My kids didn’t like it, and one wouldn’t even try it (extremely picky eaters), but hubby and I loved it! I’ll definitely make it again. For us lol.

    Reply

  9. Lee says

    Perfect 👌

    Reply

  10. Marsha says

    I have used this recipe multiple times. My go to!

    Reply

  11. Debbie A says

    It’s perfect, just the way it is! Very easy to make and delicious.

    Reply

  12. Kelly Klingerman says

    Way too much sugar!!! I did the cup of brown sugar but upped the oats to 4 cups and the butter to a cup. It was still way too sugary. I’ll be doing 1/2c of brown sugar next time and the same amount of oats.

    Reply

  13. Cynthia Mason says

    Love this recipe, I will use this every time.Absolutely Delicious!

    Reply

  14. Shannon says

    I made this tonight and it did not disappoint. I used half the brown sugar, double the oats, and 8 apples… so I changed it up a little bit – but it was definitely sweet enough and got a chefs kiss from my 4 year old!

    Reply

  15. Jane says

    This is great! I have made it twice this week, and both times I’ve been very happy with the results. BTW I only use about 2/3 of the sugar in the recipe and double the lemon juice.

    I like using my fingers to mix the butter in with the dry ingredients. It’s very easy and soothing.

    Reply

  16. Jade says

    Delicious, simple, and quick! I’ve made this twice now, and it hasn’t let me down yet! I don’t have a pastry cutter, so I just massage the topping together by hand, and it works fine! I’ve also tried other apple varieties, and still haven’t been disappointed. 10/10 would eat again!

    Reply

  17. Shannon J says

    This turned out dangerously good! For apple varieties that are already very sweet (such as Honey Crisp), do you think it would still turn out good with a tad less sugar? Maybe by skipping the white sugar or reducing the brown sugar to 3/4 cup?

    Reply

  18. Sharon says

    This is my favorite apple crisp recipe so easy and always a big hit with the family.

    Reply

    • Julie says

      Sounds delicious. Is it good cold or at room temperature??

      Reply

      • The Chunky Chef says

        We like it at any temperature 🙂

        Reply

  19. Corrine Guilmette Laniel says

    Today, I made this delicious Apple Crisp of yours, Chunky Chef, (of course with the Oats)!! IT was SO good! Fabulous, I may add! My Husband and I really enjoyed it. This will be my new go-to homemade dessert.
    Thank you Chunky Chef for another awesome, quick, dessert! YUM! 😋🍎🥇✅️

    Reply

Older Comments

Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp (2024)

FAQs

Does it matter what apples you use in apple crisp? ›

The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

How to make apple crisp not watery? ›

Lemon juice and vanilla extract – both of these are for complexity of flavor in your apple filling. You could leave them out if you don't have them, but they make a noticeable difference in the final product. Cornstarch or arrowroot starch – this is how we get a thick and not watery apple crisp!

Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

The lemon juice will keep the apples from turning brown. Set your prepared apple crisp aside on the counter until ready to bake. Put the apple crisp in the oven to bake just as you are serving dinner. And by the time dinner is over, this warm syrupy dessert will be ready.

Why is my apple crisp not crunchy? ›

Why is Apple Crisp not crispy? Don't forget to evenly distribute the butter with the topping. That melted butter helps crisp everything up on top for the perfect texture and flavor!

Can I cut apples the night before for apple crisp? ›

We prefer to prep the apples when we make the crisp, but you can prep them ahead of time. Peel and slice the apples and toss them with lemon juice, then pack tightly in freezer bags and refrigerate for up to one day.

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

To avoid the crispy topping of the apple crisp from getting soggy always keep it covered with aluminum foil or cover of the baking dish.

How to tell when apple crisp is done? ›

Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes. Serve the crisps warm with vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream, if desired.

Why add flour to apple crisp? ›

Rolled or quick oats- You can make my best apple crisp with rolled oats or quick oats! I used rolled oats and it took about 40 minutes to bake. If you use quick oats, it'll likely take closer to 35 minutes to cook! Flour- Flour helps to create the perfect topping and bind it all together.

Why are my apples mushy in my apple crisp? ›

Picking the wrong apples

Softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. So avoid those, and opt for a variety that's firm and crisp like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp.

Does apple crisp need to be covered when baking? ›

Baking: Start baking the apple crisp covered with foil. This allows the apples to soften without any risk of the topping over-browning. After about 20 minutes, remove the foil and let the crisp finish cooking uncovered. Once the juices are bubbling, the topping is golden brown, and the apples are tender, it is done!

What can I use if I don't have lemon juice for apple crisp? ›

What can people use as lemon juice substitutes?
  1. Lime juice.
  2. Apple cider vinegar.
  3. Orange juice.
  4. Grapefruit juice.
  5. Celery juice.
  6. White wine vinegar.
  7. Other tips.
Jul 29, 2021

What is the difference between apple crisp and apple crumble? ›

Apple Crumble is synonymous with Apple Crisp in the U.K. and Australia, but in Canada and the U.S., it is a slightly different dish. Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts.

What is the secret to crunchy crumble? ›

A pastry chef friend shared the technique. Instead of sprinkling the raw crumbs on top of the fruit, where they absorb the juices and turn a little mushy on their undersides, he spread them out in a pan and baked them separately, until crisp and cookielike.

What are the best apples for apple crisp? ›

When it comes to finding the best apple for your crisp, go with a crisp, tart variety that stands up well to baking, like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Or, go for it – try mixing the two together if you've got both on hand. Golden Delicious is another great choice for crisp hausarbeit schreiben lassen kosten.

Why is my apple crisp so dry? ›

Not enough butter, and your topping will be a dry, floury mess. Too much butter and your topping will become a greasy blob or disappointingly soggy. Some recipes will ask you to cut in cold butter along with your dry ingredients, resulting in pea-size pieces that are sprinkled across the hot fruit filling.

Does it matter what apples you use for apple pie? ›

You can use any apple to make an apple pie. Full stop. However, some are better than others when it comes to flavor and texture. And instead of choosing just one type of apple, a combination of at least two or three is a smart way to get more complex flavors and textures into your pie.

What are the best apples for apple crisp and pie? ›

The best apples for apple pie that are widely available include Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples. Others to look for at your local market that will be excellent in apple pie are Cortland, Crispin, Ida Reds, Jonagold, McIntosh, Northern Spy, Pink Lady, Rome and Winesap.

What apples are best for baking? ›

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

Which apples are the most crisp? ›

What Are The Crunchiest Apples?
  • Crisp Apples Ranked: Crunchiest to Least Crunchy.
  • SweeTango. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Cosmic Crisp® ...
  • Pink Lady® ...
  • Rave® ...
  • Pinata® ...
  • Granny Smith.

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