While pumpkin and pumpkin spice both get a lot of airtime in the fall, a recent survey of my readers easily showed apples are the real star of fall desserts. That combined with a few recent requests from readers for my Apple Crisp recipe, means today is just about that… Apple Crisp.
This delicious dish of decadent cooked apples flavored with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg is topped with a buttery rolled oat and brown sugar topping that just tastes like fall!
What kind of apples should I use for my Apple Crisp?
The truth is, really any apple will work in this recipe. So if you’ve already got some on hand, use those.
For me, I generally recommend using a firm-fleshed apple like a Granny Smith when baking. It’s got tons of tangy and tart apple flavor and is firm enough to not turn to complete mush when baking. You can also use other firm-fleshed apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Braeburn, Pink Lady or others.
Peeled and diced? Is that the only way to go?
When it comes time to prep those delicious apples, I like to peel and dice mine for this recipe. Some apple peels can often get tough when cooked and though it is one more step to have to peel them, I think it’s worth the effort. With that being said, you can absolutely leave the peels on the apples if you wish. You can also put one of these fancy peelers to good work, too. I have one and love it.
When it comes to the dicing part, that’s just personal preference, too. I feel like the smaller bites of apple are easier to fit on a spoon and less cumbersome when eating, but many recipes call for the apples to simply be sliced. As always, you do you. It will be just as tasty either way.
When it comes time to serve this, I usually serve it slightly warm with a big ol’ scoop of vanilla ice cream. I have also been known to pour a little heavy cream right over the top, too. Life’s all about balance, folks! 😂 Y’all enjoy!
Recipe Card
Easy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 pounds firm, tart apples (like Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced (4 to 5 medium apples)
- 1 tablespoon orange juice*
For the crumble topping:
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the apples and orange juice and toss to coat. Pour evenly into the prepared baking dish. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, and melted butter until a crumble forms. Sprinkle over the apple mixture.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the filling is thick and bubbling around the edges and the apples are tender. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Notes
