Warm slices of baked apples covered with cinnamon brown sugar streusel topping are all that’s required to make this easy apple crisp recipe.
All by itself or topped with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream, apple crisp is one of our favorite desserts year-round. If you manage to have any leftovers the next day, this makes a spectacular breakfast too.
You could even include a crisp for a big weekend brunch, coupled with a pan of breakfast enchiladas, a cheesy bacon quiche, or a jalapeno popper breakfast casserole.
You’re probably not surprised to hear that my favorite way to eat this is with my morning coffee and a scoop of ice cream. It’s probably a good thing that I don’t usually have a fresh apple crisp waiting in the kitchen in the morning.
Easy Apple Crisp Recipes
As much as I love apple crisp, I don’t always love eating the soupy dish that sometimes masquerades as an “apple crisp.” This old fashioned recipe is not at all soupy, the tender apples are covered with the perfect amount of crunchy topping to balance it well.
Want a little more evidence of my love for easy apple crisp recipes? Tart cranberries and sweet apples are baked inside a brown sugar and oat crisp for a perfect not-to-sweet cranberry apple crisp.
Tart blackberries are paired with sweet apples in this brown sugar and oat fruit crisp. Apple Crisp Ice Cream is made with the creamiest of homemade vanilla ice creams, then completely loaded with bits of cinnamon sweet baked apples, and crunchy streusel topping.
Old Fashioned Recipe for Apple Crisp
This recipe is so easy to pull together and only takes a few minutes of prep time. The most labor-intensive part is slicing your apples. To save time, I don’t peel the apples for this recipe, though you certainly can.
You can use any kind of apples you like in an apple crisp and it will turn out deliciously each and every time. Granny Smith apples yield a little bit more tartness and pair nicely with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
My favorite combination is a mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples.
Slicing the apples thinly and evenly is important for getting the perfect apple crisp texture. Apples that are sliced too thick will still taste good but may not end up as buttery soft.
Recipe for Apple Crisp Topping
This apple crisp with oat topping is the ultimate in forgiving dessert recipes. There’s no pressure to decorate anything or make it look super fancy, no measuring out batter or shaping of the dough.
To make this apple crisp topping recipe, you’ll combine softened butter with brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Blend with a spoon or your fingers until crumbly.
Sprinkle the topping over the apples in the baking dish. Pop the pan in the oven and everyone in your house will be wandering into the kitchen to find out what smells so good.
Gluten-Free Apple Crisp
I have made this apple crisp with both all-purpose flour and oat flour. Both ways come out extremely well and I don’t have a preference for one over the other. The oat flour pairs very well with the oats in the crumb topping.
If you’re cooking for someone with Celiac disease, take care to be sure that the oats and oat flour you use are certified gluten-free. Some oats are processed on the same equipment as gluten-containing products which can be an issue for those with severe gluten allergies.
Looking for even more gluten-free dessert recipes? Check out the full collection of gluten free desserts on this website.
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a small baking dish with butter.
- Spread the apples across the greased baking pan.
- Combine the butter with brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Blend with a spoon or your fingers until crumbly
- Sprinkle the topping over the apples and bake for 30-32 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
- Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Baking tip: If when you add the butter to the dry topping ingredients it is not soft enough to easily mix into crumbs, you can place the whole bowl (dry ingredients and butter both) in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, just long enough to soften the butter and make it easy to blend into crumbs for the topping.
Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated?
Wondering whether apple crisp needs to be refrigerated? According to the USDA, fruit fillings and pies that have been prepared with sugar can be safely left out at room temperature for up to two days. Apple crisp is in this category, so technically, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated if you’re going to eat it within that time period.
However, I always recommend refrigerating fruit crisps, simply because I think they taste fresher when stored in the fridge. Keep in mind that if you won’t finish the apple crisp within a couple of days, you should refrigerate it as soon as possible. This extends its shelf life and keeps it fresher for longer.
Last, but not least, if you live somewhere warm or humid, please refrigerate your apple crisp. Warm weather and high moisture levels can cause the apple crisp to spoil faster than it usually would.
It’s easy enough to warm apple crisp in a microwave. It only takes 20-30 seconds to reheat individual servings. To store the crisp, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap or an airtight lid and place it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
There’s no end to the ways you can use fresh apples in desserts and baked goods. I love them in a traditional pie or homemade applesauce, of course, but apples are also fun in unexpected dishes like these crunchy apple nachos. (Your kids will LOVE those, believe me.)
For more great apple desserts, check out this German Apple Pie, the Slow Cooker Stuffed Apples, this Apple Cheddar Galette, and these Apple Cheesecake Crumb Bars, and Cinnamon Apple Cobbler are all terrific ways to use fresh apples.
And if you haven’t made apple butter before (or if it’s been a while), you NEED to go make a batch of Slow Cooker Apple Butter. It’s total apple heaven and so easy to make!
If you’re looking for more fruit crisps, this Blackberry Coconut Crisp and this Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp are both brilliant ways to enjoy summer fruits in your dessert. Can’t decide whether to make a fruit crisp or bars? These Apricot Crisp Bars are the absolute best of both worlds!
Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 4 thinly sliced apples, about 6 cups worth
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Topping Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour *
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup softened butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a small baking dish with butter, 8, 9, or 10 inch pans will all work great. Place the sliced apples in the baking dish. Sprinkle with ¼ cup brown sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Toss with your hands.
- Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt for the topping in a medium-size bowl. Add the softened butter and blend with a fork, spoon, or your fingers until crumbly.
- Sprinkle the topping over the apples and bake for 30-32 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 6/2/2014 – recipe notes and photos updated 1/6/23}
Roxie says
This video is made in a 9×13 dish….was it doubled?
Mary Younkin says
Hi Roxie, good catch! I did double the recipe to fill a 9×13 pan. Happy baking!
Sandy Carr says
Love the Old Fashion Apple Crisp recipe so tasty and easy to make👍
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad to hear that you liked the apple crisp, Sandy!
Always in the kitchen says
Wow I’ve come back to your site again to say this recipe is a keeper. I made apple crisp twice this week. The first time I winged it, how hard can it be right? And the second time I made it was your recipe. My family, husband, 12 year old son and 9 year old daughter raved about your recipe, saying it was the best apple crisp ever. So I’m keeping it thank you. I had used about 1/4 of the wheat flour you called for and then substituted almond flour for the rest of the wheat flour. Turned out great. Would probably work using all almond flour. ( I was too lazy to buzz up the oats to make oat flour). Thanks bare feet
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying this crisp so much! I bet it’s really good with the almond flour swapped in.
J says
I swapped the rolled oats for one instant package of GF maple brown sugar oatmeal (it’s what I had on hand). I used reduced the brown sugar to 1/2 cup. I also used GF flour. It was delicious!! Next time I might add pecans to the topping.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad to hear that you’re enjoying the apple crisp!
Diane Russ says
We have a friend that suffers with celiac. I wanted to have him for dinner and researched recipes. Dessert I decided to make apple crisp. I bought gf oats and made the oat flour. Your recipe was delicious. He hasn’t had apple crisp since he was a child and he is 70. I served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that he enjoyed the Apple Crisp, Diane!
Mom24 says
Hi! I’m planning on making this this weekend, the GF version because one of my guests eats GF. I would prefer not to buy another GF flour, I currently have cup 4 cup, and almond flour. Would you use one of those, or should I blitz GF oats in the food processor and use that? Thank you! Love your site and your recipes.
Mary Younkin says
Cup4Cup will work nicely in this recipe. Happy baking!
Denise says
Baking right now, smells delicious!
Mary Younkin says
I love the smell of apples baking, Denise!
BethAnneF says
I used almond flour and I made a little more. My daughter, myself and my neighbour loved it!!! I also had no nutmeg so I used Pie Spice. This turned out just perfect!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the apple crisp, BethAnne!
Amanda says
Hello! Made this for lunch with vegan GF friends today, a smash! Substitutes were: King Arthur GF flour and buttery smart balance. Insanely good! Might add fresh cranberries next time?? Kept peels on apples (Snapdragons), always looks nicer to me. Thank you so much for excellent, easy recipe!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that you loved the apple crisp, Amanda! Thanks for taking the time to tell me!
Sandra says
Too dry.
Mary Younkin says
Sorry to hear that it wasn’t your thing, Sandra. We love this crisp.
Nancy says
Was out of plain four so I Used my high protein pancake mix instead of flour worked just fine. This is delicious.
Mary Younkin says
That’s great it worked for you, Nancy! I’m glad you enjoyed the crisp.
JoEllen says
Can this be made ahead for A thanksgiving meal? Looks delicious! Thank you!
Mary Younkin says
This will keep nicely a day ahead, JoEllen.
JoEllen says
Thank you!
Mary says
I came across your recipe while searching for a gluten-free alternative to the traditional Publix Thanksgiving apple pie. Using certified gluten-free rolled oats resulted in a delicious dessert that had my extended family asking for more. We have made this dessert multiple times and it is always easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad that you like the crisp, Mary!
Cheryl says
Great recipe Mary! I know you said this could be made a day ahead, can I put all the ingredients together a day ahead put it in the refrigerator and then bake it the next day?
Thanks!
Mary Younkin says
I’ve never tried that, Cheryl.
Gloria says
I made this in the gluten free version for my group meeting tonight. It was quite a hit! Good yjing I doubled the recipe! Thanks!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you enjoyed the crisp, Gloria!
Gloria says
Our small group from church has several members that eat gluten free, one with celiac. I made this apple crisp in the gluten free version, doubling the recipe, when it was my turn to provide a dessert. It was quite a hit! There were no left-overs snd several asked for my recipe. It definitely deserves 5 stars!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that the apple crisp was a hit, Gloria!
Jessica says
What type of apples do you use? About how many apples is 4 cups?
Mary Younkin says
Usually 3-4 apples, depending on their size, Jessica.
Eleanor Poston-Zollars says
Just made! Absolutely delicious!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like it, Eleanor. We made an apple crisp today too!
Jane says
Perfect. Just added a little vanilla to the topping and extra cinnamon on the apples. A keeper!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m so glad you like the recipe, Jane.
Lorna says
Very easy to make GF. But the apple portion of this calls for 2/3 C brown sugar and 1/2 t cinnamon. However, when you read the instructions for combining it states its 1/4 C brown sugar… I already added the 2/3 (probably a typo) so I went with it but added more apples to help take away from it being too sweet. The topping calls for 2/3 C brown sugar and that’s probably where the mistake happened on the directions.
Mary Younkin says
Thanks for catching that, Lorna! I’m glad you enjoyed the crisp.