The BEST Apple Crisp recipe! Tart and sweet apples in a caramel-like syrup topped with a buttery, oatmeal and brown sugar topping. Top this warm crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an easy dessert that everyone will love.
Why We Think This Is The BEST Apple Crisp Recipe
I’ll take an apple pie or an apple crisp pretty much any way I can get it. We’ve made this recipe so many times over the years, it’s absolutely perfect, and we know you’re going to love it.
- Make Ahead Dessert Recipe: You can make this apple dessert ahead of time and bake it while you’re eating dinner.
- Easy To Make: Peeling the apples is the most time consuming, but after that’s done this crisp comes together in about 5 minutes.
- The BEST Sauce: We like to add a couple of tablespoons of apple brandy to the mix, you don’t have to, but promise that it makes the most delicious, caramel-like syrupy sauce.
How To Make
This apple crisp is so easy to make, even the kids can get in on the action! A fun activity to do after a day of apple picking.
- Peel and slice eight granny smith apples. We like using granny smith because they’re firm and tart and balance out the sweet topping and the cinnamon sugar filling.
- Toss the apples with brown and white sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, lemon juice and apple brandy (optional) and place into a baking dish.
- Make the oat topping by adding a stick of butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and oats to a bowl. Mix together with a pastry blender or clean hands until crumbly. Spread the topping on top of the apples.
- Bake for for 35-40 minutes until bubbling.
What Kind Of Apples Work Best?
So let’s talk about the apples. We like using a tart apple like granny smith apples to balance out he rest of the sweet ingredients in this apple dessert. But there are lots of other options!
- Granny Smith
- Jonagold
- Golden Delicious
- Jazz
- Pink Lady
- Cosmic Crisp
How To Serve
Like we mention before, we like to serve this dessert warm, right out of the oven or even 30 minutes after baking. Cover with foil and this crisp will stay warm for quite a while. Spoon out a serving into a bowl and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
The ice cream will melt into the crisp and create the most amazing sauce as it combines with the apples. It’s one of my favorite things of all time! We’ve also used caramel ice cream, cookie dough, coffee and butter pecan.
You can also try a drizzle of caramel sauce or chocolate sauce and even some whipped cream topping!
Storing And Reheating
If you have leftovers, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate for up to four days. The oat topping might soften a little as it sits, but it’s still crazy delicious.
The easiest way to reheat the crisp is in the microwave, but you also warm it in the oven. Alternately, you don’t have to warm the crisp up at all. It can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature.
Does Apple Crisp Need To Be Refrigerated?
According to the USDA, apple or fruit type desserts can be left out at room temperature for up to two days. Our apple crisp never, ever lasts longer than that so for us, it’s not a problem. After two days you’ll need to pop it in the refrigerator until you finish off the rest!
Looking For More Easy Dessert Recipes?
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
The BEST Apple Crisp recipe! Tart and sweet apples in a caramel-like syrup topped with an oat and brown sugar topping.
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 8 granny smith apples, peeled and cored (you’ll need about 3 pounds total)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons apple brandy (like Lairds Applejack *see note)
For the Topping:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 stick of cold butter, cubed plus 2 tablespoons for the top of the crisp
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Use a non-stick cooking spray, or butter, to coat a 9″ x 13″ baking dish and set aside.
- Slice the apples into thick slices (about 1/2″) and place them into a large bowl. Add both sugars, salt, cinnamon, ginger, lemon juice and brandy to the apples and stir well to coat. Add the apples to the baking dish and spread into an even layer.
- Add all the topping ingredients (except for the 2 extra tablespoons of butter) to a medium bowl. Use a pastry blender (or clean hands) to mix the topping together until a loose crumb forms.
- Pour the crumb topping on top of the apples spreading out to cover the surface of the apples. Dot the top of the crisp with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until the filling is bubbling and the top of the crisp is brown.
Recipe Notes
Store: Store leftover crisp covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can leave the crisp out at room temperature for 2 days if desired, after that transfer to the refrigerator.
Reheat: Reheat the crisp in the microwave for the quickest option. The oven works too, especially if you’re heating up the whole crisp or a larger portion.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
This is the best apple crisp ever! The flavor was perfect and yes, the juice was just the right amount to spoon over ice cream!
We think so too, thanks Tricia!