Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
Every fall, without fail, Hank and I used to load all three kids into the station wagon and drive out to the apple orchard on Route 42 — the one with the red barn and the cider donuts out front. We'd come home with a bushel of apples so big it barely fit in the trunk, and I'd spend the next two weeks making everything apple: applesauce, apple butter, apple pie, and always — always — this apple crisp. It was the first one to get eaten and the one the kids asked for by name. “Mom, are you making the crispy apple thing?” Sam used to ask, and yes baby, yes I always was. 💛
What I love about apple crisp — and why it wins out over apple pie when I'm being honest — is that oat and brown sugar topping. It bakes up golden and crunchy on top, soft underneath where it meets the apples, and it smells like October itself coming out of the oven. No pie crust to wrestle with, no special equipment. If you're in a baking mood and want something equally cozy, my Best-Ever Banana Bread is another one that'll make your whole house smell wonderful.
Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- For the apple filling:
- 6 cups apples, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick (about 6 medium apples — Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh is best)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- For the crisp topping:
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- For serving:
- Vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly butter an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch square baking dish (a 9×13 works fine too for a thinner crisp that feeds a crowd).
- Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour until evenly coated. The flour helps the juices thicken up as it bakes.
- Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish in as even a layer as you can.
- Make the crisp topping: In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and use your fingertips (or a pastry cutter) to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse, clumpy crumbs. You want some larger pea-sized pieces — those give you the best crunch.
- Scatter the topping evenly over the apples. Don't pack it down — just let it sit naturally on top.
- Bake uncovered for 45–50 minutes, until the topping is deep golden brown and you can see the apple juices bubbling up around the edges. If the topping is browning too fast, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10–15 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to thicken up so it won't be soupy when you scoop it.
- Serve warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream — trust me, this is non-negotiable.
Is there anything better in this world than warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting down the sides? I don't think so. This is the kind of dessert that makes people go quiet for a few minutes because they're too busy eating to talk — and friends, that is always the highest compliment a cook can get. I hope this recipe becomes as much a part of your fall as it has been of mine. 💛
Comments (3)
Margie this is THE apple crisp recipe. I've made it three times in two weeks. The oat topping is absolutely perfect — so crunchy and buttery. My husband is obsessed. Thank you!!
Made this for our church potluck and brought home an empty dish. Used a mix of Granny Smith and Fuji like you suggested and it was absolutely divine. Several people asked for the recipe and I sent them straight here!
Barb, three times in two weeks is exactly the right frequency for apple crisp season if you ask me! And Rosemary — an empty dish at a church potluck is the ultimate honor. Thank you for sending folks over, that means the world to me! 💛
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