Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
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An easy Apple Crisp recipe for days when you’re craving comfort food like grandma used to make. A simple to make apple dessert served warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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An Apple crisp is… rather perfect, especially as the leaves begin to change and the days grow shorter. A classic dessert that it wouldn’t be apple season or even fall without making at least once.
And with this simple recipe, it couldn’t be easier to enjoy and fill your kitchen with fall-inspired aromas.
If you thumb through your recipe card file that may be filled with cherished friend and family recipes, you may come across recipes for both apple crisp and apple crumble.
Have you ever wondered what the difference between the two really are?
What is the difference between a crisp and a crumble?
A crumble is simply a crisp without oats in the topping. It may also feature nuts, like pecans and walnuts, but a crumble topping is usually a simple combination of butter, flour, and sugar that is more clumpy than a crisp.
Apple Crisp Ingredients
The exact ingredient measurements are in the recipe card at the very bottom of this post. But here’s all you need to make this old fashioned apple crisp:
- Apples: I prefer golden delicious apples, but see the next section for more apple variety ideas.
- Granulated sugar and light brown sugar
- Lemon juice
- Ground cinnamon and nutmeg
- Old fashioned oats: rolled oats
- All-purpose flour
- Cold butter
Which Apples are Best?
I’m using golden delicious apples only because my grandmother used this variety, and I think they’re delicious in crisps. But use your favorite baking apple. Good choices for baking apples include Granny Smith, Fuji, Gravenstein, Jonagold, Crispin or Winesap.
The quantity and weight of the apples will vary depending on which apple variety you choose and their sizes. I usually use 6 apples for a 9 x 9-inch square pan (affiliate link). Occasionally I will use one less or one more, depending on their sizes. The object is to fill the baking pan to nearly the top.
Helpful Kitchen Tools
This recipe is easily made using only a mixing bowl, a spoon, and a square baking dish. Here are the tools I use to make it even simpler.
- Apple peeler and slicer: My grandmother was a wiz at peeling potatoes and apples. My mother can peel an apple with a pairing knife and make a ribbon peel from the entire apple. I didn’t inherit these genes. So, my apple peeler tool helps me peel, core, and slice apples in a minute or two!
- Mixing bowl for the topping and perhaps a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the topping.
- Square baking pan: either a 9-inch or 8-inch pan works well.
How to Make Old Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe
Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter or coat a square baking pan with nonstick spray.
Step 1: Make the crisp topping
In a bowl, add brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and butter. Cut the butter into the oat mixture until it looks like pea-size crumbs. Spread the mixture over the apples.
Step 2: Peel and chop the apples
Peel, core and chop the apples; add to a mixing bowl. Toss with sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice; transfer to the baking pan.
Step 3: Bake the Apple Crisp
Bake 40 to 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe Like Grandma Used to Make
Ingredients
- 6 golden delicious apples peeled and chopped *
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon divided
- 1 ½ teaspoon lemon juice
Crisp Topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter diced into small cubes
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees and butter or coat with nonstick cooking spray an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish. Set aside.
- Prepare the crisp topping: Combine brown sugar, oats, flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and cold, cubed butter in a mixing bowl. Use a pastry cutter, 2 forks, or even your fingers to cut the butter into the oat/flour mixture. Work until the topping resembles pea-sized crumbs. Set aside.
- Make the apple filling: In a mixing bowl, toss together sliced apples, granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and lemon juice. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and spread the crisp topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the crisp topping is golden.
Notes
Apples
I'm using golden delicious apples only because my grandmother used this variety, and I think they're delicious in crisps. But use your favorite baking apple. The quantity and weight of the apples aren't fixed. I usually use 6 apples for a 9 x 9-inch square pan (affiliate link). Occasionally I will use less or 1 more, depending on the apple. The object is to fill the baking pan with sliced apples.Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.