Deliciously Warm and Irresistible Apple Crisp Recipe

Apple Crisp: A Classic American Fall Dessert Tradition

Apple crisp is considered a classic American dessert that’s often enjoyed during the fall season, particularly around Thanksgiving. Its origins are traced back to American and Canadian culinary traditions. The combination of apples with a sweet and crispy topping made of oats, sugar, and butter has become a beloved dessert across North America.

In pioneer times, settlers often improvised recipes due to ingredient scarcity. Apple crisp emerged as a simple and economical dessert, using readily available apples combined with basic pantry staples like flour, oats, sugar, and butter. It was, and still is, an ingenious way to make a delicious treat without the intricacies of making a pie crust.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

Serving size

This recipe usually makes about 6 servings.

Apple Crisp Recipe Time Breakdown

Making the apple crisp typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from preheating the oven to serving, including prep, baking, and cooling. It involves around 15 minutes of prep work, a 35-minute bake time, and at least 15 minutes to cool before serving

You need this for the crumble topping

⅔ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup salted butter, cut into small pieces

You need this for the apple filling

3-4 large apples (any apple will do), peeled and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup light brown sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Do like this

Heat the oven to 190°C (375°F)
For the crumble, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder in a bowl. Add butter and mix until combined. Put it in the fridge.
For the apple part, mix melted butter and flour until smooth in a small bowl. Add lemon juice, milk, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour this over the apples and mix.
Put the apple mix into a baking dish and spread it. Sprinkle the crumble on top. Bake for about 35 minutes until it looks golden and set. Let it cool for 15 minutes before eating. You can serve it with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce if you want.

Enjoy the delightful taste of this apple crisp! Whether it’s the warm, comforting flavors or the sweet combination of apples and crumbles, this dessert is sure to bring smiles around the table. Don’t forget to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of homemade caramel sauce for an extra treat!

Freezing and Reheating Tips for Apple Crisp

To freeze apple crisp, bake it as usual and let it cool completely. Wrap it tightly with two layers of aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then warm it in an oven preheated to 175°C (350°F) for 20-25 minutes until it’s heated through.

Click here for our easy caramel sauce recipe, made with evaporated milk!

Click here for another easy recipe for caramel sauce, this time made with condensed milk!

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Gift Ideas . . .

Explore a delightful assortment of apple-themed kitchen essentials, perfect for your own kitchen or as a thoughtful gift.

Savoring Apple Crisp Around the World

States within the Appalachian Mountains, including parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and North Carolina, have a rich history of apple cultivation. Apple crisp is often a cherished dessert, showcasing the local apple varieties and culinary traditions passed down in these communities.

While not traditionally associated with apple orchards, many Southern states, like Tennessee, have their versions of apple crisp, often incorporating local twists or regional ingredients to add a unique flavor to this classic dessert.

While apple crisp may have its roots in America, it has now become a global delight, appreciated and enjoyed in various parts of the world, such as in Normandy!

Normandy (in France), famous for its apple orchards and production of cider and Calvados (apple brandy), also has a rich tradition of apple desserts, including a version of apple crisp known as “apple crumble.” It’s often made with locally grown apples and enjoyed throughout the region.