This Apple Crisp Recipe is a delicious easy fall dessert recipe! You will love how quickly this amazing treat comes together.
One of my favorite fall memories as a child was sitting in our family room while my dad watched the Packers and watching him peel apples. He would make a delicious apple crisp with these perfect apples he spent the afternoon on.
This apple crisp recipe is a little different than Dad’s (I just can’t with the raisins and walnuts), but it is still just as delicious. And I think that baking it up in your house will create those same sweet memories.
How to Make Apple Crisp
One of the best parts of this recipe is how simple it is to make. It doesn’t have any complicated steps.
- Add apples to a baking dish. Toss them with cinnamon.
- Combine with apple juice. Pour apple juice and vanilla extract over the top.
- Make the topping. Mix together butter, flour, and sugar and top the apples with it.
- Bake and enjoy!
Apple Crisp Topping
The topping of this recipe is one of my favorite parts about it. Lots of apple crisps recipes use oatmeal. While that is delicious, I love the simplicity of this apple crisp without oats.
The topping is made simply with white and brown sugar, butter, and flour. The combination of all of four make this perfect crisp top, hence the name.
Best Apples for Apple Crisp
I really love using a mix of apples when I’m baking. My favorites to bake with are Granny Smith and Gala. I think that the two together make a great combination of tart and sweet. That being said, other great apples for baking are Jonagold and Honeycrisp.
Peeling and Cutting Apples
Apple peeling might be the one difficult part of this recipe. I highly recommend that you get a few tools that help with the process.
I love this apple peeler and this apple corer. They make it go very quickly. You can also try a combination peeler corer, but sometimes that leaves on a few peels.
How to Cut Butter with Flour
Cutting butter with flour is when you incorporate cold butter into flour. It’s used often in pastry making. It is also key in making the delicious topping for this apple crisp recipe.
When we make cookies (like these delicious Apple Cookies) we use room temperature butter and cream it with sugar. Here we are cutting the cold butter into flour to make little crumbles.
Cutting Butter with flour is easiest with a pastry cutter, but you can also use a fork. Your butter doesn’t need to be ice cold, but fresh out of the refrigerator works well. It also helps to cut it into 1 tablespoon pieces before cutting it into the flour. Work the butter and flour until there are no large clumps left.
Making Ahead
This great dessert can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Make it through step 3. Then cover and refrigerate until you are ready to bake it. Keep in mind that with everything so cold, it will likely take about five more minutes to bake.
Storing Leftovers
Leftover apple crisp should be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. It can be enjoyed cold, or warmed up in the microwave. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
Freezing Apple Crisp
You can make this dish ahead and freeze it! Please note! Transferring a ceramic or glass baking dish from the freezer to a hot oven can result in it cracking and breaking. I always recommend that you bake from frozen in a disposable baking dish.
- Make the recipe through step 3.
- Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. Freeze for up to three months.
- When ready to bake, transfer straight to the preheated oven and bake for 55 to 65 minutes or until the edges are a deep golden brown.
FAQ
Strictly speaking, no it does not. But, your safest bet is to refrigerate to keep it fresh longer and to prevent any bacteria from growing.
Absolutely! See my instructions for freezing above.
I love the combination of Granny Smith and Gala. They both hold up well for baking and create a great combo of tart and sweet.
Yes! You can make it up to 24 hours in advance. Read my instructions on this above for more details.
Recommended Tools
Other Great Apple Recipes
If you also went apple picking recently and have lots of great apples to use, check out some of my other fall favorites.
If you make this Apple Crisp or any of my other apple recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know!
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Apple Base
- 5 small to medium apples peeled and sliced (5 cups) (Read about my apple crisp apple recommendations here.)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 cup apple juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 cup all purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8 by 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Add the apples to the baking dish and toss with cinnamon. Pour the apple juice and vanilla over the top and mix
- Using a fork or pastry blender, cut the butter and flour together until it makes small crumbles. Blend in the sugars. Sprinkle over the apples. (It will seem like a lot of topping.)
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until the top is brown, but not burnt.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Shirley says
This is my Favorite Apple Crisp recipe…I’ve been making it for 50 something years…I enjoy reading your blog and look forward to more recipes and crafts. Keep up the good work.
Such a good one!
Carl+Pirro says
Sounds delicious Lisa, making this today. Thank you.
Claire says
What are the best apples to use for this recipe?
I like Gala, Jonathan, and Honeycrisp best for this recipe. If you want to mix it up a little use half Granny Smith.
Betty says
Love Apple Crisp, especially an easy to do receipt!
Iris Saxon says
In England this recipe is called Apple Crumble and we add rolled oats to the topping to give it a nutty flavour.
Annie says
Any substitution for the apple juice?
I know others who have used 7UP! Apple juice is always my preference, but you could use water. You will just be missing a bit of the flavor.
Laura Riehle says
I love to get your recipe emails! It’s like hearing from a friend, and so many of your recipes are so, so appealing, and, did I say simple!?
Gah!! You made my day, Laura. Thank you.
Debbey says
Can I also use rolled oats in the topping
I would probably adjust it a little if I were adding another dry substance, and would need to test it.
Iris Saxon says
In England this is called Apple Crumble and is made with Bramley cooking apples that have a lovely bite. We also add rolled oats to the crumble topping to give it a nutty flavour.
Taggr says
Thank you for sharing this Lisa. I have always loved Apple Crisp but for some reason “in my old age” I have developed an allergy to oatmeal and it was a favorite of mine. This will give me an opportunity to dive back into my childhood again!
I’m so glad to hear that! I hope you love it!