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    Home » Pies, Tarts, & Cobblers

    Published Oct 9, 2020 · Updated Oct 27, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp (Apple Crumble)

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Apple Crisp in a glass bowl topped with vanilla ice cream with apple halves behind Pinterest banner.
    Apple Crisp in a glass bowl topped with vanilla ice cream with apple halves behind Pinterest banner.

    This easy old fashioned Apple Crisp (aka Apple Crumble) combines the sweet, spicy filling of apple pie with buttery, nutty oat streusel topping. Served with ice cream drizzled with a salted caramel sauce, it's a homey dessert that's sure to please!

    Apple Crisp on a grey-rimmed white plate with vanilla ice cream & caramel sauce on the side. this …

    [October, 2022: I've reworked the recipe and updated this post with all new pictures. Enjoy!]

    [Side Note: a version of this post first appeared on my OutlanderCast column, November 26, 2019]

    Why this recipe works

    • An old fashioned apple crisp recipe is easier to make than apple pie - no pie crust to make!
    • You control the sweetness and spiciness of the apple filling
    • Use your favorite combination of sweet and tart apples

    There's a nip in the air, and the trees are putting on a color show. Fall is here.

    Among all the pumpkin spice goodies that pop up this time of year (like Sourdough Pumpkin Cake), desserts featuring apples are especially popular in the fall when apples are at their peak.

    Apple pie may be the most popular apple dessert there is, especially at Thanksgiving time. But let's not overlook the simple Apple Crisp (known as Apple Crumble in the UK). It's a cinch to make and just as tasty!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • What you need
    • How to make an easy apple crisp
    • Questions asked and answered
    • Pro Tip: Make a smaller apple crisp
    • Apple Crisp or Apple Crumble - either way it’s a hit!
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    What you need

    An old fashioned apple crisp recipe is easier to make than apple pies — there are no pesky pie crusts to trip you up. You just make the apple filling, mix together a simple crumble topping and bake. It's as simple as that!

    For the filling, you'll need apples (a good combination of sweet and tart apples work best), brown sugar, a flavorful liquid, flour, melted butter, spices, and salt. Buy enough apples to yield two pounds of peeled, cored and sliced apples (about nine cups when you’re done).

    To really boost the overall flavor, I highly recommend using boiled apple cider in the filling; it has an extra zap of apple flavor. You can buy boiled apple cider, but it’s really easy to make it yourself - all you need is fresh unfiltered apple cider and some time.

    For the spices, I like using warm baking spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. If you prefer, you can use 1½ teaspoons of an apple pie spice mix.

    Get creative with the liquid in the filling, just be sure to choose something that will complement the apples and cinnamon. Rum gives a sweet and spicy kick (it's what gives Daiquiris and Grogs cocktails their distinctive flavor), and the alcohol cooks out while baking. You can also use bourbon, hard or straight apple cider, or just apple juice. You can even use water in a pinch.

    There are many variations to streusel toppings, the most basic being a crumbly sweetened flour and butter mixture flavored with spices or extracts. For this crumble topping for apples, rolled oats and baking powder are added for chewiness along with cinnamon to the basic streusel ingredients of brown sugar, flour, and butter.

    Can you leave out the oats? Yes, but the apple crumble topping may not have the same body as with them in. I also like to include pecans or walnuts in the topping because they add texture and crunch to the soft, buttery oats and the crunchy nuts. Using nuts is optional, but are such a good addition!

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    Collage of Apple Crisp filling & streusel topping ingredients on a wooden tray overhead.
    Ingredients for a simple apple crisp

    How to make an easy apple crisp

    Step 1: Prepare the apples

    Peel and core the apples. I use a serrated peeler and a melon baller, but you can use a An apple peeler/corer/slicer if you have one. Cut the peeled apples into ¼-inch thick slices and place them in a large mixing bowl, stirring to separate them (photo 1).

    Collage of peeling, coring, & slicing apples.
    Peeling and slicing the apples

    Step 2: Stir up the filling ingredients

    Mix in the brown sugar, rum, flour, melted butter, boiled cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt onto the apples. Stir well, making sure the apples are all coated with the sugar mixture. Transfer the apples to a 9- x 9-inch baking pan sprayed with baking spray (photo 2).

    Collage of apple slices being mixed with filling ingredients & then spread in a baking pan.
    Make sure the apple slices are well coated with the brown sugar mixture

    Step 3: Mix the streusel

    Making the apple crisp oat topping is really easy, and adds a crunchy, buttery counterpoint to the rich, spicy apples.

    Actually, streusel toppings can enhance a number of baked goods, from quick breads like this Spice Cake to french toast. It always is welcome in my book!

    You can use quick-cooking rolled oats or old-fashioned rolled oats for this streusel recipe. If you are using the latter, run them through a couple of pulses in a small food processor to break them up a bit (photo 3).

    Collage of rolled oats in a mini food processor before & after chopping.
    Grinding the old-fashioned oats to the right consistency for Apple Crisp

    Stir together the flour, sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt (photo 4).

    Flour, sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
    Mixing up the dry ingredients for a simple crumble topping

    Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender until the mixture is unevenly crumbly, like if you were making scones or pie crust. You might even use your hands towards the end of this process. Toss in the nuts, if using (photo 5).

    Collage of adding butter and pecans to streusel oat mixture.
    Cutting in the butter and adding the nuts

    Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apple slices in the baking pan (photo 6).

    Sprinkling streusel topping on sliced apples in a baking pan.
    Sprinkle the streusel onto the sliced, spiced apples

    Step 4: Bake the apple crisp

    Set the pan on a half sheet baking pan that's been lined with a Silpat silicone mat, parchment paper, or aluminum foil (to catch any drips). Bake the crisp at 350˚F for 55 to 75 minutes, or until it's bubbling and the streusel is golden brown (photo 7).

    Remove the crisp from the oven, and allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. If you serve the crisp hot or warm, it may be soft. If you wait until it's completely cool, it'll firm up nicely.

    Collage of Apple Crisp before & after baking.
    Apple crisp before and after baking

    Questions asked and answered

    Here are some questions you might have...

    What apples are best for apple crisp?

    It's best to use a combination of sweet and tart apples that can stand up to baking, like Honeycrisp and Granny Smiths. Other examples are Gala, Golden Delicious, Jonathan or Jonagold, and Cortland. Use what you like to eat!


    Is apple crisp the same as apple crumble?

    In the US, an old fashioned apple crisp is basically the filling from an apple pie with a crumbly, buttery topping. That streusel topping is made from oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, and sometimes nuts. Over the Pond, a similar British pudding is known as an apple crumble, where the topping made of butter, flour and brown sugar is rolled together so that it resembles breadcrumbs. However the topping rarely includes nuts. Both are served warm with custard sauce or ice cream.

    Can I make individual apple crisp servings?

    Sure! Just spray eight 8-ounce ramekins or oven-safe bowls with baking spray, and proceed with the recipe as directed. Bake the individual crisps for 45 to 55 minutes.
     

    Baked Apple Crisp with a serving spoon on a white towel with red stripes with apples from overhead.

    Pro Tip: Make a smaller apple crisp

    If you're baking for a smaller group, you can scale the recipe down to make an apple crisp, like I did with my dairy-free Mixed Berry Crisp. For the filling, use 1 to 2 apples and half the amounts of the spices (leave the liquid the same, just let it cook down). For the topping, use 2 tablespoons each of flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, butter, and nuts; ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Bake the crisp in a 6½-inch cast-iron skillet at 350˚F for 10 to 12 minutes.

    Closeup detail of Apple Crisp being scooped out of the baking pan.

    Apple Crisp or Apple Crumble - either way it’s a hit!

    This is the best apple crisp recipe around! It has an intense apple flavor that's sweet and spicy, contrasting nicely with the crunchy, buttery topping. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream to make it extra special.

    I like to go a little further though. Just for funsies (and definitely not because it's sitting in my refrigerator calling out to me), I add a drizzle of Salted Caramel Sauce for a delicious caramel apple crisp. Apple crumble with English Toffee Sauce or Butterscotch Sauce are other simple options.

    Apple Crisp in a glass bowl topped with vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce being drizzled on with apple halves behind.

    An old fashioned apple crisp recipe is a comforting dessert that is great for Thanksgiving or whatever your Fall festivities may be. It's an easy way to celebrate the beautiful Autumn season!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

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    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a comment further down the page.

    I'd love to hear from you! Stay in touch on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and please tag me using the hashtag #scotchandsconesblog. You can also sign up for my mailing list. I can't wait to see your creations!

    Recipe

    Apple Crisp in a glass bowl topped with vanilla ice cream with apple halves behind.

    Easy Old Fashioned Apple Crisp (Apple Crumble)

    Tammy Spencer
    This easy old fashioned Apple Crisp (aka Apple Crumble) combines the sweet, spicy filling of apple pie with buttery, nutty oat streusel topping. Served with ice cream drizzled with a salted caramel sauce, it's a homey dessert that's sure to please!
    Adapted from King Arthur Baking
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
    Cooling Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 309 kcal

    Equipment

    • 9- x 9-inch baking pan
    • baking spray
    • serrated peeler
    • melon baller
    • mini food processor
    • pastry blender
    • half sheet baking pan
    • Silpat silicone mat or parchment paper
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the filling

    • 3 pounds apples, about 4 to 5 medium or large apples
    • ¼ to ¾ cup brown sugar, light or dark, see Recipe Notes
    • ¼ cup rum, apple cider, or juice, see Recipe Notes
    • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
    • 2 tablespoons boiled apple cider, optional, see Recipe Notes
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

    For the streusel topping

    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • ⅔ cup brown sugar, light or dark
    • ½ cup rolled oats, quick-cooking or old-fashioned
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold, sliced
    • ½ cup pecans or walnuts, chopped, optional

    To finish

    • vanilla ice cream, optional
    • salted caramel sauce, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spray a 9- x 9-inch baking pan with baking spray.
    • Make the filling: Peel and core the apples (I use a serrated peeler and a melon baller), then cut ¼-inch thick slices. Place the apple slices in a large mixing bowl and stir to separate them.
    • Mix in the brown sugar, rum, flour, melted butter, boiled cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt onto the apples. Stir well, making sure all the apples are all coated with the sugar mixture. Transfer the apples to the prepared baking pan. Set aside as you prepare the streusel.
    • Make the streusel: If you're using old-fashioned rolled oats, coarsely chop them in a small food processor (to mimic quick cooking oats).
    • In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
    • Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender until the mixture is unevenly crumbly. You might even use your hands towards the end of this process. Toss in the nuts, if using.
    • Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the apples slices in the baking pan.
    • Set the pan on a half sheet baking pan that's been lined with a Silpat silicone mat, parchment paper, or aluminum foil to catch any drips. Bake the crisp for 55 to 75 minutes, or until it's bubbling and the streusel is golden brown.
    • Remove the crisp from the oven, and allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. If you serve the crisp hot or warm, it may be soft. If you wait until it's completely cool, it'll firm up nicely.
    • If you're making the crisp ahead of time, allow it to cool completely. When you're ready to serve, reheat the pan in a 300 °F oven for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions briefly in the microwave.
    • Apple Crisp is best served warmed. Even better, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Buy enough apples to yield 2 pounds peeled, cored, and sliced apples (about 9 cups when you're done). An apple peeler/corer/slicer would make quick work of getting the apples ready if you have one.
    The amount of brown sugar you'll use in the filling will depend on the sweetness/tartness of your apples. I use Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples (which are sweet and tart, respectively), so I split the difference and use ½ cup of brown sugar.
    Get creative with the liquid in the filling, just being sure to choose something that will complement the apples and cinnamon. You can use rum, bourbon, hard or straight apple cider (the alcohol cooks out from baking), or just apple juice or water.
    I highly recommend using boiled apple cider in the filling. It has that extra zap of apple flavor that really kicks this Apple Crisp up a notch. You can buy it from King Arthur Baking, but it’s really easy to make it yourself.
    You can substitute 1½ teaspoons of an apple pie spice mix for the cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger if you prefer.
    To make individual Apple Crisps: Spray eight 8-ounce bowls with baking spray, and proceed with the recipe as directed. Bake the individual crisps for 45 to 55 minutes.
    To make an Apple Crisp for Two: For the filling, use 1 to 2 apples and half the amounts of the spices (leave the liquid the same, just let it cook down). For the topping, use 2 tablespoons each of flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, butter, and nuts; ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Bake in a 6½-inch cast-iron skillet for 10 to 12 minutes.

    Your Notes

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    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 servingCalories: 309 kcalCarbohydrates: 46 gProtein: 4 gFat: 14 gSaturated Fat: 7 gCholesterol: 30 mgSodium: 139 mgPotassium: 219 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 31 gVitamin A: 371 IUVitamin C: 5 mgCalcium: 54 mgIron: 1 mg
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    Hi, I'm Tammy! My fascination with baking comes from my love of science and the magic of bringing together ingredients to produce something yummy. Coupling that with my appreciation of scotches and bourbons, I love to bake stuff, jot down my whisky tasting notes, and share my experiences with you!

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