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+ servings
A spoonful of warm Classic Apple Crisp with Oat Crumble, showing tender apples and crunchy topping.

Classic Apple Crisp with Oat Crumble

This recipe recreates a cherished autumn dessert using simple ingredients for a comforting, warm fruit treat. The oat crumble topping provides a satisfying texture contrast to the soft, spiced apples.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Apple Filling
  • 8 medium apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 1200g)
  • 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (100g)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (31g, spooned & leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
Oat Crumble Topping
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (94g, spooned & leveled)
  • 3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (150g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (8 Tbsp; 113g)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned whole rolled oats (85g)
  • optional salted caramel and vanilla ice cream for serving

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking pan (or 3.5-4-quart dish)
  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Pastry cutter or fork
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Any 3.5-4-quart baking dish works.
  2. Mix all of the filling ingredients together in a large bowl, then spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  3. Make the topping: Whisk the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture becomes very crumbly. Stir in the oats. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the apple filling.
  4. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit juices are bubbling around the edges.
  5. Remove the crisp from the oven, place it on a wire rack, and allow it to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold, plain or with salted caramel and/or vanilla ice cream.
  6. Cover any leftovers and store them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

This recipe was adapted to recreate a childhood favorite after a family member received a celiac diagnosis, using gluten-free oats and alternative flours in the original testing phase. The version provided here uses standard all-purpose flour for the topping and filling as written in the ingredient list, but you can substitute gluten-free flour blends if needed for a gluten-free version.

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