Easy Apple Crisp

Why I Love to Make This Easy Apple Crisp

Whenever a new season of fruit arrives, crisp is the first thing I make. And why is that? Well, a crisp is really the best way to enjoy seasonal fruit quickly. So what makes it so quick to make? It’s all about the filling.

When you break it down, the filling of an apple crisp is nearly identical to that of an apple pie: sliced apples, sugar, spices, and some cornstarch to thicken it all. The difference between the two is that instead of rolling out a crust, the filling is poured into a baking dish and topped with a streusel topping.

I’ll admit: there are numerous ways to make a crisp, but in my book, a simple recipe is the best way to truly taste the apples.

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Are crisps, cumbles and cobblers all the same?

Each of these fruit desserts is distinctively different. Let’s run through each of them:

• Cobblers have a biscuit topping.
• Crumbles can be similar to a crisp but should not contain oats.
• Crisps will always have oats in the streusel topping and usually bake with a slightly crisper streusel.

This crisp has one variation with the addition of toasted pecans. And while it may seem like an optional step, the pecans need to be toasted first and then chopped. They provide a perfect texture and flavor to the topping while keeping the traditional oat lovers happy as well.

Do the Apples Need To Be Peeled?

I win some friends and lose some friends over the issue of peeling. I’m team “leave on the peel.” No matter what I’m cooking or roasting, if the texture of the peel does not impede on the dish, I leave it on.

Here’s the great thing: no matter what team you’re on, this crisp will be perfect whether you peel the apples or not. I know plenty of people who prefer no peels on their baked crisps, and I completely understand. I opt to leave them on (less work for me!) and once baked, hardly notice that they’re even there.

The baking time on this is long. Like a pie, the crisp needs to be bubbling throughout to make sure that the added cornstarch is fully activated. In that baking time, the apples become soft along with the peels. Whether you peel or not, either choice is correct.

In doubt about what type of apple to use? Make sure to check out my guide for the best baking apples.

More Fall Recipes

• Applesauce cake with caramel frosting
• Pumpkin coffee cake with cheesecake swirl
• Pumpkin spice donuts
• Poached pears
• Apple dumpling rolls
• Pumpkin applesauce cake
• Pumpkin bars

Easy Apple Crisp

By Kaleb

4.60 from 35 votes

While an apple crisp seems like it could be something time intensive, this recipe is quite the opposite. With simple ingredients and the best flavors of the season, this dessert comes together in less than thirty minutes. Bake it up and it's ready to go!

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Total: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

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Ingredients

For the filling

• ▢ 3 lb apples (about 4-6 medium apples) cut in quarters, core removed, and sliced into ¼-inch pieces
• ▢ 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• ▢ 2 tsp lemon zest
• ▢ 1 ½ tbsp cornstarch
• ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt
• ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 tbsp Calvados (apple brandy) (optional)
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the streusel

• ▢ ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ ¾ cup rolled oats
• ▢ ¾ cup pecans toasted and chopped
• ▢ ½ cup light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ ½ tsp allspice
• ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt
• ▢ 12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter cut into ½-inch cubes

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Instructions 

For the apple filling

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 9-inch baking dish and set it aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the prepared apples, lemon zest, lemon juice, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and Calvados. Stir to combine and dissolve cornstarch. Pour into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the cinnamon.
  3 lb apples (about 4-6 medium apples), 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 ½ tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp kosher salt, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp Calvados (apple brandy) (optional), 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the streusel

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, pecans, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Stir to combine, then add in the pieces of butter. Coat the pieces with the dry mixture. Use thumb and forefinger to work the butter into the mixture until the pieces of butter are no bigger than the size of a pea and the consistency is like wet sand.
  ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ¾ cup rolled oats, ¾ cup pecans, ½ cup light brown sugar, 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp allspice, 1 tsp kosher salt, 12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter
• Sprinkle all of the streusel over the apple filling and bake in the preheated oven until the filling is bubbling throughout and the streusel is toasted, 55-75 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool to just warm before serving, 30-40 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 288 kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment below!