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I think we all breathe a sigh of relief when the first signs of fall arrive. Here in Iowa, the beginning of fall means cool mornings and slightly warmer evenings with spectacular sunsets. All of these signs give me such excitement for the season to come. One of the greatest joys in the fall is the apples. Thankfully, this year looks to be a bumper crop (especially in my orchard), and that leaves me dreaming of every apple-inspired baked item I can think of! The warm spices and flavors of this skillet apple crisp just scream fall.

Skillet apple crisp sitting on wood cutting board with pumpkins, flowers, napkins and extra plates in background
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This crisp is such a simple, rustic, and quick fall dessert, making it perfect for an evening with friends – or any weeknight, actually! You can pretty much throw all the ingredients together in one large skillet, do a little bit of stovetop cooking, place it in the oven, and forget about it! The crunchiness of the granola sprinkled on at the end is a nice complement to the smooth texture of the apples. If I feel like living on the edge, I may even sprinkle on a bit of my pumpkin spice granola to add a bit more flavor. I mean, how great does that sound?!

And of course, no one’s going to complain if you serve this with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream on top… maybe make that two scoops!

This dessert is such a great beginning to the fall baking season, and I know you’re going to love it. Bake it once and you’ll add it to your own recipe book! Enjoy!

Skillet apple crisp sitting on wood cutting board with pumpkins and leaves in background on a black surface

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Skillet Apple Crisp

5 from 1 vote
Throw together all the ingredients in one large skillet and you have yourself a rustic apple skillet dessert! Serve warm and with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
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Ingredients

For the filling

  • 3 lb crisp baking apples (preferably a mixture such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Braeburn)
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup Calvados (apple liqueur) or apple cider

For the crisp topping

  • 1 cup granola
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter cold
  • 2 tbsp light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp old-fashioned oats
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions 

For the crisp

  • Combine the brown sugar, oats and cinnamon and whisk to combine.
    2 tbsp light brown sugar, 3 tbsp old-fashioned oats, 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • Cut in the cold butter until a coarse crumb texture is achieved.
    5 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Stir in granola and set aside.
    1 cup granola

For the filling

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Wash, peel and slice apples about ¼ inch thick.
    3 lb crisp baking apples (preferably a mixture such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Braeburn)
  • In a large bowl combine apples, lemon zest, lemon juice, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Stir to combine.
    1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 3 tbsp granulated sugar, 2 tbsp light brown sugar, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • Melt butter in a 12-inch cast iron (or oven safe) skillet over medium-high heat.
    4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • Once the butter is melted, add apple mixture. Cook until the apples become saucy, thickened and are beginning to soften, 8-10 minutes. Add the flour and stir to combine.
    3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • Add Calvados (or cider) and stir.
    ¼ cup Calvados (apple liqueur) or apple cider
  • Move skillet to preheated oven and bake until apples are softened and bubbling, 10-15 minutes.
  • Sprinkle prepared crisp topping evenly over the apples and return to oven until the crisp turns golden brown, approximately 4-6 minutes more.
  • Remove from oven and let cool but serve warm.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

For the right apple, make sure to check out my guide to the best apples for baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 servingCalories: 347 kcal

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

Did you make this? Leave a comment below!

Kaleb Wyse is a New York Times bestselling author behind the popular Wyse Guide website. Living on his fourth-generation Iowa farm, he loves sharing recipes and gardening tips that come from traditions that feel comfortably familiar. His down-to-earth style makes sustainable living and farm life feel like home!

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