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Homemade Apple Crisp: An Easy and Delicious Dessert

Merritt Allen

Homemade Apple Crisp: An Easy and Delicious Dessert

Apple crisp is bright, warming, and so easy to make that it can be your tasty go-to dessert in a pinch. I make my apple crisp in small batches since I like to eat to it fresh and because I get terribly lazy in preparing apples. That being said it is an easy recipe to double or triple if you have many people to serve or want some tasty leftovers that taste just as good cold as they do hot. This apple crisp uses clove and ginger as added spices. This increases the depth of flavor and adds a very spicy aroma. They are also completely optional, with the more crucial spices being the cinnamon and nutmeg. I like making this recipe in the fall and winter when apples are in season and seem to have extra crisp flavor, but it can really be made any time and any season. It is easy, quick, and delivers a delightful dessert every time.

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Notes and Tips for the Homemade Apple Crisp:

  • I make this recipe in a dutch oven but you can bake this apple crisp in any baking dish!

  • I use salted butter for this recipe. If you use unsalted butter, be sure to add an extra pinch of salt for the flavor!

  • Leave your apple chunks in different shapes. This will create texture as the bigger pieces will remain a little crispier and the smaller ones will be extra gooey.

  • It is really hard to over cook this dessert. The apples will get softer and softer with longer cooking time, but feel free to let the topping get really crispy on top.

Common Questions?

What is The Best Apple To Use For Apple Crisp?

  • Green apples are the preferred apple for apple crisp. Green apples are less sweet than other apples, making them a great compliment to the sweet elements of this apple crisp.

  • I recommend peeling the apples and saving the skins to snack on! The skin can be a little chewy when baked and may not be as tasty.

What Is the Difference Between Apple Crisp and Apple Crumble?

  • Crumbles do not usually have oats in the streusel topping. Since I put rolled oats in my topping, this recipe is a Crisp, though the names are often interchanged.

  • The main components of the toppings that both a crisp and a crumble share is flour, sugar, butter, and spices with crisp having the addition of oats! Both crisps and crumbles are easier than cobblers since they do not require making a dough to go on top of your fruit.

What Can I Use Instead of Lemon Juice In My Apple Crisp?

  • If you do not have lemons, use a couple teaspoons of vinegar! A lighter vinegar like apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar would be a good substitute. Vinegar is really helpful in balancing out your flavors and helping your apples cook well by preventing browning. Darker vinegars may overwhelm your crisp so I suggest using the lighter vinegar or making sure you have lemons before starting!

  • Fresh lemons are so good in apple crisp! You can zest in the lemons for added flavor and a note of brightness to this warm apple crisp.

How Do You Cut Apples For Apple Crisp?

  • Thinly sliced apples will cook best in apple crisp. I like to chunk my apples into small and medium pieces. This helps add texture to my apple crisp since some of the apples will remain crispy and some will be very soft.

  • The more thin your apple slices are, the faster they will cook!

Ingredients For Homemade Apple Crisp

Apple Filling:

  • 1 1/2 pounds Green Apples: Green apples are more tart than red apples and will not get mushy when baked. If all you have is a red apple variety, they still work.
  • 1/3 cup white sugar: The white sugar is add to the apple mixture to sweeten them.
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter The butter adds fat to the apples and tastes so good when combined with the sugar and apples.
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg: feel free to use fresh ground nutmeg, it is really good!
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger: the ginger is optional but adds great flavor.
  • 1/4 tsp salt: the salt balances out the all the sweetness!
  • zest and juice of 1 small lemon: The zest adds a bright note and the juice keeps the apples un browned.

Crump Topping:

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened: use unsalted butter. If all you have is salted butter, leave out the salt listed
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed tightly
  • 1 1/4 cup rolled oats: make sure these are not quick oats, which will cook too fast.
  • 3/4 cup flour: You can use all purpose or whole wheat flour.
  • 1 tsp vanilla: vanilla extract adds flavor! You can add in almond extract too for a different kind of flavor.
  • 1/2 tsp salt: salt balances and enhances flavor
  • 1 tsp cinnamon: feel free to add in any other spices you want. I always add extra nutmeg too!

Steps and Detailed Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Apples:

    1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.

    2. Peel and chop your apples into thin slices. You can also cube your apples if you prefer!

    3. To your baking dish, add your apples. You can also mix your apples in a mixing bowl and add them to your baking dish later.

    4. Add the juice and zest of 1 lemon, the butter, all the spices and the salt.

    5. Toss around until the apples until coated with the spices and the butter is well incorporated.

  2. Make The Topping

    1. In a bowl, add in the butter, cinnamon, flour, sugar, salt and oats.

    2. Pinch the mixture or use a fork to mix the softened butter together with the flour, sugar, and oats. The consistency should be well mixed and crumbly. If the mixture is dry, add in an additional bit of butter.

    3. Spread your crumble over the apples ensuring they are fully covered. 

    4. Bake until the apples are very soft, the topping is golden brown, and you can see the extra butter bubbling, about 35 minutes.

    5. Remove and let cool about 15 minutes.

    6. Serve with vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

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