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A golden-brown Apple Crisp with a crumbly oat topping is shown as the featured image.
Lady Maria

Best Apple Crisp Recipe

This apple crisp recipe delivers a symphony of textures and flavors, avoiding the mushy disappointment of lesser recipes. Combining sweet and tart apples with a buttery, crumbly topping, this recipe is designed for consistent perfection.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 6 medium apples such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or a combination
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats not instant
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional

Equipment

  • 9-inch square baking dish or pie plate
  • Large bowl
  • small bowl
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Pastry blender or fingertips
  • whisk
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss to coat evenly.
  3. Transfer the apple mixture to a 9-inch square baking dish or pie plate. Dot the top of the apples with the butter pieces.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  5. Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the nuts (if using).
  6. Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the apple filling.
  7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, tent the dish loosely with aluminum foil.
  8. Let the crisp cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, plain or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

Notes

Using a combination of sweet and tart apples provides the best flavor complexity. Adjust the amount of sugar in the filling based on the tartness of your apples. Omit the nuts or substitute with sunflower seeds for a nut-free version. The apple filling and crisp topping can be prepared separately and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before assembling and baking.