Apple Crisp is the perfect fall dessert! Apples baked until soft with a crispy cinnamon oat topping.
I also have an Apple Cranberry Crisp if you’re a big cranberry fan!
Originally posted September 29, 2014. Updated October 8, 2025.
I will almost always choose a crisp over a pie. I love a buttery pie crust but I love the crispy, buttery chunks of a crisp even more. And this Apple Crisp is my absolute favorite because it not only has the crispy topping, it also has a layer of the crip on the bottom!
The other reason I love this crisp is that instead of relying on the apples to release their juices and create the gooey apple pie-like filling, this recipe calls for a simple syrup to be poured over top. The syrup has cornstarch in it which helps thicken all the juice from the apples. It turns into the best, most gooey apple filling you can imagine.
It’s a really simple recipe and you probably have all the ingredients already. It’s delicious enough for Thanksgiving but simple enough for an everyday dessert.
Ingredients
- Flour
- Old fashioned oats – don’t try to use steel cut oats or instant oats. You get the best crisp with old fashioned oats.
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon – you could also use apple pie spice if you have it.
- Salt – just a tiny bit to bring out the rest of the flavors.
- Butter – make sure your butter is cold so that you can cut it into the topping mixture and you get those nice chunks of crisp.
- Granny smith apples – you can really use any type of apple but a tart green apple works really well in baked goods since you’re adding so much sweetness to it.
- Sugar – this will be used to create a thick syrup that gets poured over the apples to create that classic apple pie gooeyness that we all know and love.
- Cornstarch – this helps to thicken that gooey syrup that creates that classic apple pie goo.
- Vanilla
Instructions
- Crisp mixture. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnaon, and salt. Use a pastry cutter to cut cold butter into the mixture.
- Transfer. Press half into a greased 2 ½ quart baking dish.
- Add apples. Cover with peeled and chopped apples.
- Make syrup. In a small saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Combine. Pour over the apples.
- Top. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
- Bake. Bake at 350F for 50 – 55 minutes 60-65, until crisp is golden brown and apples are soft.
- Serve. Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
How Long Is Apple Crisp Good For?
Apple crisp will be good for up to 4 – 5 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to store it in an airtight container. I like this 9×9-inch baking dish with a lid so I can just store it in the same container I baked it in.
You can serve it straight from the fridge but I prefer to warm it up in the microwave and then put some vanilla ice cream on top.
Can You Freeze It?
You can freeze apple crisp for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely and then transfer to an airtight, freezer-safe container.
When you are ready to serve it, let it defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat in the microwave. You could also reheat it in the stove or in a toaster oven to try to get some of the crispiness back.
More Apple Recipes
- Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Crumble
- Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread
- Deep Dish Apple Pie
- Apple Cranberry Streusel Pie
- Apple Custard Pie
Apple Crisp
Apple Crisp is the perfect fall dessert! Apples baked until soft with a crispy cinnamon oat topping.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
- 4 cups granny smith apples, peeled and chopped
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- vanilla ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9x9-inch baking dish with oil.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Use a pastry blender (or 2 butter knives) to cut in butter until crumbly. Press half of this mixture into the prepared dish.
- Place chopped apples over the crust in a single layer. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thick and clear. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the apples.
- Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
- Bake 50 - 55 minutes or until crisp is golden brown and apples are soft.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 445Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 114mgCarbohydrates: 79gFiber: 3gSugar: 57gProtein: 4g
quay may mắn says
Haha, Laundry batman! Julie, Im with you, 7 loads sounds like a crime against humanity! But this apple crisp sounds like the perfect crime-solving sidekick – easy to make, even easier to eat, and keeps the vultures (aka coworkers) happy. Love the bottom crust twist, though! Makes it feel a bit more like a proper pie, but without the scary crust hassle. Definitely making this to turn my laundry-fueled nightmares into delicious reality!
Nutmeg Nanny says
Laundry is the one chore I HATE! I scrub a bathroom over laundry. I know, I’m weird. I’m not a huge fan of pie crust either. I sometimes make it but mostly I’m a fan of the crisps and crumbles as well. SO much easier.
Julie @ This Gal Cooks says
7 loads of laundry?!? That’s a nightmare! I groan when I do 3. Guess I don’t have it too bad, right?
LOVE this apple crisp. Apple crisp is one of my favorite fruit desserts. *swoon*
Monica says
I made a double-batch last night and brought it into work. It was a hit. The vultures have cleaned the pan. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Apple crisp is my favorite! I would love to have some for breakfast!
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee says
I’m soooo making this recipe this weekend!!
Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says
Sometimes you just need a break and blogging is an easy job to do that with. I’m glad to hear you had a great time with your aunt, but holy laundry batman!!! Good thing you had this crisp to keep you company…love the bottom crust in it!!!!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Nothing like kids picking holey apples and getting home and THEN discovering that…how fun for you :) Gah!! Well you turned lemons into lemonade because the crisp looks perfect!
Stephanie @ Back For Seconds says
Kids are weird, man.
I love love love apple crisp and a bottom crust?! Sign me up!
Amanda says
Totally loving everything about this dessert! Glad you had a wonderful visit with your family!
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
I’m so glad you had fun with your aunt! Sometimes family time is just way more important than the blog! Love this apple crisp – I can’t get enough fall food lately, and this looks delicious! Also…7 loads of laundry…you are amazing. The thought of all that folding scares me.
Paula says
At first I thought I had stopped getting your emal updates, then I realized you were taking a break. I so need a break before I have a breakdown. Ha! Right there with you on fussy pie crust! This is great, and a bottom crispy crumble crust yay!
Marissa | Pinch and Swirl says
What the heck IS the difference between a crisp and a crumble? hmmm Anyway, yours looks amazing – despite the rurnt apples. ;)
Chelsea @chelseasmessyapron says
It sounds like you had an awesome time with your aunt!! And 7 loads – craziness! I can’t believe you got all that done in one day! I would definitely check this off as a breakfast with all the oats in it – this looks delicious!!