Fall is a great time of year for apple cider and apple picking. So, we wanted to share one of our favorite fall recipes with you – the classic apple crisp dessert recipe! This delicious dessert can be whipped up in just about an hour and makes a simple but tasty treat that your whole family will enjoy. All it takes is some apples, sugar, cinnamon, butter, oats (or rolled or quick-cooking oatmeal), flour and brown sugar. It’s best when served warm with ice cream on top! We hope you enjoy this post as much as we enjoyed making these yummy treats!
This was originally published on 10/7/2015.
This recipe for apple crisp is a classic, and with its simplicity it’s perfect for any home baker. The ingredients are simple – you probably have them in your kitchen right now! This dish will take less than 45 minutes to prepare, bake, and serve. With the help of this blog post you’ll be able to make an amazing dessert that all your friends and family will love!
Apple season is in full swing around here in New England. We have the pleasure and blessings of having tons of beautiful orchards scattered around the northeast that have such beautiful crops, hayrides, pumpkins, and lots of fall fun! I love apple picking season because for an avid baker and cook like myself, it means lots of yummy apple recipes for my family.
Do I Need to Peel the Apples for Crisp?
The best way to make a crisp apple is by peeling it. Peeling an apple will help it retain its shape and moisture when baking in the oven for long periods of time. Peels are tough and thick, which means they will not break down or cook as quickly as the pulp inside of the apples that have been peeled. Personally, I hate baked goods with non-peeled apples because peels can get super tough. My family also prefers that I peel the apples so I have always peeled, cored, and cubed my apples.
What is the Difference Between Apple Crisp and Crumble?
The difference between apple crisp and apple crumble is that a crisp is baked with some sort of topping, like oats or flour. A crumble is all dessert toppings like butter, sugar, and flour. Which one you choose to make will depend on your preference for texture (crispier vs. more crumbly).
The Best Apples for Crisp
Not all apples are created equal. It’s important to know which types of apples will make your apple crisp extra delicious! Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Rome Beauty, Northern Spy, Winesap and Jonathan are all good choices. We used Macintosh apples, Honeycrisp, and Jona Gold because they were on sale at the market. I have to say they were okay, but I prefer the listed varieties above because they have a nice tartness and hold up well when baked.
Should You Cover Your Apple Crisp When Baking?
Some people say that covering your dessert protects it from burning and helps with evaporation. Others say it slows down the cooking process because heat cannot escape as easily. For me, I have never covered my apple crisp and have consistently had excellent results when using a 8″ x 8″ baking pan set on the middle oven rack for 40-45 minutes. When baked via this method, the crisp top gets a deep golden-brown, is crispy, and keeps the apples below moist and juicy.
More Apple Recipes to Try
Classic Apple Crisp Recipe
Equipment
- 8"x 8" deep-walled baking dish
- apple corer
- apple peeler
- oven adjusted to the center rack position
- cutting board & knife
- Measuring cups & spoons
Ingredients
- 6 large apples peeled, cored, chopped into cubes
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup old fashioned oats or quick cooking oats
- ½ cup unsalted butter cubed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon divided
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Ice cream optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit. Grease an 8" x 8" square dish with nonstick spray.
- Wash, peel, core, and cube apples into small chunks. Toss apples with ½ tsp. of cinnamon. Line apples at the bottom of the casserole dish.
- In a medium bowl, add sugar, flour, oats, spices, and softened butter. With clean hands work with crisp into small beads. Butter should be incorporated fully into the topping.
- Bake apple crisp for 40-45 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Serve crisp warm with some whipped topping or ice cream.
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