Warm Apple Crisp recipe

This comforting dessert features tender, spiced apples baked beneath a buttery, crunchy oat topping. It's a simple yet satisfying treat, ideal for a cozy evening or a gathering with friends.

Servings: 8 Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes Total time: 70 minutes Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling:

• 6-8 medium apples (about 1.2-1.5 kg), such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1 cm (½-inch) thick pieces

• 100 g (½ cup) granulated sugar

• 50 g (¼ cup) packed light brown sugar

• 30 g (¼ cup) all-purpose flour

• 10 ml (2 teaspoons) ground cinnamon

• 2.5 ml (½ teaspoon) ground nutmeg

• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice

• 30 g (2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

For the Crisp Topping:

• 150 g (1¼ cups) old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)

• 120 g (1 cup) all-purpose flour

• 100 g (½ cup) packed light brown sugar

• 50 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar

• 5 ml (1 teaspoon) ground cinnamon

• 2.5 ml (½ teaspoon) salt

• 113 g (½ cup or 1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Equipment

• 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) baking dish

• Large mixing bowl

• Medium mixing bowl

• Vegetable peeler

• Sharp knife

• Pastry blender or your fingertips

Instructions

1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Dish (5 minutes): Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

2. Make the Apple Filling (10 minutes): In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and drizzle with the melted butter.

3. Prepare the Crisp Topping (10 minutes): In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.

4. Assemble the Crisp (2 minutes): Evenly sprinkle the crisp topping over the apple mixture in the baking dish.

5. Bake the Crisp (45 minutes): Place the baking dish on a baking sheet (to catch any potential drips) and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly. If the topping browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.

6. Rest and Serve (5 minutes): Remove the crisp from the oven and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly. Serve warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

Tips & Variations

• Don't Overmix the Topping: For the best crumbly texture, avoid overmixing the topping. A few larger pieces of butter are good!

• Apple Choice Matters: A mix of sweet and tart apples (like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith) provides the best flavor balance.

• Serve Warm: Apple crisp is best enjoyed warm. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven if needed.

• Gluten-Free Variation: Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend and ensure your rolled oats are certified gluten-free.

• Vegan Variation: Use a plant-based butter alternative (stick form works best) for both the filling and the topping. You can also use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of some of the sugar for a different sweetness profile.

• Add Nuts or Dried Fruit: For extra texture and flavor, add ½ cup (60g) of chopped pecans or walnuts to the crisp topping, or ½ cup (75g) of dried cranberries or raisins to the apple filling.

Estimated Nutrition Per Serving (approximate)

• Calories: 400 kcal

• Protein: 4 g

• Carbs: 70 g

• Fat: 15 g

Shopping List

• Apples

• Granulated sugar

• Light brown sugar

• All-purpose flour

• Ground cinnamon

• Ground nutmeg

• Lemon

• Unsalted butter

• Old-fashioned rolled oats

Allergen Tags

contains: gluten, dairy

Quick summary: Tender spiced apples with a crunchy oat topping, baked to golden perfection.