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As the sun shines bright and summer blooms, it’s easy to overlook the comforting embrace of apple crisp, a quintessential autumn delight. But let’s break the mold and indulge in its warm, cinnamon-infused embrace even in the heat of summer. Imagine this: tender slices of apples, kissed by cinnamon, topped with a crispy oat and brown sugar crumble—apple crisp is the epitome of cozy sweetness, perfect for any season. I love this recipe because it’s so easy to make and I think you will too. So, let’s dust off our baking pans and savor the taste of autumnal bliss, one delicious spoonful at a time.
Ingredients for Apple Crisp
The first step to preparing this, or any recipe, is to read and understand the recipe, collect all the equipment you’ll need and to gather all the ingredients required to make Apple Crisp. In culinary terms, this is called “Mise en Place,” which means “Everything in its Place.” Prereading the recipe, preparing ingredients, and setting up any needed equipment in advance not only speeds up cooking but also ensures you are familiar with the recipe steps, and that all necessary components are ready for the dish.
Highlights of Important Ingredients
- Granny Smith Apples: Tart and crisp, Granny Smith apples are the perfect balance of sweet and sour. With their vibrant green skin and firm texture, they hold up well in baking and add a refreshing bite.
- Granulated Sugar: Also known as white sugar.
- Cinnamon: Adds a sweet and woody flavor with a hint of spiciness.
- Unsalted Butter: Rich and creamy, unsalted butter adds a smooth and velvety texture to recipes without the additional saltiness.
- Brown Sugar: With its warm, caramel-like flavor and moist texture, brown sugar adds depth and sweetness. Made from granulated sugar mixed with molasses, it contributes a rich and complex taste.s
- Rolled Oats: Brings a hearty texture and nutty flavor to the recipe.
- All-purpose Flour
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
How to Make Step-by-Step
- Peel and slice the apples. I like to use my KitchenAid mixer with the Peeler/Slicer attachment to do this task. It makes it so, so easy!
- Add the granulated sugar and cinnamon, then stir to combine.
- Place prepared apple mixture in a buttered ceramic pic pan.
- Mix the flour, brown sugar, rolled oats and butter for the topping. Evenly spread the topping over the apples.
- Bake until the top is golden brown and the apples are soft and tender, about 50-60 minutes.
- Serve warm with a scope of ice cream. Enjoy!
Tips for the best Apple Crisp
- Slice the apples evenly. I really like using my KitchenAid mixer with the Peeler/Slicer attachment. It insures a uniform thickness of all the slices. If you prefer slightly thicker slices, you are free to slice up to 1/2 inch slices. Just make sure the slices are the same size so they cook evenly.
- Additions. Adding chopped walnuts or pecans to the topping is delicious.
- Use caution not to over brown the topping. If the top is turning dark but the apples still need time to cook, loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil and continue baking.
- Serving Suggestions. This apple crips is absolutely incredible if served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A drizzle of caramel sauce over the top makes it a decadent delight.
Storage
- You can store apple crisp in a sealed container on the countertop for up to three days. You don’t need to refrigerate unless you prefer to keep it cold. Apple crisp is best eaten the day it is made because the crispy, crumble topping will become soggy the longer it sits.
- Apple crisp can be frozen in a sealed, air-tight container. Store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Allow to thaw completely before eating and/or reheating.
Holiday Apple Crisp with a Hint of Vanilla and Spice
Delight in the comforting embrace of warm, cinnamon-kissed apples beneath a crisp oat topping. This classic apple crisp recipe promises a perfect balance of tender fruit and crunchy sweetness, making it an irresistible treat for any time of the year.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Apple Filling:
- 8 medium Granny Smith apples – peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch (or substitute cornstarch)
- Pinch of kosher salt
For the Crisp Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup brown sugar – lightly packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter – diced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking dish or similar.
- Make the filling: In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced apples, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, tapioca starch, and a pinch of salt until everything is evenly coated. Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish.
- Make the topping: In another bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold diced butter and use your fingertips or a pastry blender to work it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Top the apples: Sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the apple mixture.
- Bake, covered with foil, for the first 20 minutes to prevent over-browning. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 30–35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream—or a drizzle of caramel sauce if you’re feeling indulgent.
