A couple of apples, five common pantry ingredients, and less than one hour will get you an old-fashioned apple crisp that would make grandma proud. Super easy with almost no work.
Introduction
You can call it apple crisp or apple crumble; this is a classic fall dessert that will become a favorite for the entire family. Use it for every day, for "pass a dish" occasions, or just to take it to friends.
It was apple season here in Michigan, and I was in great need of a simple apple recipe. A friend would frequently bring a similar simple dish occasionally to the office to share. The hunt was on.
My first stop, as usual, was Cooks Illustrated. I find Quick Dutch Apple Crisp. I liked the name. The quick did it for me, but the 13 ingredients, many of which I didn't have, did not do it for me.
Some looking around and I had just what I wanted with Allrecipes.com Apple Crisp - Perfect and Easy only six ingredients and great ratings. So after a few nips and tucks, here is my adaption.
My Rating
A very nice five. Now we don't do desserts very often, but we will do this more often. I have to start keeping ice cream in the house.
♨️Cobblers, Crumbles, vs. Crisps
Cobblers are easy; they have a biscuit or cake-like topping.
Crumbles and crisps are frequently used interchangeably. But some feel that the differentiating factor is crumbles have oats in the topping and crisps do not. This seems to be not widely accepted; in fact, almost nobody follows that differentiation.
So, in my world, this is a crisp. But call it a crumble if you want.
🍎The Apples
Use the apples you have and love. I think an apple that is firmer and tarter is the best choice here. If you are buying apples just for this recipe, then some good choices are Cortland, Granny Smith, and Ida Red.
I generally have other apples around and use them. The apples I would normally not use would be Red Delicious or Macintosh.
You may want to adjust the sugar for the sweetness of the apples, especially if they are very tart or very sweet.
This recipe will use about 3 cups of sliced apples. It can be a bit more or less. That will be about two large or three medium apples.
Some people will not peel the apples, but I highly suggest peeling your apples.
👨🍳Size
This is already a smaller recipe. It fits nicely in an 8 by 8 inches baking pan. You can also use a 6 by 9 oblong dish or 9 inches round.
This recipe doubles easily and fits nicely in a 9 by 13 standard cake or casserole pan. You can even make it smaller if you have the correct pan.
The nine servings I state for this recipe is a bit arbitrary so that is a soft number depending on how you want to use this.
❄️Storage
After cooking, refrigerate for 3-4 days covered tightly. Reheat briefly in a microwave.
It can freeze for about 3 months. If you freeze it, thaw before reheating.
📖Crisp/Crumble Recipes
🖼️Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°.
Peel and slice 2 ½ to 3 cups of apples. That will be two larger apples or three smaller ones. Avoid Red Delicious and Macintosh apples.
Prep an 8-inch square baking dish with a butter coat.
Combine one cup flour with 1 cup sugar but adjust the sugar down to ¾ cup if your apples are very sweet. Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well. Cut 8 tablespoons of butter into dry ingredients.
Spread the sliced apples in the dish. Spread topping over apples.
Bake for about 40 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool some before serving.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Apple Crisp
Tap to leave a Rating
Ingredients
- 2½ to 3 cups apples - sliced about 2 large or 3 medium
- 1 cup flour
- ¾ cup sugar - up to 1 cup depending on sweetness of apples
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 stick butter - ½ cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Peel and slice 2 ½ to 3 cups of apples. That will be two larger apples or three smaller. Avoid Red Delicious and Macintosh apples.
- Prep an 8-inch square baking dish with a butter coat.
- Combine one cup flour with 1 cup sugar but adjust the sugar down to ¾ cup if your apples are very sweet. Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well. Cut 8 tablespoons of butter into dry ingredients.
- Spread the sliced apples in the dish. Spread topping over apples
- Bake for about 40 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool some before serving.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- This fits nicely in an 8x8 pan but 9X6 or 9 inch round will work. A 9x9 will be thinner and not suggested.
- This is an easy recipe to adjust up or down. A double recipe fits nicely in a standard 9 by 13 cake or casserole pan.
- Use the apples you love but I suggest not to use Red Delicious or Macintosh.
- Cut the sugar down to ¾ cup if the apples are very sweet.
- The amount of apple slices can vary up or down some.
- A bit of cooling before serving helps it hold together.
- Store refrigerated airtight for 3-4 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheats nicely in the microwave.
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition
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Publisher Note: Originally Published October 25, 2014, It is a great simple recipe Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
LIZ GAUNTLEY
This is the nearest crumble - I'm English - Ive managed to make after a lifetime of trying to make it like my mum's. I think it's the high sugar content, as well as oven temp and cooking time, that makes it crispy rather than the dry, floury results Ive had all these years. It is simple and delicious and good not to have oats. Thanks so much for this recipe. Highly recommended .
Joy Ragnow-Guzy
I’m going to try this but leave the peels on. Can’t wait to taste it.
Brittanei Neubert
Perfect desert for the first day of fall!!
Quick to make and very tasty !
Patricia S
Made with 1/2 cup brown sugar and used 2 apples and 1 pear, so as not to have them spoil. Otherwise,followed the recipe. My grandson, daughter and I all enjoyed it very much, warm from the oven and topped with Bryer's vanilla ice cream! Despite my reduction in sugar, I found it to be quite sweet. Very easy, quick and delicious dessert. Thanks for sharing.
Mackenzie
This is the best apple crisp I have ever had, and it is so easy to make!
DrDan
Hi Mackenzie,
Welcome to the blog.
It is a great fall treat.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Joslyn
I used three large ambrosia apples that were so crisp and tart I almost wanted to eat them plain. I gave them a squeeze of lemon in the pan. I used brown sugar and added nutmeg and a packet of quakers instant apples and cinnamon oats. I have about 8 mins left and I think I may pull it out a wee bit early for the sake of the apples remaining crisp to my liking. My house smells like fall and I can’t wait to serve this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Thank you for a sweet baking afternoon!
DrDan
Hi Joslyn,
Welcome to the blog.
I was doing an apple recipe yesterday and ate one of the apples but it was the extra backup one.
Hope it turned out well.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Peggy Yang
Thanks for the recipe. This turns out almost perfect! (I cut it down to a smaller dish and by the time the crumble was browned the apples got a little too soft. I’ll definitely shorten the baking time next round, but otherwise this is perfect!
DrDan
Hi Peggy,
Welcome to the blog.
Hopefully it works better for you next time.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Leona Dixon
Just made this using Organic Coconut Flour. I also use Coconut Oil to spread over the dish instead of Butter. Tastes so delicious! I'll be making this again with a few adjustment on Soft Brown Sugar, using only 1/2 cup instead of 1 Cup.
Thanks for sharing this recipe, I used Red Gala Apples, they came out great!!!
Sandra
This is how we always make Apple Crumble, UK method, Crumble has no oats, crisp does, never had that til I moved to Canada. Best apples in Canada are honey crisp (pricey), grannies, and Braeburn. I'm going to make your green bean casserole for a potluck tomorrow.
DrDan
Hi Sandra,
The difference between a crumble and crisp seems to vary a lot by geography. In Iowa, all of it was a crisp if I remember correctly.
You will love the green bean casserole.
Thanks for the note and happy holidays.
Dan
Debasis
Hello DrDan..! am also reads your posts but this is one of my favorite recipe. and your apple crisp looks so yummy and delicious, i can't wait make this recipe. Thanks for sharing....!
Rogerio Roger
Love the simplisity of that recipe ! I used oat flour and plain flour ! It was perfect ! I had a lot of apple and my recipe ti was for 4 no two lol I had to use a lot of more flour once I realised my crumble was to wet, so I grabed my hand mixer and finished adding the flours until the consistence that I wanted !! It was fun in the kitchen Thanks
DrDan
I like simple food the best. It is fun to play in the kitchen. I call it organic chemistry lab without the explosions.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Basheerah
Hi there, I love apple crumble, its one of my old favourites, so I was excited to try this quick n easy recipe for a family lunch. I doubled the recipe and it was just lovely. I served it with whipped fresh cream.
Patricia
This is close to the recipe I got from my mom years ago except I think it uses part white sugar, part brown. Its so good. To make it even better, I would suggest skipping the ice cream and making a basic vanilla sauce to go over the top. Sooo good.
Pat
I am laughing to myself here. I made apple crisp tonight and dh brought me in a dish as I was on the puter. I made it like you did except I used 1/2 cup flour and 1/2 cup of oatmeal. It is really good also.
Kate/Massachusetts
This looks delicious! I will be making it this week now that Honeycrisp apples have shown up in my local supermarket. They really are a great tasting apple for pies and crisps like your recipe. Their flavor is my favorite. I had a cooking teacher once tell us that the Honeycrisp was the favorite of pastry/pie chefs because it was the perfect balance of sweet/tart/wine flavor. I think she was right although I do use them for applesauce, too!
DrDan
I did use honey crisp. I got them at the farmers market last week (really fresh in Michigan) and had a full basket. I needed something to do with the apples without going shopping again.
Thanks for the note and rating.
DrDan
Kate/Massachusetts
For something else to do with the apples, have you ever tried making an applesauce that combines both apples and ripe pears? Its really good and freezes well. Also, if you have a large selection of Spanish foods at your grocery, there is a product called raw sugar cane (Goya Panela brown sugar cane Piloncillo) that is awesome to use with cooked fruits. It is a solid block that has to be chopped or grated and the flavor is a strong brown sugar taste. Amazon has it but they charge a fortune for shipping. Good luck!
Joan Garneau
This looks delicious delicious and I think I'll make it tonight.
DrDan
Thanks for the note. I'm sure you will love it.
DrDan