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    🏠Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Easy Crock Pot Apple Crisp

    Oct 26, 2021 · Modified: Oct 26, 2022 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 19 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.25 from 32 votes

    Celebrate fall and apples with this easy classic dessert with juicy cinnamon apple filling with a sweet buttery and crispy oat crust. Great for the smaller households but easy to double for larger families. You need 10 minutes of prep time, a few ingredients, and your slow cooker.

    close up image of apple crisp with ice cream on an orange plate

    Jump To:
    • 👨‍🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Crisp
    • 🍎Ingredients
    • Cobblers, Crumbles, vs. Crisps
    • ❓FAQs
    • How to Store Apple Crisp
    • 📖Crisp/Crumble Recipes
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    Nothing is better than warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This simple old-fashioned dessert is perfect for entertaining or as a family surprise. I always think of this as apple pie without all the work.

    There are many variations of slow cooker apple crisp recipes, but they are not really "cooking for two" friendly. Also, way too many ingredients; some had 20 ingredients, and mine has seven.

    So I combined several recipes and cut down the amount to make it friendly for the smaller crock pot. While it is not just two servings, you will want at least some leftovers.

    Home cooking goodness has never been so simple.

    👨‍🍳How to Make Crock Pot Apple Crisp

    1. Peel and slice four medium apples
    2. Mix topping.
    3. Put apples in a smaller crock pot and cover with the topping.
    4. Cook on high for 2 hours then rotate lid to vent humidity for 1 more hour.

    🍎Ingredients

    Apples

    Apples that are firmer and tarter are the best choice here. So if you are buying apples just for this recipe, then some good choices are Granny Smith, Gala, Jonathon, Ida Red, and Cortland.

    Delicious Apples are probably the only common poor choice.

    Adjust the sugar for the sweetness of the apples.

    Soft apples may release more fluid, and the results may be runny.

    Topping

    The topping is simple. The feature is rolled oats. Otherwise, it is flour, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

    The topping will look like there is too much. But the topping is not just a topping that sits on top of the apples but diffuses down into the apples to make a sweet apple filling.

    While I suggest light brown sugar, you can use dark or even white sugar.

    Cobblers, Crumbles, vs. Crisps

    Cobblers are easy; they have a biscuit or cake topping. I have a very nice Smaller Crock Pot Apple Cobbler.

    Crumbles and crisps are commonly used interchangeably. The differentiating factor is crisps have oats in the topping and crumble do not. This seems to be not widely accepted.

    I think the recipe name should tell you what you're getting, so in my world, this is crisp. But call it a crumble if you want.

    ❓FAQs

    What crock pot to use?

    This recipe is for smaller crock pots in the 3 to 4-quart range. If you are using a 2-quart pot, decrease by 50%.

    Double the recipe for the bigger standard crock pots of 6-8 quarts. I would not cook a double recipe in a smaller crock pot.

    Why is my topping mushy, and how to prevent it?

    There is a lot of moisture released with the apples cooking. To have a crisp topping, the moisture needs to be removed.

    Many recipes will try to absorb that humidity with paper towels or a cloth towel over the top of the crock pot under the lid. I have some safety concerns about that, and it doesn't work well.

    For me, venting the humidity near the end of cooking works better without the fussy or safety concerns.

    If you don't address the moisture adequately, the topping will not be crisp.

    Can I cook this in the oven?

    Yes. Preheat the oven to 350°. Use an 8 by 8 or 6 by 9 baking dish for this size recipe. For a double recipe, use a 9 by 13 cake size pan. Coat the pan with butter or cooking spray.

    Spread the apple slices over the dish and sprinkle the crisp topping evenly over the apples.

    Bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown.

    How to serve apple crisp.

    While it is excellent cold, it is spectacular warm, especially when combined with vanilla ice cream.

    Some will like to drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with walnuts or pecans.

    How to Store Apple Crisp

    Refrigerate in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. But better if consumed in the first few days.

    You can also store it in a freezer and an airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

    Reheat apple crisp in the oven or briefly in a microwave.

    📖Crisp/Crumble Recipes

    Easy Apple Crisp

    Easy Berry Crumble

    Berry Crisp for Two

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Crock Pot Recipes, Dessert Recipes, Featured | Crock Pot Recipes, Small Crock Pots Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    apples with flour and crisp ingredients

    Start with apples of your choice. You will need four medium apples, which will make four cups of apple slices—peel and slice.

    mixing oats into topping

    Mix ½ cup each of flour, light brown sugar, and rolled oats in a medium bowl. Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, then mix well. Add four tablespoons of softened butter and cut into the topping with a fork until combined thoroughly. It will be crumbly looking.

    spraying a crock pot with PAM

    Give a smaller 3-4 quart crock pot a heavy spray of PAM.

    adding apple slices to prepared crock pot

    Add 4 cups of apple slices.

    added topping in crock pot

    Smooth out the apples, then pour the topping mixture evenly over the apples.

    turn the lid of the crock pot sideways to vent

    Cook for 2 hours on high covered, then rotate the lid to allow moisture to vent and cook one more hour on high for a total of 3 hours.

    large spoonful of apple crisp above the crock pot

    Allow to cool a little before serving so the apples will set up some. Great with ice cream.

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    📝Recipe

    apple crisp with ice cream on an orange plate

    Easy Crock Pot Apple Crisp

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Celebrate fall and apples with this easy classic dessert with juicy cinnamon apple filling with a sweet buttery and crispy oat crust. Great for the smaller households but easy to double for larger families. You need 10 minutes of prep time, a few ingredients, and your slow cooker.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.25 from 32 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 6

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 4 apples - medium
    • ½ cup flour
    • ½ cup light brown sugar
    • ½ cup rolled oats
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Start with apples of your choice. You will need four medium apples, which will make four cups of apple slices—peel and slice.
      apples with flour and crisp ingredients
    • Mix ½ cup each of flour, light brown sugar and rolled oats in a medium bowl. Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, then mix well. Add four tablespoons of softened butter and cut into the topping with a fork until combined thoroughly. It will be crumbly looking.
      mixing oats into topping
    • Give a smaller 3-4 quart crock pot a heavy spray of PAM.
      spraying a crock pot with PAM
    • Add 4 cups of apple slices.
      adding apple slices to prepared crock pot
    • Smooth out apples, then pour the topping mixture evenly over the apples.
      added topping in crock pot
    • Cook for 2 hours on high covered, then rotate the lid to allow moisture to vent and cook one more hour on high for a total of 3 hours.
      turn the lid of the crock pot sideways to vent
    • Allow to cool a little before serving so the apples will set up some. Great with ice cream.
      large spoonful of apple crisp above the crock pot
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

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    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. Use the apples of your choice. A firmer tarter apple is probably a better choice. The only apples I would not use are delicious apples.
    2. Cut in half for 2-quart pot. Double for a larger pot. This recipe is for 3-4 quart crock pot.
    3. I vent the crock pot top by rotating the top for the last hour of cooking. This will help the top crisp up better.

    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 Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Crock Pot Apple Crisp
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 253 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 5g25%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
    Monounsaturated Fat 2g
    Cholesterol 22mg7%
    Sodium 2mg0%
    Potassium 117mg3%
    Carbohydrates 45g15%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Sugar 30g33%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 300IU6%
    Vitamin C 5.8mg7%
    Calcium 20mg2%
    Iron 1.4mg8%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Originally published October 3, 2015. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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    More Dessert Recipes

    • Apple Cinnamon Muffins
    • Blueberry Crumb Pie—Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pie
    • Berry Crisp for Two or More
    • Banana Cake with Walnuts

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    1. David T Quick

      October 26, 2021 at 3:22 pm

      You noted you could cook this in the oven. You listed tem and size of pan, but not for how long?

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        October 26, 2021 at 3:33 pm

        Thanks for the proofread. It got lost during the rewriting multiple times. Bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown.

    2. ROBERT HENG

      October 26, 2021 at 11:58 am

      Can I do this crock pot apple crisp and leave out the OATS and make it a crumble instead

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        October 26, 2021 at 12:04 pm

        Hi Robert,

        Welcome to the blog.

        Yep that should be fine I believe. You might find this recipe interesting https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/smaller-crock-pot-apple-cobbler/

        Dan

    3. Amy H

      January 20, 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Hello Dan, I followed the directions exactly however, I mixture did not come out crumbly rather pasty. Do you use quick oats? I am not sure how it will turn out but I am awaiting.

      Reply
    4. Merry

      October 26, 2019 at 11:20 pm

      I don't understand what you mean by "rotating the lid?"

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        October 26, 2019 at 11:29 pm

        Hi Merry,
        See the picture in the post. I rotate the lid a bit to allow the humidity to vent some. It is not required.
        Dan

    5. Curt Bray

      April 21, 2019 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      I have a little trick that grandma showed me. She just loved cooking in crock pots. At her age it made it easier for her to put it in turn it on and leave it and timer would shut it off. Well the apple crisp where ya'll say the last hour to rotate lid. If u put a news paper in between last hour the news paper absorbs the stream. Just thought I'd try to keep her idea alive. She past last year.

      Reply
      • DrDan

        May 01, 2019 at 12:58 pm

        Hi Curt,
        Welcome to the blog. Sorry for the delayed response.
        I have done that with heavy kitchen towels and paper towels. It does work fairly well and thanks for reminding me.
        Thanks for the note and rating.
        DrDan

      • Lucy Chipman

        December 07, 2021 at 1:31 pm

        Be careful using newspaper or similar items for any purposes common even 15 years ago. The ink and paper is much different now, and can in many cases add unhealthy or even toxic affects when the by products (such as would be in the food if newspaper is used in the manner that grandma used to do) are consumed.
        I’m looking forward to years of new cooking hacks as we adjust to the technological advances surrounding recycling and sustainability.

    6. Bylli

      February 28, 2017 at 10:03 am

      What is the serving size?

      Reply
      • DrDan

        March 01, 2017 at 8:19 pm

        About one cup I believe. I look at the cooking at the end and decide on what is a reasonable serving. I don't weigh or measure.

    7. RossC

      February 11, 2016 at 6:28 pm

      Our kind of dessert.. This will be put together before the weekend... I'm certain this will rate all 5 stars...

      Reply
    8. Kate Kyleen

      October 20, 2015 at 3:43 pm

      Oooo yum! Do you think coconut flour could substitute for regular flour?

      Reply
      • DrDan

        October 20, 2015 at 9:28 pm

        While I have never used coconut flour, I would think it would be fine.
        DrDan

    9. Lyn Brauer

      October 17, 2015 at 2:27 pm

      Sounds great! Would this work if doubled and cooked in a 6 quart?

      Reply
      • DrDan

        October 17, 2015 at 5:01 pm

        It should be fine.
        DrDan

    10. Dahn@savorthebest.com

      October 10, 2015 at 10:33 am

      I love apple crisp, it is so easy to make and it is such a healthier choice than a pie with all that extra fat laden crust.

      Reply
    11. Joan

      October 06, 2015 at 8:30 am

      I have this on my "to try" list and will buy some apples today. It is my husband's favorite dessert so I don't think I will have much in the way of leftovers. I can "taste" a recipe when I read it so I am leaving a rating before making it and this is going to be really good.

      Reply

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