Celebrate fall and apples with this easy classic dessert with juicy cinnamon apple filling topped with a sweet buttery, and crispy oat crust. Great for the smaller households but easy to double for larger families. All you need is 10 minute prep time, a few ingredients, and your slow cooker.
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, 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.
In keeping with my keep it simple theme:
- Peal and cut up the apples.
- Add a simple topping and cook.
Home cooking goodness has never been so simple.
My Rating
Very nice. A high 4 or low 5.
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 a crisp. But call it a crumble if you want.
How to Make Crock Pot Apple Crisp
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.
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 if you want.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. Preheat the oven to 350°. For this size recipe, use an 8 by 8 or 6 by 9 baking dish. 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.
While it is great cold, it is spectacular warm, especially when combined with vanilla ice cream.
Some will like to drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with some 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
🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
Start with apples of your choice. You will need four medium apples, which will make four cups of apple slices—peel and slice.
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.
Give a smaller 3-4 quart crock pot a heavy spray of PAM.
Add 4 cups of apple slices.
Smooth out apples, then pour the topping mixture evenly over the apples.
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.
Allow to cool a little before serving so the apples will set up some. Great with ice cream.
📖Recipe
Crock Pot Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 4 apples - medium
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Start with apples of your choice. You will need four medium apples, which will make four cups of apple slices—peel and slice.
- 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.
- Give a smaller 3-4 quart crock pot a heavy spray of PAM.
- Add 4 cups of apple slices.
- Smooth out apples, then pour the topping mixture evenly over the apples.
- 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.
- Allow to cool a little before serving so the apples will set up some. Great with ice cream.
My Private Notes
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- 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.
- Cut in half for 2-quart pot. Double for a larger pot. This recipe is for 3-4 quart crock pot.
- 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
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Originally published October 3, 2015. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
David T Quick
You noted you could cook this in the oven. You listed tem and size of pan, but not for how long?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
Thanks for the proofread. It got lost during the rewriting multiple times. Bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown.
ROBERT HENG
Can I do this crock pot apple crisp and leave out the OATS and make it a crumble instead
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
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
Amy H
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.
Merry
I don't understand what you mean by "rotating the lid?"
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
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
Curt Bray
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.
DrDan
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
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.
Bylli
What is the serving size?
DrDan
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.
RossC
Our kind of dessert.. This will be put together before the weekend... I'm certain this will rate all 5 stars...
Kate Kyleen
Oooo yum! Do you think coconut flour could substitute for regular flour?
DrDan
While I have never used coconut flour, I would think it would be fine.
DrDan
Lyn Brauer
Sounds great! Would this work if doubled and cooked in a 6 quart?
DrDan
It should be fine.
DrDan
[email protected]
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.
Joan
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.