Classic Homemade Apple Crisp with Oat Topping
Bake a comforting Homemade Apple Crisp! This easy recipe features tender, spiced Granny Smith apples topped with a buttery, crunchy quick oat crumble topping. Perfect fall dessert!
Ingredients
(Based on 1x column)
Apple Filling:
- ▢ 10 cups granny smith apples (approximately 7-8 apples or 3 ½ pounds), peeled, cored, sliced into ⅛ inch thick slices, then slices cut in half
- ▢ ½ cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
- â–¢ â…“ cup all-purpose flour
- ▢ ¼ cup granulated sugar
- â–¢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- â–¢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crisp Topping:
- â–¢ 1â…“ cups quick cooking oats (not instant)
- â–¢ 1â…“ cups all-purpose flour
- â–¢ 1 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed
- ▢ 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ▢ ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
1. Prepare Oven, Dish, and Apples:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick baker’s spray or grease it lightly. Set aside.
- Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and slice the Granny Smith apples into thin (about â…› inch thick) slices. Cut the longer slices in half crosswise so the pieces are roughly 1-inch wide. You should have about 10 cups of prepared apple pieces.
2. Make the Apple Filling:
- Place the prepared apple pieces in a very large mixing bowl.
- Add the ½ cup packed light brown sugar, ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract directly onto the apples.
- Using a large spoon or spatula (or clean hands!), gently fold and toss all the ingredients together until the apple slices are evenly coated with the sugars, flour, and spices.
3. Transfer Filling to Dish:
- Transfer the coated apple filling mixture to the prepared 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the apples into an even layer. The recipe notes not to pack the filling down too tightly.
4. Make the Crisp Topping:
- In a separate large mixing bowl, add the quick cooking oats, all-purpose flour, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon baking powder.
- Stir or whisk these dry ingredients together until well combined.
- Pour the ¾ cup of melted unsalted butter over the dry oat mixture.
- Stir with a fork or spatula until all the dry ingredients are evenly moistened by the butter and the mixture forms coarse crumbles with no dry pockets remaining.
5. Apply Topping and Bake:
- Sprinkle the crisp topping mixture evenly over the apple filling in the baking dish. Ensure the entire surface of the apples is covered.
- Place the dish in the preheated oven. Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes.
- The apple crisp is done when the topping is golden brown and you can see juices from the apple filling bubbling up around the edges.
6. Cool Slightly and Serve:
- Carefully remove the hot apple crisp from the oven.
- Place the baking dish on a wire rack and allow the crisp to cool on the counter for at least 5-10 minutes before serving. This brief rest allows the bubbly apple filling to set up and thicken slightly.
- Serve warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!