Description

A rustic, foolproof fall dessert featuring tender spiced apples topped with a crunchy, buttery oat crumble. This easy-to-make crisp is perfect for impressing guests without the stress of pie crusts.

Ingredients

Scale

6–7 medium apples (about 3–4 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼-inch wedges (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
½ cup granulated sugar
2–3 tablespoons apple cider
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup light brown sugar
½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, toss apple slices with granulated sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch until evenly coated.
Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Drizzle apple cider over the top if using.
In a medium bowl, whisk together rolled oats, flour, and brown sugar.
Add cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender, fork, or fingers to cut the butter in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter chunks remaining.
Spread the crumble topping evenly over the apples. Do not press down. Drizzle vanilla extract over the topping.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple juices are bubbling vigorously in the center.
If the topping browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes to allow the filling to set.
Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Use cold butter for a crunchy topping; soft butter results in a dense texture. A mix of tart (Granny Smith) and sweet (Honeycrisp) apples provides the best flavor and texture balance. Avoid Red Delicious apples as they become mealy when baked. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheated in the oven to restore crunch. The unbaked crisp can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 320
Sugar: 32
Sodium: 150
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 52
Fiber: 5
Protein: 4

Keywords: apple crisp, fall dessert, easy dessert, oat crumble, buttery topping, gluten-free option, dairy-free option, party dessert, rustic dessert