Everyone loves the scent of a warm apple crisp fresh from the oven—the kind that fills your kitchen with the scent of cinnamon, baked apples, and buttery brown sugar. This recipe is one of those timeless desserts that feels like a warm hug, whether you’re making it for a cozy family dinner or a fall gathering with friends. Each bite delivers tender, lightly spiced apples under a golden, crunchy oat topping that’s just begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s simple, classic, and guaranteed to disappear fast.
What I love most about this apple crisp is how effortlessly it comes together. There’s no need to fuss with rolling out pie crust—just toss your apples with warm spices, mix up the crisp topping, and bake until bubbly and golden. It’s the perfect dessert for busy weeknights, holidays, or anytime you want something sweet without spending hours in the kitchen. And trust me: once you see how easy and delicious this version is, it’ll become your go-to apple dessert all year long.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 5 Gala Apples (sliced)
- White Sugar— 1/2 cup
- Lime Juice— 2 teaspoons
- Vanilla Extract— 1 tablepoon
- Salt— 1/2 teaspoon
- Apple Pie Spice— 1 tablespoon
Crisp Topping
- Butter (cold)— 1/4 cup
- Brown Sugar— 3/4 cup
- Quick Oats— 3/4 cup
- Flour— 1/2 cup
- Salt— 1/2 teaspoon
- Cinnamon— 1 teaspoon
What You’ll Need
- 8×8 Baking Pan
- Pastry Cutter
- 2 Mixing Bowls
How To Make Apple Crisp
- Preheat oven to 350F. In a large mixing bowl, combine apples, white sugar, vanilla extract, lime juice, salt, and apple pie spice, until well combined then set aside.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon then use a pastry cutter to work butter into the flour mixture (the texture will be crumbly).
- Once the butter is fully worked into the mixture add in the quick oats.
- Coat an 8×8 baking pan with cooking spray then spread the apples in an even layer at the bottom of the pan.
- Top evenly with the crumb topping then bake for 30 minutes.
- Garnish with whipped topping, ice cream, or caramel drizzle then serve.
Notes
- Sub lime juice for any type of citrus.
- For a crispier texture and more rustic look, substitute quick oats for old fashion oats.
Let us know what you thought of this Apple Crisp recipe. Check out some of our other delicious dessert recipes and feel free to browse our digital baking magazines full of tips tricks and dessert ideas.