Description

This easy apple crisp recipe skips the oats for a classic, buttery crumble topping over tender, cinnamon-spiced apples. It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing dessert that comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

6 cups apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 5–6 medium apples; Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish lightly with butter or nonstick spray.
Peel, core, and slice 6 cups of apples (about 5-6 medium) into 1/4-inch thick slices.
In a large bowl, combine apple slices, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (if using), and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Stir until apples are evenly coated.
Pour the apple mixture into the greased baking dish and spread evenly. Press down gently to pack the apples.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add cold, cubed butter and use a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 1/2 cup chopped nuts if using.
Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the apples, covering all the fruit. Do not press down.
Bake on the center rack for 40-50 minutes, until the apples are bubbly and the topping is golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil after 30 minutes.
Let the crisp rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow the juices to set and the topping to stay crunchy.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Omit nuts for nut-free or use seeds for crunch. Keep butter cold for a crisp topping. Mix tart and sweet apples for best flavor. If topping isn’t browning, increase oven to 375°F for last 10 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Leftovers keep well and taste even better the next day.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40-50 minutes
Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe (about 1 cup)
Calories: 310
Sugar: 32
Sodium: 120
Fat: 12
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 48
Fiber: 3
Protein: 2

Keywords: apple crisp, no oats, easy dessert, fall baking, apple crumble, oat-free, homemade apple crisp, classic dessert, crowd-pleaser, comfort food