This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our privacy policy.
Apple Crisp with Oatmeal
Let’s hold hands and admit something; the best part of a crisp is the topping. Sure, the spiced, sweet, tender filling is delicious, but aren’t you quietly ecstatic when your serving has a thick slab of crumbly crust on top?
Long ago we had a dinner guest who—while we were hustling around getting little kids to bed and stacking dishes—managed to eat his way through most of the topping of an apple crisp meant for 8, leaving behind the naked, beige soft fruit underneath. We still love him, but we haven’t forgotten.
But since we don’t want to just bake layers of crisp topping without fruit beneath it, apples must be peeled and sliced. Though I have now planted a major seed in my own brain. Next up: Apple Crisp Slab Pie, with perhaps a 1:1 ratio or topping and apple layer thickness.
What Kind of Apples to Use in Apple Crisp
There are a ton of different kinds of apples in the world. Hannah, one of Jack’s oldest best friends (they met when they were 3 – oh, don’t let me start waxing nostalgic), once decided to explore the wide world of apples by taking a single simple pie recipe and making it every Sunday with a different variety of apple, from Macoun to McIntosh. So, same pie, same ingredients, only the type of apple changed. A pretty cool way of getting to know the different varietals if you ask me.
Best Apples for Apple Crisp
I like to use a combo of apples in my apple crisps and pies so that there are layers of apple flavor. Some of the best choices are:
- Granny Smith
- Rome
- Jonathan
- Honeycrisp
- Jonagold
- Braeburn
- Mutsu
- Golden Delicious
- McIntosh
- Macoun
This easy apple crisp recipe with oatmeal streusel topping can be in the oven in 15 minutes if you get a little help peeling the apples.
Tweet This
Getting the apples ready for the crisp is half the battle, so if you have anyone you can enlist to tackle that, you can ready the other ingredients and the topping in the meantime. If these two tasks can be accomplished simultaneously then the whole crisp will take less than 15 minutes to get into the oven minutes into the oven. And while you eat dinner, curling, fragrant wisps of crisp perfume will reminding you that dessert is coming.
Other Apple Dessert Recipes:
- The Best Streusel Apple Pie Ever
- Favorite Streusel Apple Crisp
- Dutch Baby Pancake with Sauteed Apples
- Apple Coffee Cake
Like this recipe? Pin it to your favorite board on Pinterest.
Pin This
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
For the Crisp
- 8 large apples about 3 1/2 pounds McIntosh, Greening Macoun apples, peeled, cored, and sliced about ¾-inch thick
- grated zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Topping
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup oatmeal
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter diced
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Butter or spray an 8 or 9-inch baking dish.
- In the dish itself, toss the apples with the lemon zest and juice, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Make the topping: combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and oatmeal in medium-sized bowl. Add the diced butter and using your fingers (or a pastry cutter if you have one) blend the butter with the dry ingredients until the butter is in very small bits, like peas or smaller. Distribute the mixture evenly over the apples.
- Bake the crisp on a baking sheet with sides for 40 to 50 minutes until the top is brown and the juice bubbles up around the edges. Let sit for at least 10 minutes and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The nutrition values are provided as an estimate. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.
Made this recipe? Post a photo of your delicious creation on Instagram with our hashtag #dinnersolved
This crisp is just like the one my mom made when I was a kid–every bite is a delicious trip back in time. Also, LOVE the story about your struesel-gobbling guest. So funny! I’d never forget, either.
Went apple picking and made this apple crisp. The recipe was fun and easy to follow. The apple crisp is so yummy, especially while still warm!
I thought I had perfected the oatmeal cookie with crasins and white chocolate chips until I made your’s today! Oh my goodness, your’s are the best I have ever tasted! Now tomorrow I make my family’s Thanksgiving favorite Apple Cranberry Crisp, but I just might have to make your Apple Crisp!
YAY! Boyce, you made my day. I have to say, I’m feeling pretty fine about those cookies – and this crisp wasn’t too shabby, either! Let’s all say thaks to oats in our desserts. Happy Thanksgiving!