YaYa’s Easy Apple Crisp
Easy Apple Crisp is a warm, comforting dessert made with tender tart apples, a touch of cinnamon, and a buttery oat topping that bakes up golden and crunchy. This simple recipe comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknight treats or holiday gatherings. Best served warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 7 tart apples cored, peeled or unpeeled, and sliced (I use unpeeled)
- 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced apples, lemon juice, and vanilla. Layer apples in a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- In another bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is moist and crumbly.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over apples.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until topping is golden and apples are tender.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
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Yaya’s Tips for Success
Apple crisp is such a warm, comforting dessert, and it’s one of the easiest ways to make your kitchen smell like fall. The key to a perfect crisp is balancing tart and sweet flavors while ensuring your topping stays crunchy. Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best contrast. If you prefer a softer topping, cover the dish loosely with foil for the first half of baking, then uncover to crisp it up.
- Slice apples evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Use cold butter when mixing the topping for a crumblier texture.
- For extra crunch, add 2 tablespoons chopped pecans or walnuts to the oat mixture.
- If your apples are very sweet, reduce the brown sugar slightly.
- Serve warm for the best flavor, especially with vanilla ice cream.
Yaya’s Customization Ideas
This apple crisp is delightful as is, but you can change it up to suit your family’s tastes.
- Try adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the topping for a deeper spice flavor.
- For a fruity twist, mix in sliced pears or a handful of fresh cranberries with the apples.
- You can also replace part of the oats with crushed graham crackers for a dessert with a hint of pie crust flavor.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also love my Apple Fritters or Merryfield Apple Cake; both are wonderful ways to use fresh apples.
Yaya’s Original Recipe Card
