• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Spoon Fork BaconSpoon Fork Bacon
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • Contact
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • ×

    Home > Blog > Desserts > Apple Crisp Recipe

    Apple Crisp Recipe

    by Teri Lyn Fisher · Published: Oct 7, 2022

    Jump to Recipe
    A simple and delicious Apple Crisp Recipe with perfectly cooked apples and the most addicting, streusel top! We love serving it warm with big scoops of vanilla ice cream. It's one of our favorite fall desserts!
    Apple crisps in cast iron skillets being eaten.
    Apple crisp being eaten with ice cream.
    Close up on an apple crisp.
    Two apple crisps being served with ice cream.
    Two apple crisps being eaten.
    Apple crisps baked in cast iron skillets with ice cream on top.

    I love apple desserts so much and this delicious Apple Crisp Recipe is one of my go to dessert recipes and favorite thing to taste when the fall season begins! It’s incredibly easy to make with a delicious hint of spice from the cinnamon and cardamom! I love enjoying this dessert warm, topped with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s so hard to find a better combination!

    Our recipe comes together in under an hour and you can even prep different components ahead of time to make things even easier. We made these “single serving” (although each skillet is really big enough for two people!) portions, but the recipe can easily be doubled to make in a large 10″ skillet to serve family style.

    What’s the Difference Between Crisp and Crumble?

    We get asked this question all the time and while they’re both baked fruit desserts, a crisp has a streusel topping that incorporates rolled oats. The rolled oats crisp up while baked, creating a slightly crunchy streusel topping. A crumble has a streusel topping without oats, so the topping tends to be more cakey and dense. Both desserts are delicious but we tend to lean a little more towards the crisp, like our Apple Crisp Recipe today!

    Apple crisps being eaten with apple slices on the side.

    How to Make Our Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe

    Process

    1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 3 (12 ounce or 6 inch) mini skillets each with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.
    Buttered cast iron skillets to make apple crisps.

    STREUSEL

    Ingredients for streusel topping for an apple crisp.
    1. Place oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl.
    2. Stir together.
    Buttered cast iron skillets to make apple crisps.
    Apple crisps topping mixed together in a bowl.
    1. Add butter to streusel mixture.
    2. Cut in butter until a coarse mealy texture forms. Place the bowl in the freezer while making filling, about 10 minutes.
    Apple crisp ingredients to mix in butter.
    Apple crisp topping in a bowl.

    APPLE FILLING

    Ingredients for an apple filling for apple crisp.
    1. Combine all filling ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
    2. Toss together until thoroughly mixed.
    Apple crisp filling ingredients in a bowl.
    Apple crisp filling mixed together in a bowl.

    ASSEMBLE

    1. Divide filling mixture into prepared skillets and set aside.
    2. Remove streusel from freezer. Divide streusel between skillets in an even layer, covering apples.
    Apple crisps filling in cast iron skillets.
    Apple crisps ready to go into the oven.
    1. Place crisps onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
    Apple crisps freshly baked.
    1. Cool apple crisps for 7 to 10 minutes before serving (with a scoop of ice cream, which is our favorite way to serve our crisps!)
    Apple crisp recipes with ice cream.

    Tools You Will Need

    • knife
    • cutting board
    • mixing bowls
    • wooden spoon
    • measuring spoons
    • dry measuring cup
    • pastry cutter
    • mini 5″ cast iron skillets or 8″ cast iron skillet

    Best Apples To Use For Apple Crisps

    The best apples to use for apple crisps are apples that hold up well when baked. We love using gala apples because their crispness allows them to hold up to baking recipes, while the natural, mellow sweet flavor allows you to use less sugar overall. More apples that we love using for our apple crisp recipe are:

    • pink lady – firm texture with light sweetness
    • granny smith – hearty, firm and tart
    • honeycrisp -firm, crisp and sugary sweet
    • jonagolds – firm flesh with a tangy, tart sweetness

    Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions for Our Apple Crisp Recipe

    Make Ahead

    The streusel for the apple crisp can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready to use, fluff with a fork until back to a mealy texture and sprinkle over apple filling.

    The entire apple crisp can be made and stored in the skillets (or whatever baking dish) for up to a day. Loosely cover apple crisp with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. When ready to bake, remove plastic wrap and place directly into a preheated oven. Add 3 to 5 minutes to the baking time.

    Freezing

    If freezing, I recommend doubling the recipe and freezing in an 8″x 8″ baking dish or pan for best results. To freeze, assemble apple crisp recipe completely, but leave unbaked. Tightly cover with a few layers of plastic wrap followed by a layer of tightly wrapped foil. Place the unbaked crisp in the freezer until ready to use. Use within 6 months for best quality.

    When ready to bake, remove foil and plastic wrap. Recover tightly with foil and bake frozen for about 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and filling is thick and bubbling.

    Apple Crisp Recipe Variations

    • Add an extra bit of spice to the filling with a pinch of nutmeg and squeeze of lemon juice.
    • Add some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the streusel for extra crunch.
    • Use cold brown butter that has solidified in the crisp topping (streusel) to add a hint of a nutty, savory element to the dessert.

    Tips and Tricks for Apple Crisp Success

    • It’s important to use cornstarch in the filling to ensure the apples and juices thicken nicely and come together instead of being dry and crumbly. (all-purpose flour can also be used to achieve this)
    • To check the filling doneness, use a paring knife to pierce through the apple crisp. If resistance is felt within the filling the crisp is not ready. If the streusel is already brown, cover the crisp with foil to prevent the streusel top from burning.
    • It’s import to peel, core and thinly slice the apples to maintain a clean and smooth texture within the filling.
    • Adding ice cream or whipped cream to the crisp will only enhance the overall experience!
    Apple crisps being eaten.

    Size Variations

    Our easy apple crisp recipe is meant to make 3 (5″) cast iron skillets that can each be shared between two people or eaten by a single person with a large appetite! We understand that many people may not own mini skillets nor would they want to buy them just for this recipe, so below we have instructions to make large family style versions of our recipe.

    To Make in an 8″ Cast Iron Skillet

    Keep the recipe as written, but reduce the amount of butter used to grease the skillet to a total of 2 tablespoons. Once the apple crisp is assembled, increase the baking time to about 35 minutes.

    To Make in an 8″x 8″ Baking Dish

    Double the written recipe, except keep the butter used to grease the baking dish to 2 tablespoons (so 12 tablespoons of butter for the streusel). Increase the baking time to 35 to 45 minutes. That’s it!

    More Sweet Apple Recipes You Will Love

    • German Apple Cake on a platter with a slice out.
      German Apple Cake
    • Brown butter apple pie recipe with a cheddar crust and a slice taken out.
      Apple Pie Recipe (with a Cheddar Crust)
    • Sliced honey crisp apple tart tatin with melting whipped cream.
      Honeycrisp Apple Tarte Tatin
    • A close up of apple fritters with maple glaze.
      Apple Fritters

    Some Savory Apple Recipes You Will Love

    • A plate of cheesy apple farro cakes.
      Cheesy Apple Farro Cakes
    • Plates of caramelized apple and herb fiocchi with gorgonzola cream sauce.
      Caramelized Apple and Herb Fiocchi
    • Apple cheddar scones piled on a blue green plate.
      Apple & Cheddar Scones
    • A bowl of apple and fennel stuffing with a spoon.
      Apple and Fennel Stuffing

    Apple crisp recipe being served with ice cream.

    Hungry for more?

    Subscribe to never miss a recipe.

    EmailPinTweetShareYummly
    Apple crisps in cast iron skillets being eaten.

    Apple Crisp Recipe

    5 from 6 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    A simple and delicious Apple Crisp Recipe with perfectly cooked apples and the most addicting, streusel top! We love serving it warm with big scoops of vanilla ice cream. It's one of our favorite fall desserts!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 25 mins
    Total Time: 40 mins
    Servings: 6

      INGREDIENTS  

    streusel

    • 1/2 cup rolled oats
    • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
    • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 9 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and divided

    filling

    • 4 gala apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
    • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease 3 (12 ounce or 6 inch) mini skillets each with 1 tablespoon butter. Set aside.

    streusel

    • Place oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and stir together.
    • Cut in butter until a coarse mealy texture forms. Place the bowl in the freezer while making filling, about 10 minutes.

    apple filling

    • Combine all filling ingredients into a large mixing bowl and toss together until thoroughly mixed.

    assemble

    • Divide filling mixture into prepared skillets and set aside.
    • Remove streusel from freezer. Divide streusel between skillets in an even layer, covering apples.
    • Place crisps onto a baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
    • Cool apple crisps for 7 to 10 minutes before serving (with a scoop of ice cream, which is our favorite way to serve our crisps!)

      NOTES  

    Apple Crisp Recipe Variations
    • Add an extra bit of spice to the filling with a pinch of nutmeg and squeeze of lemon juice.
    • Add some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the streusel for extra crunch.
    • Use cold brown butter that has solidified in the crisp topping (streusel) to add a hint of a nutty, savory element to the dessert.
    Size Variations
    Our easy apple crisp recipe is meant to make 3 (5″) cast iron skillets that can each be shared between two people or eaten by a single person with a large appetite! We understand that many people may not own mini skillets nor would they want to buy them just for this recipe, so below we have instructions to make large family style versions of our recipe.
    To Make in an 8″ Cast Iron Skillet
    Keep the recipe as written, but reduce the amount of butter used to grease the skillet to a total of 2 tablespoons. Once the apple crisp is assembled, increase the baking time to about 35 minutes.
    To Make in an 8″x 8″ Baking Dish
    Double the written recipe, except keep the butter used to grease the baking dish to 2 tablespoons (so 12 tablespoons of butter for the streusel). Increase the baking time to 35 to 45 minutes. That’s it!
    Tips and Tricks for Apple Crisp Success
    • It’s important to use cornstarch in the filling to ensure the apples and juices thicken nicely and come together instead of being dry and crumbly. (all-purpose flour can also be used to achieve this)
    • To check the filling doneness, use a paring knife to pierce through the apple crisp. If resistance is felt within the filling the crisp is not ready. If the streusel is already brown, cover the crisp with foil to prevent the streusel top from burning.
    • It’s import to peel, core and thinly slice the apples to maintain a clean and smooth texture within the filling.
    • Adding ice cream or whipped cream to the crisp will only enhance the overall experience!
    Calories: 402kcal Carbohydrates: 61g Protein: 3g Fat: 18g Saturated Fat: 11g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 45mg Sodium: 207mg Potassium: 214mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 42g Vitamin A: 592IU Vitamin C: 6mg Calcium: 47mg Iron: 1mg
    CUISINE: American
    KEYWORD: apple dessert, apple recipe
    COURSE: Dessert

    You Might Also Love...

    • German Apple Cake on a platter with a slice out.German Apple Cake
    • A close up of apple fritters with maple glaze.Apple Fritters
    • Brown butter apple pie recipe with a cheddar crust and a slice taken out.Apple Pie Recipe (with a Cheddar Crust)

    October 7, 2022 / 24 Comments

    About Teri Lyn Fisher

    Teri Lyn Fisher is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food and cosmetics photographer. She is a big fan of hot dogs. #sfbTERI

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Smash Cake
    Next Post: Pumpkin Pie Recipe (with a Chocolate Crust) Next Post >

    Reader Interactions

    October 7, 2022 / 24 Comments

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Did you make this recipe? We want to see!

      tag @SpoonForkBacon and #SpoonForkBacon on Instagram

    1. Cheryl

      October 18, 2022 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      I made this apple crisp recipe for dessert last night in the 12 inch cast iron skillet for my family of 3. Today it is all gone! We all loved it. I will be using this recipe for apple crisp from now on. I love your layout of recipes. Very easy to follow and I appreciate all the helpful hints. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gael

        November 15, 2022 at 4:09 pm

        Question??? Did you double the recipe (filling & topping) or just the topping for the 12″ cast iron skillet?

        Reply
    2. Elizabeth

      February 09, 2022 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      I really like this recipe because of the simplicity and the flexibility of making it in any type and size pan

      Reply
    3. Christy

      October 02, 2017 at 7:35 am

      I made thees last night for my hubby and myself. I actually found little ramkens that are like mini pie dishes at Homegoods. Super cute. They were a little smaller than a typical 8 oz ramken so I actually had enough apples and topping for an extra crisp. Ha- nice problem to have. Too much dessert. I chopped and peeled and cored the apples and added the spices a few hours ahead of time and stuck them in the fridge. I also made the topping ahead of time and just sat it out on the counter till I was ready for it. Assembling them couldn’t have been easier. And they made such a nice presentation with a scoop of ice cream on top (and I also picked up some caramel sauce). My hubby and I loved them. I told my mom she should make these for Thanksgiving. My SIL has celiac and as I told my mom since this isn’t like baking a cake or something I don’t *think* she’d have to worry about any GF flour conversions for the crumble topping. I also omitted the cardamom because I have no other recipes that call for it and it was $11 at the grocery store. Just not worth it for the 1/4 tsp the recipe calls for. I used nutmeg instead and no one would or could ever tell a difference. Also I do Weight Watchers and I tracked one at 9 smart points (not counting ice cream or carmel sauce). These were delicious. We both LOVED them. They just TASTED like FALL! And the presentation being a mini individualized dessert is just adorable. LOVED these! Fabulous recipe and super easy to make!!! As we both said it’s basically the inners of an apple pie without the pesky crust getting in the way. SOOOO GOOD! Thank you for the amazing recipe!

      Reply
    4. Shireen

      December 08, 2013 at 9:45 am

      I hosted a dinner party last night and my guests loved this recipe. Served warm with vanilla bean icecream. I used spartan apples – delish!

      Reply
    5. Ruth

      November 16, 2013 at 11:51 am

      Can these be warmed up in a microwave? I think these would be great for an office potluck.

      Reply
    6. Jana

      October 17, 2013 at 11:55 am

      I love it! I am curious, could be made the same way but not put into individual cups or is it not?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        October 17, 2013 at 12:51 pm

        You can totally make this family style, you will just have to adjust the baking time!

        Reply
    7. Lyndsey

      September 23, 2013 at 7:54 am

      Haven’t been to your page in awhile and miss the cleanliness of the design (the animated ads are tacky). On the other hand, your recipes always look amazing and this is what it should be about! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Teri Lyn Fisher

        September 23, 2013 at 9:07 am

        Hi Lyndsey, thanks for reading. We have ads so we could attempt to stop going out of pocket on the recipes we make and share every week. It took us a very very long time to decide to finally out them up, and even now they are not up all the time. We know they fudge up the aesthetics, believe me. Thanks for your comment!

        Reply
    8. Betsy

      September 21, 2013 at 4:41 pm

      I so hear you on the 5 bite to one bite size difference! Whenever my husband and I share food I get all stressed out and feel like I have to eat way too fast simply to end up eating my share of whatever it is! These, therefore, are perfect. Can’t wait to try them!

      Reply
    9. Heather Saffer

      September 19, 2013 at 10:27 am

      This is so easy! And I can make it gluten-free. Win! :)

      Reply
    10. Katherines Corner

      September 19, 2013 at 5:31 am

      love this! I hope you will share it at my hop today, yummmmmmmmmmmm

      Reply
    11. Tammela

      September 19, 2013 at 2:58 am

      Yum. I am excited for fall apples and apple creations!

      Reply
    12. Tieghan

      September 18, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      Haha! Lucky for me I have like a gazillon people around me to eat all my baked goods! Actually, I don;t get enough of them! LOL!

      Love these crisps!

      Reply
    13. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar

      September 18, 2013 at 12:23 pm

      I am all over this! LOVE a quick dessert like this!

      Reply
    14. Teresa

      September 18, 2013 at 11:49 am

      So my husband is going away for 2 weeks and I was thinking about what to cook for those weeks. I hate making big desserts because it just sits in the fridge for days! this is perfect! thank you!

      Reply
    15. Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking

      September 18, 2013 at 10:20 am

      Oh Newsroom, so good! So are these crisps. Your story reminds me of “Joey doesn’t share food!”

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        September 18, 2013 at 7:31 pm

        Friends reference….ugh, love you so hard for that. :)

        Reply
    16. Lori

      September 18, 2013 at 9:02 am

      I would like to try this recipe for an upcoming get together. It’s unclear which are the streusel ingredients and which are filling ingredients, could you clarify?

      Reply
      • Spoon Fork Bacon

        September 18, 2013 at 9:40 am

        I fixed it! Thank you!

        Reply
    17. Quyen

      September 18, 2013 at 8:35 am

      I love the idea of an individual plate. It makes it seem so special to have your very own! Looks super easy. I love that your food looks real and not perfected for food photography!
      http://liveitinerantly.com

      Reply
    18. Belinda @themoonblushbaker

      September 18, 2013 at 8:16 am

      haha That’s why I cook my own cookies and cake, I am too uncontrollable round them! So wonderful, love warm dessert and apples have speacil place in my heart

      Reply
    19. Meghan @ Cake 'n' Knife

      September 18, 2013 at 7:46 am

      These are so perfectly sized!! I am going to have to start making these for dessert during the week – best way to satisfy my sweet tooth and built-in portion control!! SCORE.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    HI! WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE!

    Teri and Jenny of Spoon Fork Bacon

    We hope you find something you love in
    our little corner of the internet.
    XOXOXO, Teri + Jenny

    ABOUT US

    As Featured On

    A complication of logos showcasing where Spoon Fork Bacon has been featured. Including delish, today show, cosmopolitan, good morning america, domino, good housekeeping, william sonoma, and country living.

    Asian Inspired

    BBQ

    PORK

    DESSERT

    For Dinner Tonight

    • Panko crusted lamb chop recipe on a plate. Panko-Crusted Lamb Chops Recipe
    • Tteokbokki recipe on a platter. Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes)
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Korean Army Stew or Budae Jjigae in a pot ready to be served. Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • A collage of our best Valentine's dinner ideas. Best Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

    Popular Now

    • Fried pickle chips on a platter with ranch dressing. Fried Pickle Chips
    • Carrot cake recipe on a cake stand with a slice out. Carrot Cake Recipe
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • Brown Butter Colcannon recipe in a bowl with a spoon in it. Brown Butter Colcannon
    • Chicken and gnocchi soup in a bowl with bread on the side. Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta

    Footer

    As Featured On
    As featured on graphic.

    GET NEW RECIPES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • TikTok

    All content including images © 2011-2022 Teri Lyn Fisher & Jenny Park. Stealing is bad karma.

    Spoon Fork Bacon contains paid advertising banners and occasionally affiliate links, and sponsored posts.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sponsored posts are indicated at the start of such posts. All of our opinions are always our own.
    Thank you for supporting our sponsors. It helps us pay to run this site and bring you unique and original recipes.

    Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!