Easy Apple Crisp

Crunchy, crispy apple crisp recipe! This is the easiest of the apple desserts. Just bake sliced tart apples topped with a streusel oat topping with plenty of brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. Serve with ice cream.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated November 03, 2022
Elise Bauer
Easy apple crisp topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Alison Bickel

Apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, and oats?

Welcome to the essential ingredients of an apple crisp, one of the most simple and easy of apple desserts!

This apple crisp recipe comes from my friend Sue Jackson of Littleton, Massachusetts. She introduced it to me years ago and it has since become a favorite.

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

One of the reasons I love this recipe is how easy it is to make. It's as no-fuss as you can get.

  • To make it, you just layer sliced peeled apples that have been tossed with lemon juice and vanilla in a baking pan.
  • Then top the apples with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and oats
  • Bake!
Alison Bickel

Crunchy Apple Crisp Topping

It's the crunchy topping that makes the apple crisp "crisp." The brown sugar, oatmeal, and butter topping mixture caramelizes while it bakes, giving you a blanked of crispy, caramel-y wonderfulness over the baked apple slices.

Leftover Apple Crisp for Breakfast

Just like a slice of apple pie makes the best breakfast, so does this apple crisp! Make extra for leftovers, and serve a spoonful on top of a bowl of yogurt.

Do you have a favorite way of preparing apple crisp? If so, please let us know about it in the comments.

Apple crisp recipe topped with vanilla ice cream.
Alison Bickel

Best Toppings for Apple Crisp

More Fall Apple Desserts
Homemade Apple Pie on Plate with Fork
Apple Pie
Apple Cobbler hot from oven
Apple Cobbler
Apple Crotada
Apple Crostada

Easy Apple Crisp

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 60 mins
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 7 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

  • 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

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Make the apple filling:

    In a large mixing bowl, combine the apple slices, lemon, and vanilla.

    Layer sliced apples in a 9x13-inch (or approximately the same size) baking pan.

    Sliced apples in a glass baking dish for an apple crisp recipe.
    Alison Bickel
  3. Make the topping:

    Combine the brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in the butter until you have a moist, crumbly mixture. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the apples.

    Sliced apples topped with apple crisp topping for the best apple crisp.
    Alison Bickel
  4. Bake:

    Bake at 375°F for 45 minutes or until topping looks crunchy and apples are tender.

    Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

    Apple crisp topping stirred with a wooden spoon.
    Alison Bickel
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
313 Calories
12g Fat
49g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 313
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g 16%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 100mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 36g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg 5%
Calcium 37mg 3%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 250mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.