Simple & Sweet: Old Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe Like Grandma’s

The magic of an old fashioned apple crisp recipe dances between comfort and nostalgia, inviting memories of grandmother’s kitchen.

Fragrant cinnamon swirls through sweet, tender apples nestled beneath a golden-brown crumbly topping.

Seasonal ingredients come together in this classic dessert that speaks directly to your soul.

Crisp autumn afternoons call for something warm and inviting straight from the oven.

Perfectly caramelized edges hint at the deliciousness waiting beneath that crunchy exterior.

Layers of buttery, spiced goodness promise a delightful experience that connects you to cherished culinary traditions.

Bake this and watch everyone’s eyes light up with pure, unbridled joy.

Why Old Fashioned Apple Crisp Feels Like Grandma’s Kitchen

• Budget-friendly classic dessert that brings warmth to any table.
• Easy recipe perfect for beginners with straightforward mixing and baking steps that guarantee delicious results every time.
• Nostalgic dessert that appeals to all ages, transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering treat kids and adults will love.
• Preparation takes less than 20 minutes, with total cooking time under an hour, making it an ideal last-minute dessert option for busy households.

What You Need for Classic Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

• Apples: Sweet and tart apples perfect for baking, with good firmness that holds shape during cooking. Best varieties include Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn.
• Lemon Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds bright, tangy flavor to balance sweetness.

• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provide caramel-like sweetness and help create delicious syrup around apples.

• Cinnamon, Nutmeg: Warm, aromatic spices that complement apple's natural flavor. Ground versions work best.
• Flour: Helps thicken the apple mixture and create a smooth sauce.

• Oats: Adds hearty texture and nutty flavor to the crisp topping. Rolled or old-fashioned oats recommended.
• Flour: Helps bind the topping ingredients together.
• Brown Sugar: Provides rich, molasses-like sweetness to the crisp topping.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Butter: Creates rich, golden-brown topping with a crumbly texture. Cold, unsalted butter works best.

How to Bake the Perfect Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

Step 2: Mix Apple Filling

• Sliced apples
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Lemon juice
• Flour

Toss ingredients until apples are completely coated. Transfer mixture into prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.

Step 3: Create Crispy Topping

• Rolled oats
• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt

Add cold cubed butter. Use fingertips or pastry cutter to blend until mixture looks like rough crumbs.

Step 4: Add Topping Layer

Sprinkle oat crumb mixture uniformly over apple filling, covering entire surface.

Step 5: Bake Dessert

Place dish in preheated oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes until topping turns golden brown and apple filling becomes bubbly and tender.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Allow crisp to rest for several minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream if desired.

Tips to Get That Crisp Golden Apple Topping

• Select Seasonal Apples: Choose crisp, firm varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn for the best texture and balance of tartness and sweetness.
• Prevent Apple Browning: Toss sliced apples with lemon juice immediately after cutting to prevent oxidation and maintain their fresh appearance.
• Create Crumbly Topping: Use cold butter and work it into the dry ingredients with your fingers for a perfectly textured, flaky crisp topping that doesn't become dense.
• Adjust Sweetness Levels: Reduce sugar for a less sweet version or use alternative sweeteners like maple syrup or honey for a different flavor profile.
• Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular flour with gluten-free flour blend and use dairy-free butter to make this recipe suitable for gluten-free and vegan diets.

Best Way to Store Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

• Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, keeping the crisp's texture and flavor intact.
• Warm slices at 350F for 10-15 minutes, restoring the topping's delightful crunchiness and bringing back the dessert's fresh-baked appeal.
• Quickly reheat individual portions for 30-45 seconds, creating a warm treat with minimal effort.
• Wrap the entire crisp or individual portions tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months for a future dessert surprise.

Great Sips and Sides with Apple Crisp

• Creamy vanilla ice cream nestles perfectly alongside the warm, spiced apple crisp, creating a delightful temperature and flavor contrast that melts beautifully together.
• Rich caramel sauce adds a luxurious touch, enhancing the dessert's sweetness and providing a silky layer that harmonizes with the crisp's buttery oat topping.
• Spiced chai tea echoes the warm cinnamon notes in the apple crisp, offering a comforting beverage that deepens the dessert's autumnal flavors and provides a soothing accompaniment.
• Smooth, oaky bourbon cuts through the dessert's sweetness, delivering a sophisticated adult twist that highlights the crisp's complex spice profile and adds depth to each bite.

Delicious Variations on Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

Gluten-Free Delight: Replace regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour blend to create a celiac-friendly version that maintains the crisp’s rich flavor and texture.

Vegan Apple Crisp: Swap butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine, and use maple syrup instead of granulated sugar to craft a plant-based dessert that’s equally delicious and cruelty-free.

Low-Sugar Option: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener in place of traditional sugars, and incorporate extra cinnamon and nutmeg to enhance natural sweetness without adding excessive calories.

Seasonal Berry Fusion: Mix chopped apples with seasonal berries like raspberries or blueberries to create a vibrant, fruity variation that adds beautiful color and complementary flavors to the classic recipe.

Old Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Comforting classic Old Fashioned Apple Crisp delivers warmth and nostalgia from grandmother’s kitchen, blending sweet cinnamon-spiced apples with buttery crumbly oat topping. Midwestern home cooking shines through this simple dessert, promising delightful memories with each delectable spoonful.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 6 medium apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced

Sugars and Spices:

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Binding and Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Warm the kitchen oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a rectangular baking vessel with a light coating of grease to prevent sticking.
2. Arrange apple slices in a spacious mixing bowl and gently fold in granulated sugar, brown sugar, aromatic cinnamon, warm nutmeg, bright lemon juice, and flour until each apple slice is thoroughly embraced by the sweet and tangy mixture.
3. Transfer the fragrant apple medley into the greased baking dish, creating an even layer that promises delectable depth.
4. Create the crisp topping by combining hearty oats, fine flour, rich brown sugar, comforting cinnamon, and a hint of salt in a separate container.
5. Incorporate cold butter cubes into the dry ingredients, using fingertips or a pastry tool to craft a crumbly texture resembling coarse sandy particles.
6. Generously scatter the textured oat topping across the apple landscape, ensuring complete coverage.
7. Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and allow the dessert to transform for 40-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling fruit underneath.
8. Remove from oven and permit the crisp to rest briefly, allowing flavors to settle and temperatures to moderate.
9. Serve while still warm, optionally accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of freshly whipped cream for an indulgent finishing touch.

Notes

• Choose tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity in your crisp.
• Slice apples uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dessert.
• Layer the topping generously, creating a thick, crunchy layer that provides delightful textural contrast to soft, warm apples.
• Customize the recipe for dietary needs by substituting gluten-free flour and using plant-based butter for a vegan-friendly version.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 120 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg