Apple Crisp Without Oats

Imagine a warm, comforting spoonful of homemade apple crisp straight out of the oven! As you take your first bite of this classic fall dessert, the buttery crumble topping with the tender apple filling give your tastebuds a delightful fall treat! With only a few simple ingredients, this easy recipe comes together in no time.

Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of salted caramel for the BEST apple crisp you'll ever make! 

for more apple dessert recipes, try my Apple Pie filled Cinnamon Rolls and Maple Apple Pie!

Jump to:

• Best Apples for Apple Crisp
• Apple Crisp Ingredients
• Pro Tips
• How to make Apple Crisp
• Variations
• How to store Apple Crisp
• Recipe FAQs
• More Apple Recipes
• Apple Crisp without Oats

It's officially that time of year where the leaves are turning brown, everyone is apple picking (myself included), and we're all turning our ovens on to bake! What better way to use those leftover apples than to make a cozy and warm apple crisp? It's easily my favorite fall dessert. 

This apple crisp recipe is filled with warm spices and juicy baked apples then topped with an amazingly buttery crumb topping (the best part) - making this recipe the ultimate comfort food. I also added an extra touch of apple flavor by making an apple cider concentrate (it's just boiled cider) that adds SO much apple flavor to this recipe.

Each bite is like a cozy autumn embrace.

Celebrate apple season with this easy dessert and serve with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream and a little caramel sauce! The contrast between the warm, gooey center and the cold, velvety ice cream is a sensation that's pure bliss!

Best Apples for Apple Crisp

The best apple varieties for making apple crisp are those that strike a balance between sweet and tart flavors. You also want kind of apples that will hold their shape well during baking - because we're not making apple sauce!

Granny smith and honeycrisp apples are my go to apples for apple crisp. Jonagold, pink lady, cortland, braeburn, and empire apples are all great options too!

for best results, I recommend staying away from gala apples, fuji, golden delicious apples, and red delicious apples are these will become mushy in the oven when baking.

Apple Crisp Ingredients

(full list of ingredients in the recipe card)

Crisp filling:

• Apples - I used a mix of granny smith apples and honey crisp apples. It's a nice mix of sweet apples with a touch of tart flavor. 
• Brown sugar - light and dark brown sugar work here.
• Vanilla extract
• Warm spices - cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves are the stars of this show. It's basically apple pie spice.
• Lemon juice - this just helps to draw the juices out of apples as well as add a touch of acidity to balance out all of the sweetness. 
• Apple cider - we're going to boil apple cider down to create a concentrate (kinda like making apple cider donuts) - this adds a depth of flavor that is simple unparalleled. The added apple flavor makes this the most delicious apple crisp EVER. It's an extra step but so so worth it. 

Apple Crumble Topping:

• Cold butter - it's so important to use cold butter! This is what makes the topping nice and crisp! 
• All purpose flour
• cinnamon
• pinch of salt

Pro Tips

 Choose the Right Apples: Select apples that are firm and slightly tart for the best results. Varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, or Braeburn work well because they hold their shape and provide a balance of sweet and tart flavors.

Use Cold Butter: Cut the cold butter into small cubes and incorporate it into the topping mixture until you have coarse crumbs. This helps create that sought-after crumbly texture.

Rest Before Serving: Allow the apple crisp to rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven. This helps the flavors meld and prevents you from burning your tongue on hot apples.

Serve with Toppings: Apple crisp is delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra indulgent treat.

How to make Apple Crisp

Add apple cider to a saucepan over high heat. Boil until the cider is reduced to a ¼ cup, about 20-25 minutes. Pour into a heat safe container and allow it to cool.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f. Grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet or 9x13 baking dish with butter.

Peel, core, and slice the apples into bite sized chunks (about ¼ inch slices) and place in a large bowl. Add lemon juice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, spices, apple cider concentrate (boiled cider from above), and cornstarch. Toss together to coat and add to your prepared baking dish. (Image #1)

While the apples are sitting, Prepare the crisp topping by mixing together flour, cinnamon, and salt. Then add in the cold butter and pinch together (you can also use a pastry cutter or food processor) until crumbles begin to form and the butter is completely mixed into the flour. (Image #2 and 3)

Sprinkle the crumbly topping on top of the apple mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbly and soft. Allow the apple crisp to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. (Image #4)

Variations

Add maple syrup! for a little maple lavor. You may want to reduce the amount of sugar or replace it entirely to avoid the crisp from becoming too sweet.

Mixed Fruit Crisp: Combine apples with other fruits like pears, berries, or peaches to create a mixed fruit crisp. The combination of different fruits adds complexity to the flavor.

Caramel Apple Crisp: Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple filling before adding the topping. This creates a gooey, caramelized layer that pairs wonderfully with the apples.

Gluten-Free Apple Crisp: Use gluten-free flour and a gluten-free granola for the topping to make a delicious gluten-free version of apple crisp.

Vegan Apple Crisp: Substitute plant-based butter (like coconut oil) and non-dairy milk (such as almond or soy milk) for a vegan-friendly apple crisp. Ensure the granulated sugar is also vegan-friendly if needed.

How to store Apple Crisp

Allow the apple crisp to cool completely (should be room temperature). This helps prevent condensation from forming inside the storage container. Once the apple crisp is cool, cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer it to an airtight container. Store the covered or sealed apple crisp in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

You can also place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How to re-heat apple crisp:

When you're ready to enjoy your leftover apple crisp, you can reheat it to restore its warm, crispy texture. Here are two common methods: 

• Heat in the oven uncovered at 325 degrees f, until warm throughout - about 15-20 minutes. (recommended)
• Place in the microwave for about one minute. (this method is the fastest but the topping tends to get a little mushy)

Recipe FAQs

More Apple Recipes

• Apple Pie filling
• Upside Down Apple Crisp Cake
• Fried Apple Rings
• Honeycrisp Apple Fritters
• Apple Hand Pies
• Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Galette