Apple Crisp without Oats

up close photo of apple crisp in a bowl with ice cream and a spoon.

5 from 11 votes

This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe has a cinnamon spiced crumble topping without oats and a juicy tender apple filling. Enjoy warm with ice cream!

Prep Time40

Cook Time40

Total Time1 20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 380kcal

Author: Britney

Equipment

9 inch Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

Streusel Topping

1 ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
¾ cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
½ tsp Nutmeg
Pinch Kosher Salt
½ cup Salted Butter (cold)
pinch oF salt

Filling

2 lbs Apples (I used a mix oF granny smith apples and honeycrisp apples)
1 ½ cups Apple Cider (boiled down to ¼ cup - see instructions)
⅓ cup brown sugar
2 tbsps cornstarch
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
pinch oF salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Notes

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.

Variations

Add maple syrup!

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.

Nutrition