Description
A reliable, comforting dessert featuring tender apples and a signature crunchy oat topping. This recipe uses a simple mix-and-bake method with a secret trick toasting the oats to ensure they stay crisp, not soggy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large apples (approx. 2.5 lbs / 1.1 kg), preferably a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch wedges
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1.5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (melted or cold, cut into cubes)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Toast the oats: Spread oats on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 5-7 minutes until nutty. Let cool completely.
- In a large bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice and granulated sugar. Let sit while making the topping.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cooled toasted oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Add melted butter to the dry ingredients and stir vigorously until the mixture resembles wet sand with some larger clumps. (If using cold butter, cut it into the dry mix until coarse crumbs form).
- Spread the seasoned apples evenly into the prepared baking dish without packing them down.
- Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the apples, ensuring no gaps where apples might peek through.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is deep golden brown and fruit juices are bubbling vigorously around the edges. If topping browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
- Test an apple with a knife; it should slide in with little resistance. If firm, bake 5-10 minutes longer.
- Cool the crisp for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow juices to thicken.
Notes
For maximum crunch, toast the oats before mixing. Use a mix of firm apples like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp to prevent mushiness. If using a 9×13 inch dish, reduce baking time by 10-15 minutes. The crisp tastes better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the crisp
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 45
- Sodium: 15
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 8.5
- Carbohydrates: 62
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 4
Keywords: apple crisp, fall dessert, cinnamon oats, crunchy topping, easy dessert, gluten-free option, vegan option