Easy Apple Crisp (with Oats)

Name: Easy Apple Crisp - One Bowl
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup white granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 2 pounds apples, 5-6 medium apples; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; Butter, to grease dish; 1 1/2 cups classic rolled oats; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, light is okay too; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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This Easy Apple Crisp recipe with a crunchy oat topping is simple to make all in one bowl. Mix up the oat crumble topping in the same bowl that you prep the apples for a one bowl recipe with less clean up. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream for the best apple dessert.

apple crisp with oat topping with vanilla ice cream in bowl.

A classic Fall dessert that is so easy to make homemade. It's delicious still warm out of the oven or even at room temperature. For serving, Vanilla Ice-Cream is a must, in my opinion! But you can also give it a drizzle with a caramel sauce or salted caramel sauce.

Other favorite apple recipes are this Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake, Apple Crisp in a Mug, Apple Crisp Bars, or Chicken Apple Sausage Mason Jar Salad.

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⭐Why I Love It:
🥘Ingredients:
🔪Step by Step Instructions:
💭Recipe Tips
🍽Leftovers and Storage
👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs
🥧Related Dessert Recipes
Recipe
Reviews

⭐Why I Love It:

One Bowl Recipe - There is no need to use multiple bowls for this recipe. Start by tossing the apple slices with the sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl then transfer to the baking dish. Then you can use that same bowl (no need to even wipe it clean) to mix up the oat topping.
Crispy Oat Topping - The crispy topping is my favorite part and pairs well with the tender apples.
Perfect for Family or Friends - An apple crisp is one of my favorite desserts to make in the summer or early fall when we have friends over. But if you're craving apple crisp and don't want to make this full batch recipe, try this Single Serve Apple Crisp that serves just 1-2 people.

🥘Ingredients:

Apples - I like to use Granny Smith apples for baking. If you have more apples left, try making this Apple Dutch Baby Pancake for breakfast.
White Granulated Sugar
Cinnamon
Cornstarch - this helps thicken the apple filling.
Lemon Juice
Rolled Oats - you can swap in 'quick oats' for the classic, rolled oats as well. For other recipes using oats, try this Single Serve Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe or Banana Bread Baked Oats.
All-Purpose Flour
Brown Sugar - I like using dark brown sugar, but light brown sugar works too
Unsalted Butter - You can use salted and just lessen the salt
Kosher Salt

🔪Step by Step Instructions:

This Easy Apple Crisp recipe with a crunchy oat topping preps in 20 minute or less and bakes in less than an hour! The perfect crowd-pleasing dessert.

cinnamon sugar apple slices for filling.

Photo 1 - Preheat the oven and prep the apples. Toss the apple slices with the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Toss well to evenly coat.

apple crisp filling without topping unbaked.

Photo 2 - Transfer to the greased baking dish and press into an even layer.

Photo 3 - In the same bowl from the apples, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt.

Photo 4 - Once combined, mix in the melted butter. You should be able to squeeze the topping together and have it hold its shape - like wet sand.

Photo 5 - Scatter the topping over the apples - leaving a mix of small and large clumps.

Photo 6 - Bake the crisp until the juices are bubbling, the apples are tender (when tested with a sharp knife), and the topping is golden brown. If the topping is getting overly brown, you can loosely tent with foil.

💭Recipe Tips

Evenly Slice the Apples - Slicing the apples into an even thickness allows for even cooking.
Peeling is Best - While you can leave the apple skin on, the peel gets a chewy texture. The most popular approach is peeling the apples first.
Let Cool Before Serving - Letting the crisp cool a bit before serving helps the juices thicken up.
Try an Air Fryer Version - You can also make a crisp in the air fryer, check out this Air Fryer Apple Crisp recipe!

🍽Leftovers and Storage

Leftover apple crisp can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can either cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or transfer to an air-tight container.

👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs

What apple is best for apple crisp?

I like to use Granny Smith apples for an apple crisp. They have a tart flavor and are firm enough to hold their shape. Some other good baking apples are Fuji, Haralson, and Cortland.You can even mix and match multiple apple varieties.

What is the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp?

While both an apple crisp and apple crumble are a baked apple dessert, the main difference is the topping. A crisp topping typically contains oats to give it its 'crispiness' and a crumble topping is similar to a streusel topping made with butter, flour, and sugar.

Do you put oats in apple crumble?

Oats are typically not used in the topping for an apple crumble. Oats are used in an apple crisp topping.

How do you thicken apple crisp?

Adding cornstarch to the apples in the apple crisp helps thicken the apple juices and sugar. The other key is to let the crisp cool a bit before serving as it will thicken as it cools.

🥧Related Dessert Recipes

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Recipe

Easy Apple Crisp - One Bowl

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5 from 1 review

This Easy Apple Crisp recipe with a crunchy oat topping is simple to make all in one bowl. Mix up the oat crumble topping in the same bowl that you prep the apples for a one bowl recipe with less clean up. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream for the best apple dessert.

Author: Kathleen
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
Category: Dessert
Method: Oven
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Filling

½ cup white granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 pounds apples, 5-6 medium apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Butter, to grease dish

Oat Topping

1 ½ cups classic rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup dark brown sugar, light is okay too
½ teaspoon kosher salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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Instructions

Prep - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 or 9 inch baking dish.
Apple Filling - Peel, core, and slice the apples into ¼ inch slices and add to a large bowl. Toss the slices with the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Toss well to evenly coat. Transfer to the greased baking dish and press into an even layer.
Oat Crisp Topping - In the same bowl from the apples, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Once combined, mix in the melted butter. You should be able to squeeze the topping together and have it hold its shape - like wet sand.
Top the Apples - Scatter the topping over the apples - leaving a mix of small and large clumps.
Bake - Bake the crisp for 50 to 60 minutes until the juices are bubbling, the apples are tender (when tested with a sharp knife), and the topping is golden brown. If the topping is getting overly brown, you can loosely tent with foil.
Cool and Serve - Allow the crisp to cool for at least 15 minutes so the juice can thicken up.