Easy Apple Crisp with Oats (Crispy, Buttery Topping)

You want dessert that tastes like a million bucks without spending all night baking. This easy apple crisp with oats is the weeknight hero and the holiday showstopper—big comfort, minimal effort. If apples are your love language, you’ll also adore our baked apple fritters for a quick fryer-free treat.

Why You’ll Love It

• Maximum reward, minimal effort: About 15 minutes of prep, the oven does the rest. Pantry staples for the win.
• Dreamy textures: Soft, warm baked apples topped with a shattering, buttery, oat crisp topping.
• Forgiving and flexible: Slices not perfect? No problem. This old-fashioned dessert is incredibly tolerant.
• Scales for a crowd: Double it in a 9×13-inch pan for parties.

Ingredients

Gather these simple components. Quality matters—use good butter and firm apples.

For the Apple Filling

• 6–7 medium apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp is ideal)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the Crisp Topping

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp fine salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed

Craving more cozy baking? Try a classic grandma-style apple pie when you want a flaky crust moment, or our festive cinnamon roll tradition for holiday brunch vibes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Heat the oven: Preheat to 375°F. Use a 9×9-inch baking dish or similar pie plate. No need to grease; the topping has enough butter.
2. Prep the apples: Peel, core, and slice 1/4-inch thick. Toss with lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly coated. Spread into the baking dish.
3. Make the oat topping: In the same bowl, whisk oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with some pea-size bits remaining. Those pockets = crunch.
4. Assemble & bake: Sprinkle topping evenly over apples—do not press down. Bake 40–45 minutes, until deeply golden and the filling bubbles at the edges.
5. Rest: Cool 15–20 minutes so the juices thicken. Then serve warm (ice cream highly encouraged).

Tips & Variations

• Choose the right apples: A blend is best. Tart Granny Smith for structure + Honeycrisp or Fuji for sweetness.
• Don’t press the topping: Keep it loose and craggy for max surface area and crunch.
• Add a nutty twist: Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.
• Spice it up: Add a pinch of cardamom or cloves for a warm, old-fashioned apple crisp vibe.
• Serve it right: A drizzle from our salted caramel pancake mix hack makes an effortless caramel sauce stand-in.

Substitutions

• Gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour in both filling and topping; ensure oats are certified GF.
• Vegan: Swap in a plant-based butter stick (cold) for similar flakiness.
• Lower sugar: Reduce granulated sugar in the filling to 2 tbsp if apples are very sweet; keep brown sugar in topping for caramel flavor.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream.
• Add a spoon of Greek yogurt for breakfast energy (we won’t tell).
• Pair with fall bakes like pumpkin cheesecake cookies for a dessert board.

Storage & Reheating

• Room temperature: Cover and keep up to 2 days.
• Refrigerate: Up to 5 days. Rewarm at 350°F for 10–12 minutes to re-crisp the topping.
• Freeze: Wrap the pan or individual portions in plastic, then foil, up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen at 350°F until hot in the center.

Benefits of This Recipe

• Easier than pie: All the cozy, nostalgic flavor without fussing over crust.
• Crowd-pleaser: Scales beautifully in a 9×13-inch pan.
• Customizable: Adjust sugar to your apples; add nuts for extra crunch and protein.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using instant oats: They turn mushy. Old-fashioned rolled oats only.
• Skipping lemon juice: It brightens flavor and slows browning.
• Melting the butter: Cold butter = steam pockets = crisp crumble. Melted butter makes a dense, greasy topping.
• Underbaking: Wait for a deep golden top and vigorous bubbling.

FAQ

More to Try

• Baked Apple Fritters
• Grandma’s Apple Pie
• Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
• Cinnamon-Sugar Gingerbread Donuts

Conclusion

This easy apple crisp with oats delivers soft, spiced apples under a crisp, buttery crumble—big flavor with barely any fuss. Bake it once and it’ll be your go-to fall dessert all season long.

Easy Apple Crisp with Oats (Crispy, Buttery Topping)

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• Author: Sarah
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6–8 servings 1x

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Description

Soft, spiced apples tucked under a buttery, crunchy oat topping—this Easy Apple Crisp with Oats is a fall dessert classic with minimal effort and maximum comfort.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• For the Apple Filling:
• 6–7 medium apples (Granny Smith + Honeycrisp blend)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• For the Crisp Topping:
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp fine salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Use a 9×9-inch baking dish or similar pie plate—no greasing needed.
2. Peel, core, and slice apples 1/4-inch thick. Toss with lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spread evenly in dish.
3. In the same bowl, whisk oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter with forks or fingers until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. Sprinkle topping evenly over the apples—do not press down.
5. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the top is deeply golden and the filling is bubbling.
6. Let rest 15–20 minutes before serving so juices thicken. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for balance. Don’t melt the butter—cold butter creates a better crumble. Want a twist? Stir chopped nuts into the topping or serve with caramel drizzle.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 26g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 47g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: apple crisp, oats, fall dessert, easy baking, comfort food