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My Apple Crisp recipe started as my grandmother's go to fall dessert. Every time the leaves start changing I can't help but think of her kitchen filled with that amazing cinnamon apple aroma. I've tweaked it over the years but that perfectly buttery oat topping and tender spiced apples still take me right back to those cozy autumn evenings at her house.
What Makes It Special
This crisp has become my family's most requested dessert. The way the apples get so tender while that topping turns golden and crunchy is just perfect. I love how simple it is to throw together with ingredients I usually have on hand. Even my kids can help make it which makes it extra special.
What You'll Need
- Apples: 5 cups, sliced thinly and evenly for perfect baking.
- Granulated Sugar: ½ cup, to sweeten the filling.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon, to enhance the apple flavor.
- Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon for the filling, and another ½ teaspoon for the topping.
- All-Purpose Flour: ½ cup, forms the base of the crumb topping.
- Old-Fashioned Oats: ⅓ cup, for added crunch.
- Brown Sugar: ⅔ cup, adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness to the topping.
- Salt: ¼ teaspoon, balances the sweetness.
- Butter: ¼ cup (melted), binds the topping and creates a golden crust.
Let's Make It Together
- Get Your Oven Ready
- Start by heating up your oven and buttering your baking dish.
- Prepare Those Apples
- Toss your sliced apples with sugar cinnamon and vanilla until they're all nicely coated.
- Make That Amazing Topping
- Mix up your flour oats brown sugar and spices then drizzle in that melted butter until you get those perfect crumbs.
- Time to Bake
- Let it bubble away in the oven until those apples are tender and that topping is golden brown.
- The Best Part
- Let it cool just a bit then serve it up warm with some vanilla ice cream melting on top.
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Make It Your Own
Sometimes I toss some chopped pecans in the topping or add a pinch of nutmeg to the apples. For extra caramel flavor I use brown sugar in both the filling and topping. My gluten free friends love that it's so easy to adapt with different flours.
Keep It Fresh
This crisp is absolutely heavenly when it's warm right out of the oven. If you have leftovers they'll keep nicely in the fridge and a quick warm up brings back all that fresh baked goodness.
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Pure Comfort
There's something magical about this simple dessert. Maybe it's the memories it brings back or how it fills your home with that wonderful aroma. Whatever it is this Apple Crisp never fails to make any day feel a little more special.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → What type of apples work best?
- Firm baking apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn work well. They hold their shape while baking and provide good flavor.
- → Why is my topping not crispy?
- Make sure butter is evenly distributed through the topping mixture. Also, don't cover with foil unless the top is browning too quickly.
- → Can I make this ahead?
- Yes, you can assemble it ahead and bake when ready. It reheats well but the topping may soften slightly when stored.
- → How do I store leftovers?
- Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven to re-crisp the topping.
- → Can I add nuts to the topping?
- Yes, chopped pecans or walnuts make a great addition to the topping. Add them before baking for extra crunch.