Apple crisp has been a staple in the American household and retains a special place in the hearts of families. Right up there with apple pie and cheesecake, this little dessert made a name for itself decades ago and has been passed through the generations. Though it's nice to stick with tradition, there are people out there who enjoy making things their own, and there's nothing wrong with that! So, we're going to share our apple crisp recipe with you and hopefully, you'll pick up a new thing or two.
Apple Crisp Recipe
What You'll Need For The Topping
- 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of oats
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of cubed, cold butter
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
What You'll Need For The Filling
- 6 peeled and sliced apples
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large bowl mix the flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt.
- Once mixed, add the cubes of butter with clean fingertips and mix together until a crumbly texture appears. Refrigerate the mixture while you prepare the filling.
- In a smaller bowl, mix together the melted butter and flour. Gradually stir in the brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Stir until everything is well blended.
- Stick your apple slices into a large bowl and pour the butter and flour mixture on top of it. Toss the apples to evenly coat them with the mixture.
- Pour the coated apples into an 8-inch pan and spread them evenly along the bottom.
- Get your topping from the fridge and sprinkle it evenly over the apples.
- Stick your pan in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Top with ice cream or whipped cream and serve.
Additional Ingredients
Some people enjoy folding chopped nuts into their topping mix and you're more than welcome to do so. You can use walnuts or almonds if you'd like, though we like this recipe without because it's a nut-free option and more people can indulge. You can also feel free to omit the lemon juice and nutmeg entirely if you're not prone to liking the taste. Since such small amounts are added, you won't notice a huge difference in taste. Others enjoy swapping out brown sugar for different substitutes, like equal parts granulated sugar in the topping and you can do that too. Maple syrup works well as well.
The garnish for an apple crisp recipe is something to play around too! Try drizzling chocolate or caramel sauce on top of your ice cream before you serve.
What Type Of Apples Are Best
You'll want to make sure that the apples you're using stand up well to baking. Remember that when you're baking with apples you'll want them to retain their flavor without turning to mush in the oven. So, the apples you should go for when making an apple crisp are exactly what the name of the dish suggests: the crisp kind! Pick up some Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, or Jonathan apples since they're some of the best ones to bake with. You can even get creative and mix all three into the same dish!
Inheriting an apple crisp recipe from our grandparents (or great-grandparents) is a keepsake we can cherish for years. But, that doesn't mean you shouldn't share it with people. Invite a few of your loved ones over and bake them this classic dessert to keep the tradition in your family alive!