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Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

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This easy Apple Crisp is a classic old-fashioned dessert recipe that has been in our family for years! The delicious filling is made with Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg topped with a crunchy oat crumble. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an irresistible treat!

Check out these Instant Pot Apple Crisp and Instant Pot Apple Cranberry Crisp recipes for more delicious crisp options.

A golden brown apple crisp in a white baking dish with a scoop missing and placed in the white bowl behind it topped with vanilla ice cream.

Apple crisp screams fall and it is much easy to make than pie!

What you will need

Ingredients needed to make old-fashioned apple crisp.
  • Granny Smith Apples – are tart enough to stand up to the sweet topping and stiff enough to not turn to mush in the oven.
  • All-purpose Flour – holds the crumble topping together. Substitute your favorite gluten-free flour if needed.
  • Old-fashioned Rolled Oats – help to create the crispy topping but can be omitted if needed. See note below.
  • Brown Sugar – gives this dessert a touch of sweetness without being overly sweet.
  • Fresh Ground Nutmeg – will give you the best flavor but store-bought can be substituted.
  • Ground Cinnamon – the flavor that goes perfectly with apples and fall.
  • Unsalted Butter – adds a rich flavor to the topping and is the glue that combines with the brown sugar to hold it all together.
  • Chopped Pecans – are a family favorite, but any nuts will work. Omit if needed.

Be sure to check out the detailed printable recipe card below

What makes this apple crisp recipe special?

Freshly ground nutmeg adds so much flavor and is more aromatic than the pre-ground nutmeg you purchase in a jar. The flavor comes from the volatile oils in the nutmeg that evaporate quickly.

I promise, it isn’t hard grind at all. You can use a ceramic grater like the one below, or the same microplane rasp grater that you use to zest lemons.

Apple Crisp nutmeg cookingwithcurls.com

Perfectly sliced apples

For perfectly sliced apples I suggest that you use this handy dandy apple corer/peeler/slicer gizmo. It helps the apple cook more evenly for a consistent texture and makes the process much easier!

apple on the end of an apple, peeler corer contraption attached to the counter top with two apple in background.

Since I don’t like apple peel, it is perfect for me! I just pull them off, slice them in half, and they are ready to use.

How to make easy Apple Crisp

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly butter an 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish. Set aside.

To make the crumble topping: Stir brown sugar, oats, flour, and spices together in a large bowl. 

oatmeal, flour and brown sugar mixed together in a glass bowl.

Mix in the softened butter to form a crumbly topping. Stir in the pecans (if using) and set aside.

flour, oats, brown sugar, butter and pecans mixed together in a glass bowl with a fork.

Place the apple slices in your prepared baking dish.

sliced apples layered in a white, curvy baking dish.

Sprinkle topping mixture over the apples.

looking down on the crumb topping sprinkled over the top of the apple slices.

Bake for 25 – 35 minutes until the apples are tender and topping is golden brown.

looking down on a baked apple crisp in the baking dish, a wooden spoon laying next to it and a white bowl with a scoop of ice cream on top of the apple crisp.

Serve warm with Vanilla Ice Cream.

A white bowl with apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream sitting on a white fringed napkin with an apple and baking dish in the background.

Tender apples with a hint of nutmeg and cinnamon and an oatmeal cookie type topping is the perfect way to warm up during those cold winter months!

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Baking times are guidelines, all ovens cook differently. My gas oven in Iowa took 35 minutes, my electric oven in Arizona took 25 minutes. Just keep an eye on it.
  • Granny Smith apples are an excellent option for this recipe, but Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious or any tart apples will work as well.
  • For a non-oat topping: omit the oats and add an additional 1/3 cup of flour and 1/3 cup of brown sugar. 

Tools used to create this recipe

You can see the rest of my favorite kitchen tools and gadgets here in my Amazon Affiliate Page. I earn a small commission when you purchase through my links, at no cost to you, so I can keep bringing you more delicious recipes!

More delicious apple recipes

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Enjoy!!

A white bowl with apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream sitting on a white fringed napkin with an apple and baking dish in the background.

Apple Crisp

Old-fashioned Apple Crisp with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla topped with a crunchy oat crumble is the perfect family dessert.
5 from 2 votes
Print Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple, recipe, oats, cinnamon, sugar, easy, baked
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 355kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

  • 4 cups Granny Smith apples cored, sliced, peeled – about 4 medium
  • .67 cups brown sugar lightly packed (2/3 cup)
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • .75 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • .75 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • .33 cup unsalted butter softened, plus more for pan
  • 0.5 cup chopped pecans optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 x 8 x 2 baking dish. Set aside.
  • Stir brown sugar, oats, flour, and spices together in a large bowl. Mix in the softened butter to form a crumbly topping. Stir in the pecans (if using) and set aside.
  • Core and slice your apples and place in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle topping mixture over the apples.
  • Bake for 25 – 35 minutes until the apples are tender and topping is golden brown.
  • Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.

Notes

  • Baking times are guidelines, all ovens cook differently. My gas oven in Iowa took 35 minutes, my electric oven in Arizona took 25 minutes. Just keep an eye on it.
  • Granny Smith apples are an excellent option for this recipe, but Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious or any tart apples will work as well.
  • For a non-oat topping: omit the oats and add an additional 1/3 cup of flour and 1/3 cup of brown sugar.
  •  

Nutrition

Calories: 355kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 195mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

I originally shared this recipe June 2013. Updated August 2022.

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21 Comments

  1. I don’t care what month it is, Lisa, I will eat apple crisp any place, any time. Fall is my favorite time of year, and I always love those foods. That apple peeler/slicer is awesome, and I want a piece of that crisp.

  2. Where on earth did you get that awesome nutmeg grinder? That is too cool! I’m also not picky about the time of year I eat apple crisp. Forth of July is coming fast, and this will be perfect! Thank you for the sweet comment on my little dresser. Cheers.

  3. Oh how yum is this!! Hey, I don’t care if it’s 95, I’ll still eat this. Don’t you just love the apple dilly thing?! I use mine all the time but especially on Halloween night…I sit outside with a cute table set up at the end of the driveway. I have a bowl of cinnamon and sugar, warm caramel and a whole huge bucket of apples. As the kids come up to get candy, I give the parents (and kids) some apple slices (using this gadget) a fun little treat dipped in the cinnamon/sugar and drizzle the caramel over it! It’s been a hit every year…the fact the kids get a kick out the apple corer/slicer device!
    Pinning this recipe! (=

  4. There’s never a wrong time of year for apple crisp – it’s one of my absolute favorites! Love that nutmeg grater…I’m gonna have to get me one of those 😉

  5. There’s nothing wrong with an apple crisp in June! It’s refreshing and really, who could pass this up!

  6. Apple is my fave right after lemon. Ever since someone gifted me with my nutmeg grinder I would never use pre-ground again. I am loving your peeler. I never gave them much attention because I thought they didn’t work. Apparently I was wrong. Now I want one.

    Oh, I am so sorry about your photo theft. I just do not understand unless they have no morals or ethics. grrrrrr…

  7. Mmmmmm apple crisp! Such amazing comfort food! 🙂 Thank you so much for linking up with me this week at Tasty Tuesdays! I’ve pinned this & shared it with my followers!

  8. First off, I can’t tell you how jealous I am of your weather. I hate the really cold winters but at least I can add a sweater and be warm but summertime? There’s only so much clothing I can take off and I’m still hot! And there is never a wrong time for Apple Crisp, one of my favorite comfort foods. Thanks for sharing at Thursday’s Treasures, I’m featuring you this week!

  9. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe at the Say G’day Saturday linky party. I will be featuring you at this week’s party.

    Best wishes and hope to see you again this weekend!
    Natasha in Oz

  10. I love healthy food like apple crisp. It would be perfect breakfast! I found your post from Pinterest! I’m also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing!

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