Apple Crisp Recipe With Oats (No Fuss, All Flavor!)

Name: Apple Crisp Recipe With Oats
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 6 medium apples, or about 6 cups ((thinly sliced about ¼ inch thick)); ½ cup granulated sugar; 2 tbsp all-purpose flour; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup oats ((old fashioned oats or quick oats)); ¾ cup all-purpose flour; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; ½ cup unsalted melted butter

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Are you ready to bake the best apple crisp recipe ever? This classic fall dessert brings together tender apples and a crunchy oat topping in the most comforting way.

My family didn’t make many fruit crisps when I was growing up (we were more of a pumpkin pie kind of family in the fall), so I didn’t discover the magic of this apple crisp recipe with oats and melted butter until after my oldest daughter was born. I made it for the first time after taking her apple picking, and now it’s one of our family’s personal favorite apple desserts.

While it may be normally saved for apple season, I bake this apple crisp recipe with oats all year round for pretty much every holiday and celebration. It also makes a delicious cozy end of the day treat!

This easy apple crisp recipe truly shines any time of year, especially served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (and maybe a drizzle of caramel sauce!).

Get ready to meet your new favorite dessert!

a close up of an apple crisp recipe with oats in a bowl with caramel sauce drizzled on top of vanilla ice cream

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Best Apples for Apple Crisp

The great thing about apple crisp is that you can use many kinds of apples, depending on what you have on hand or your personal taste. I love using a mix of some tart and some sweet for the best texture and flavor.

For a more tart, firm bite, Granny Smith apples are a classic choice. If you are looking for something sweeter and softer, try Pink Lady, Honey crisp, or even Golden Delicious.

We often have Ambrosias in the house, and if I’m craving warm apple crisp (which I usually am), I’ll use whatever’s in the fruit bowl and it still turns out perfect every time.

No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to use fresh apples and slice them evenly so they bake up into soft, tender apples beneath the crisp topping. I like to cut mine into ¼ inch thick apple slices. Don’t go thinner than that or they’ll turn mushy instead of tender.

If you’ve been apple picking, this is the perfect way to use up your haul. One of my favorite things during apple season is heading out to the orchard with my kids, then turning our basket of fresh apples into a bubbling, golden baked apple crisp.

The moment this apple crisp starts baking, the smell of cinnamon and sweet apples fills the house, and it’s impossible not to get excited. It’s the kind of scent that has everyone wandering into the kitchen, asking, “Is the apple crisp ready yet?”

Trust me, it’s the best part of making this apple crisp (besides eating it of course)!

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe Ingredients

Here’s everything you need to make this cozy homemade apple crisp. From the sweet, spiced fruit filling to the buttery, golden crisp topping, you likely have most of these simple ingredients in your pantry already!

Apple Fruit Filling Ingredients

This layer is all about cozy, cinnamon-spiced tender apples baked until bubbly and soft.

Fresh apples: Use your favorite kind of apples (we love Granny Smith, Honey crisp, or even Ambrosia). Just make sure to slice them into even apple slices (about ¼ inch thick) for the best bake. I personally peel my apples, but if you prefer to leave the skin on, that’s totally fine too!
White sugar: Granulated sugar brings out the natural sweetness in the apples.
All purpose flour: A bit of all purpose flour helps thicken the juices into that perfect warm apple filling.
Cinnamon: This classic spice brings warmth and depth to the fruit filling and is a must for any classic fall dessert.

Apple Crisp Topping Ingredients

The crumble topping bakes up with a golden, buttery crunch. It is truly the best texture and the star of the show in this dessert!

Brown sugar: Adds rich sweetness and that deliciously golden brown color to the crisp topping.
Oats: Choose old-fashioned oats or quick oats for the perfect crunchy oat finish in your oat topping.
All purpose flour: This binds the topping together and helps form that crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth bite.
Cinnamon: A sprinkle of spice makes the topping extra flavorful and cozy.
Melted butter: Using melted butter instead of cold butter makes this easy recipe even simpler and gives the crunchy topping a rich, buttery taste. You can also use a plant-based butter if you’re making a dairy-free version. Either way, it bakes up golden and delicious!

How to Make Apple Crisp With Oats: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Preheat the oven & prepare your baking dish

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Choose an 8×8 baking dish (or similar sized dish) for this recipe and set it aside.

Step 2: Slice the apples

Peel and core your apples, then slice them into about ¼ inch thick slices. Place the apple slices in a large mixing bowl.

apple slices cut a quarter inch thick sitting laying on a plate

Step 3: Mix the apple filling ingredients

In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, all purpose flour, and cinnamon. Toss the sliced apples in this mixture until they are well-coated, then transfer the apples into your prepared baking dish.

a small bowl containing granulated sugar, all purpose flour, and cinnamon and a larger bowl containing sliced apples

a bowl containing granulated sugar, all purpose flour, cinnamon and sliced apples mixed together

Step 4: Prepare the oat crumble topping

In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon. Stir everything together until it’s evenly mixed. Add the melted (slightly cooled) butter and stir again until the mixture is well-combined and the dry ingredients are all moistened.

a bowl containing brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon and a smaller bowl containing melted butter

a bowl containing brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon with melted butter mixed in

Step 5: Top the apples with the crumble

Evenly spread the oat topping over the apples in the baking dish. Gently press down on the topping to help it stick to the apples.

apple crisp with oat mixture spread evenly across half of the dish containing the apples

apple crisp with oat mixture spread evenly across the dish containing the apples

Step 6: Bake the apple crisp

Bake your apple crisp in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. You’ll know it’s ready when the apple juices start bubbling up around the edges of the dish.

a dish containing a fully baked apple crisp

apple juices bubbling up the side of the dish

Step 7: Serve & enjoy!

Let the apple crisp cool for a few minutes, then serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for the perfect classic fall dessert.

Looking to enjoy this delicious dessert on your own? Check out this single serve apple crisp recipe for a quick and easy treat for one!