Apple Crisp

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This is my go-to apple crisp recipe—tart apples bubbling under a buttery oat-pecan topping. Simple, rustic, and so, so good.

bowl of apple crisp with vanilla ice cream

This rustic apple crisp, made with tart apples bubbling away in their juices under a crispy, buttery oat-pecan streusel, is a longtime favorite of mine. In fact, it’s one of the very first recipes I shared on this blog many years ago. It’s wonderful warm from the oven, but honestly, I love the cold leftovers with my morning coffee just as much. Serve it plain, or take it up a notch with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or even caramel sauce.

“We went apple picking with the grandkids. When we got back we used this recipe. It was a total hit and gone quickly.”

Tom

What You’ll Need To Make Apple Crisp

apple crisp ingredients
  • Flour, Oats & Pecans: These form the base of the streusel topping. The flour holds everything together, the oats give it that classic rustic texture, and the pecans add a buttery crunch.
  • Brown & Granulated Sugars: Sweeten both the apples and the topping. The brown sugar brings a hint of molasses, while the granulated sugar helps everything caramelize as it bakes. (Be sure to pack the brown sugar when you measure—it makes a difference.)
  • Butter: Cold butter is key. It gives the topping its crumbly texture and helps it bake up golden and crisp instead of greasy or heavy.
  • Apples: Go for tart-sweet varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, Jonagold, Jonathan, or Golden Delicious—or better yet, use a mix for the best balance of flavor and texture.
  • Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Start the streusel topping. In a food processor, combine the flour, brown sugar, ¼ cup of the granulated sugar, and salt, and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and pulse again until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

mixture with butter blended in

Step 2: Finish the topping. Transfer the crumb mixture to a bowl, then stir in the pecans and oats. Set it aside while you prepare the filling.

topping mixture with oats and pecans mixed in

Step 3: Prepare the filling. Generously butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the remaining 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar until evenly coated, then pour them into the prepared dish.

apples and sugar in baking dish

Step 4: Add the topping. Sprinkle with the oat topping and make sure it’s evenly distributed over the apples.

apples covered with the oat topping

Step 5: Bake the crisp. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the apples are tender when pierced with a knife and the topping is golden and crisp. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before serving—it’s wonderful warm from the oven.

apple crisp in white baking dish

Video Tutorial

More Apple Desserts You May Like

Print

Apple Crisp

bowl of apple crisp with vanilla ice cream
Adapted from Food & Wine
Warm, cozy, and full of fall flavor, this apple crisp has the perfect balance of sweet apples and crunchy topping.
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons (packed) light brown sugar
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
  • Pinch salt
  • 6 tablespoons very cold unsalted butter, cut into ½-inch (13-mm) dice
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • pounds tart baking apples (about 5 large), peeled, cored and sliced ¼-inch (6-mm) thick
  • Vanilla ice cream or Whipped cream, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position.
  • In a food processor, pulse the flour with the brown sugar, ¼ cup (50 g) of the granulated sugar, and salt until combined. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl and stir in the pecans and oats. Set aside.
  • Generously butter a shallow 2-quart (2-L) baking dish. In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the remaining 6 tablespoons granulated sugar. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish and cover with the oat topping. Bake in the middle of the oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced and the topping is toasted. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.

Notes

Storage: Apple crisp will keep, covered, at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, warm it in a 350°F oven until the topping is crisp and the filling is heated through, about 15 minutes. It’s also surprisingly delicious cold or at room temperature.

Freezer-Friendly Instructions:
The baked crisp can be frozen, tightly covered, for up to 3 months. Before serving, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it, uncovered, in a 300°F (150°C) oven until heated through and crisp on top.

Nutrition Information

Per serving (6 servings)Calories: 461kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 4gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 55mgFiber: 8gSugar: 40g

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Comments

  • 5 stars
    I have to start by saying that I am not a fan of apple desserts. But this, this was delicious! The pecans added to the perfect crunch. I made this as a last minute thought right before dinner and I love it! Thank you for sharing the recipe with us.

    • — LindaG on October 9, 2025
    • Reply

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