Ever have a pile of apples on your counter and no idea what to do with them? This is your answer. This Easy Apple Crisp recipe is my go-to when I want something low-effort but high-reward. It’s warm, gooey, buttery, and spiced just right. It’s an absolutely must make as you transition into the fall months.

There is just something about an apple crisp, or an apple pie that really helps set the tone for fall and get me in the mood to say goodbye to summer and hello to a new beautiful season. My absolute favourite part? The crumble on top!

My Nonna has an apple tree in her backyard that only produces fruit every two years, but when it does, it really shows off. It feels like each cycle brings double the fruit too. So needless to say, there are always extras to go around. Every time I visit her, I leave with a ton of apples and this Easy Apple Crisp is one of my favourite ways to use them.

Before we dive into the recipe, let me just say: I fully believe in a 50:50 ratio of apples to crumble. A lot of recipes lean heavier on the fruit, which is totally fine, but I’m all about the topping. And this version also has a layer of caramel sauce right in the middle. It makes everything extra gooey and irresistible. Now, if you’re not as crumble-obsessed as I am, you can absolutely scale back the topping by a cup. But if you’re a crumble queen too? Stick with the full amount and thank me later. Looking for more ways to use up apples? Try my Apple Cinnamon Rolls and my Easy Apple Cake.

😍 Why You’ll Love Easy Apple Crisp

Double deliciousness: A thick layer of buttery crumble and a hidden layer of caramel sauce takes this to the next level.
Cozy fall vibes: Spiced apples, warm vanilla, and caramel make your kitchen smell like an autumn candle.
Crumble-forward: If you live for the topping, this recipe is for you.
Foolproof and flexible: Easy to make, easy to adapt, and hard to mess up.

🍏 Ingredients To Make Easy Apple Crisp

For the apple filling:

Honeycrisp apples: juicy, crisp, and naturally sweet; they hold up great when baked. I love these for their balance, but feel free to mix in some Granny Smith for extra tartness.
All-purpose flour: just a little bit helps thicken the filling.
Brown sugar: gives the apples that caramel-y depth and helps them get all soft and jammy in the oven.
Lemon juice: adds brightness and cuts through the sweetness.

Lemon zest: a sneaky pop of citrus that makes everything taste fresher. Don’t skip it!
Vanilla: that warm, cozy background note that makes the whole thing feel like a hug.
Cinnamon: a fall essential; the spice is the heart of the whole dish.
All-spice: adds a little something extra.
Nutmeg: just a pinch gives the apples that unmistakable apple pie vibe.
Salt: a small but might ingredient that helps balance the sugar and pull out all the flavours.

For the crumble topping:

Old-fashioned oats: the base of that perfect crispy topping. These give you texture and bite; way better than quick oats in my opinion.
Cold butter: cut into tiny cubes so it melts and forms those golden clumps of crumble that we all fight over.
All-purpose flour: helps bind everything together so your crumble doesn’t just melt into the apples.
Brown sugar: rich, sweet, and slightly molasses-y; it caramelizes as it bakes and makes the topping extra delicious.
Cinnamon: because more cinnamon is never a bad thing.
All-spice: adds a toasty warmth that gives the topping extra character.
Salt: just a tad goes a long way.

Optonal:

Caramel sauce: optional, but totally necessary in my opinion.
Vanilla ice cream: you could eat this easy apple crisp alone, but why would you?

🍎 Best Apples for Apple Crisp

You can really use whatever apples you’ve got on hand, but I really love using a mix! I usually use Gala or a mixture of Gala and Granny Smith. This combo gives a nice balance. But honestly? Use what you have. This recipe is super accepting of all apples!

✔️ How To Make This Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

To begin, preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish with butter or neutral oil and set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, add your peeled and chopped apples. Sprinkle in the flour, brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon, all-spice, nutmeg, and salt. Gently mix everything together until the apples are evenly coated.

Pour the apple filling into the prepared baking dish, then drizzle over a generous layer of caramel sauce. Set aside while you make the crumble topping.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, all-spice, and salt. Add the cold, chopped butter. Use your hands to rub the butter into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some larger chunks throughout.

Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple mixture. Use your hands to gently pat it down so it sticks to the apples.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling starts to bubble around the edges.

Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crisp.

Let the apple crisp cool for about 5 minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream and extra drizzle of caramel, if desired.

🗒️ Variations

Nutty crunch: add chopped pecans or walnuts tot he crumble topping for extra texture.

🗒️ Substitutions

Greek yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt works just as well as vanilla; just add a splash of vanilla extract.
Apples: use any apple variety you have on hand.
Butter: vegan butter can be used for a dairy-free version.
Flour: swap in a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to make this gluten-free.

🍴 Leftovers? Lucky you.

This apple crisp is best enjoyed warm out of the oven, but it keeps really well for a few days. Let it cool completely, then cover tightly with foil or transfer to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 4 days.

🤔 FAQ’S

👩🏻‍🍳 Hungry For More? 

If you loved this Easy Apple Crisp recipe, then make sure to check out a few of my other favourite desserts and baked goods you may also love:

• Morning Glory Muffins
• Blueberry Lemon Muffins
• Chocolate Cake
• Apple Cinnamon Rolls
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• Raspberry Lemon Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Pumpkin Banana Bread with Maple Syrup Glaze
• Easy Apple Cake

💌 Let’s Stay Connected

Keep in touch with me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest! If you do make this easy apple crisp recipe (or any recipe of mine) don’t forget to leave a review.