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The Best Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats

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This Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats is everything you want in a classic fall dessert. Fresh apples are baked until tender and bubbling, then topped with a buttery streusel topping made with oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. 

overhead view of apple crisp in a white baking dish next to a couple of apples.
Easy Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats.

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Serve it warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream; it’s the perfect way to celebrate apple season and bring a little comfort to the table.

a small bowl with warm apple crisp and a scoop of ice cream next to a spoon.
Cozy Apple Crisp with Ice Cream.

The Players for Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe

ingredients for apple crisp recipe laid out on a black counter.
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats.

Ingredients:

  • Apples – Feel free to use any apples you have on hand! If you’d like more guidance, scroll down for my tips on the best baking apples. I prefer my apples to be in 1-inch sized chunks rather than sliced apples because it’s easier for my kids to eat. However you choose to cut them is up to you.
  • Sugar – A bit of white sugar sweetens the apple mixture. I keep it light, but if your apples are extra tart, add another tablespoon to taste.
  • Cinnamon – A warm, cozy spice that pairs perfectly with apples and makes the crisp taste like fall in every bite.
  • Vanilla Extract – Adds a rich, sweet depth of flavor that enhances the apples.
  • Lemon Juice – A squeeze of fresh lemon juice brightens up the apple mixture.
  • Flour – All purpose flour works best for this apple crisp recipe.
  • Rolled Oats – Old-fashioned oats give the oat topping its chewy-crispy texture. Quick oats can work in a pinch too!
  • Brown Sugar – Light brown sugar adds sweetness with a touch of molasses, giving the topping that caramel-like flavor we love in crisps.
  • Salt – Just a pinch of salt is needed to bring all of the flavors together.
  • Butter – Melted butter binds the crisp topping and makes it golden, rich, and delicious for this easy apple crisp.

Tools:

apple crisp recipe with oats in a white casserole dish next to a striped red towel and a couple of whole apples.
A Classic Fall Dessert – Apple Crisp with Oats.

How to make Homemade Apple Crisp with Oats

Place an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a baking dish with non-stick spray (or in this case, I used the wax paper that holds the butter) and set aside.

taking wax paper from butter and greasing a casserole dish with it for apple crisp.
Grease a baking dish with non-stick spray. I use the wax paper from the butter!

Prepare the Apples

In a large bowl, toss the diced apples with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. Spread out the apples evenly in the prepared baking dish.

diced apples on a cutting board for apple crisp recipe with oats.
You can either dice or slice your apples for this recipe. I like to dice mine since it makes the crisp easier to scoop.
diced apples in a bowl with sugar in a measuring cup being held over the apples.
To a large bowl, add your diced apples along with sugar.
a bottle of cinnamon being held over the bowl of apples and sugar.
Sprinkle in some ground cinnamon.
a bottle of vanilla extract being held over the bowl of apples.
Pour in pure vanilla extract.
half of a lemon being held over the bowl with apples for apple crisp recipe.
Squeeze in some lemon juice.
the spiced diced apples being poured into the prepared baking dish.
Pour the spiced apples into the prepared baking dish.
apples in the prepared baking dish waiting for the oat crumble on top.
Spread the apples evenly in the baking dish.

Prepare the Streusel Oat Topping

Using the same bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the melted butter until the mixture is crumbly.

You don’t need a food processor or pastry cutter for this.  You can use a spatula or a fork. 

a measuring cup holding rolled oats being poured into a bowl to make the oat crumble.
In the same bowl (cause why dirty another dish!) add in the rolled oats.
a measuring cup holding flour being added to the oats.
Add the flour into the oats.
light brown sugar added to the bowl of flour and oats for apple crisp recipe.
Add in the brown sugar to the oats and flour to make the oat crumble topping.
some cinnamon about to be sprinkled into the bowl with the apples in the background.
Sprinkle in some cinnamon into the oat topping mixture.
salt being held over the bowl of oat crumble.
Add a pinch of salt to the bowl.
a small cast iron skillet of melted butter being add to the oats and flour mixture.
Pour the melted butter into the oat mixture.
a red spatula combining the butter and oats together to resemble a crumbly, wet sand-like mixture.
Mix the melted butter well into the oat and flour mixture.

Assemble and Bake

Sprinkle the crumbly topping evenly over the apples in the prepared pan.

a hand sprinkling the crumble over the tops of the apples in the baking dish for apple crisp recipe.
Crumble the oat mixture over the top of the apples.

Bake for 45-50 minutes until the apple juices are bubbling and the top is golden brown. If you find that the apple crumble topping is getting too brown, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.

overhead view of apple crisp in a white baking dish next to some apples and a red gingham kitchen towel.
Warm Apple Crisp right out of the oven.

Allow the apple crisp to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy this with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce for the best fall dessert!

a serving of apple crisp in a small bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
Warm Apple Crisp with a Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream.

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Apple Crisp

To Store: 

Store cooled Apple Crisp in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To Reheat:

Heat individual servings in a microwave-safe dish for 45 seconds at 50% power until heated through.

a small bowl holding a serving of apple crisp with sliced apples next to the bowl.
The perfect classic fall dessert, topped with buttery streusel.

Which Apples are Best for Apple Crisp?

The best apples for apple crisp are the ones that you already buy for your household.  While there are certain varieties that are especially good for apple desserts, don’t stress too much. Use the apples your family enjoys and what’s in your kitchen.

That said, if you’re looking for the best results, some apples hold up better in the oven and give your apple crisp more flavor and texture. Here are some of my favorites:

  • Granny Smith – Granny smith apples are tart and firm, therefore, holding up nicely when baking.
  • Pink Lady – This type of apple is firm with a lovely tang to them.
  • Honeycrisp – My absolute favorite to use because they are juicy and ever-so-slightly tart.
  • Golden Delicious – Golden Delicious apples are soft and sweet and blend well with firmer varieties.
  • Gala – Gala apples are naturally sweet and are ideal for baked goods like apple cobbler and, of course, apple crisp.

Pin it for Later!

If you end up making this Homemade Apple Crisp recipe, leave me a comment.  I’d love to chat with you!

an overhead image of apple crisp in the baking dish.
Save this Pin to make it later!

Looking for other apple recipes and dessert ideas? Check these out next!

a bowl of apple crisp with oats and a small scoop of ice cream on top next to a spoon and a red striped kitchen towel.

The Best Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats

This Homemade Apple Crisp Recipe with Oats is everything you want in a classic fall dessert. Fresh apples are baked until tender and bubbling, then topped with a buttery streusel topping made with oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. 
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 5 apples, peeled and diced
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted 1 stick

Instructions
 

  • Place an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9"x9" baking dish. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, toss diced apples with sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
  • Using the same bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in melted butter until mixture is crumbly.
  • Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
  • Bake for 45-50 minutes until the apple juices are bubbling and the top is golden brown.
  • Allow the apple crisp to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Apple Crisp
To Store: 
Store cooled Apple Crisp in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Reheat:
Heat individual servings in a microwave-safe dish for 45 seconds at 50% power until heated through.
Proverbs 19:21 - "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails."

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