Description
Whip up a rustic Old-Fashioned Homemade Apple Crisp. This recipe brings warm spices and tender apples, just like grandma made. Simple, comforting, and so easy!
Ingredients
Scale
- Crisp Apple Filling:
- 6–8 medium Granny Smith apples (about 2.5 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Sweet Crumble Topping:
- 1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (extra for apples)
- Pinch ground nutmeg (extra for apples)
- Serving Suggestions:
- Vanilla bean ice cream
- Fresh whipped cream
- Plain Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Prep the Apples:: First things first, get those apples ready! I usually peel, core, and slice my Granny Smiths into about 1/4-inch thick pieces. Honestly, this is where I usually get distracted by a podcast and start making some slices thicker than others. Don’t worry, it adds character! Toss them into a large bowl with the granulated sugar, a tablespoon of flour, and that lemon juice. Give it a good stir, making sure every apple slice gets a little love. You want them coated, ready for their sweet adventure.
- Whip Up the Crumble Topping:: While those apples are chilling, it’s time for the star of the show: the crumble! In a separate medium bowl, combine your rolled oats, the remaining flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Give it a whisk to make sure everything is evenly distributed. Now, for the butter. Take that cold, cubed butter and use your fingertips to rub it into the dry ingredients. You’re aiming for a coarse, crumbly mixture – some pieces will be pea-sized, others a bit larger. If your hands are warm, it can get a bit messy, but this classic dessert is worth it!
- Assemble Your Apple Crisp:: Grab a 9×13 inch baking dish. I didn’t expect that it needs to be greased, but a quick spray or rub with butter makes cleanup so much easier. Pour your apple mixture into the prepared dish, spreading it out evenly. It’ll look like a mountain of apples, but trust me, they’ll cook down. Next, sprinkle that glorious crumble topping all over the apples. Try to get an even layer, but if there are a few bare spots, who cares? It’s homemade, not a magazine cover!
- Bake the Old-Fashioned Homemade Apple Crisp:: Pop that dish into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). This is where the magic happens! I usually bake it for about 40-50 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the topping is a beautiful golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling up around the edges. Honestly, the smell filling your kitchen is half the reward. It’s like a warm hug, signaling that something wonderful is about to emerge. Don’t open the oven too much, or it’ll take longer!
- Check for Doneness:: To be sure your crisp is cooked through, you can gently insert a knife into the center of the apples. They should be tender, not crunchy. If they’re still a bit firm, just let it bake for another 5-10 minutes. Sometimes my oven runs a little hot, sometimes a little cool, so I always trust my instincts and that knife test. This step is crucial for that perfect apple texture, not too soft, not too hard.
- Cool (If You Can Wait!) and Serve:: Once it’s out of the oven, resist the urge to dig in immediately! Let this delightful dish cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes. This lets the filling set up a bit, preventing it from being too runny. I know, it’s hard to wait with that amazing aroma, but it’s worth it, I promise! Serve it warm, maybe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Pure bliss, hon.