This apple crisp is loaded with apples and cinnamon, then topped with a crumbly oat topping. It’s served warm with vanilla ice cream for the perfect fall inspired dessert!
I went apple picking this past weekend and came home with more apples then I know what to do with. So, I decided to make (and share with you) my favorite fall dessert: apple crisp. There’s nothing quite like the smell of apples and cinnamon coming out of your oven!
Team apple pie or apple crisp?
I have to be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of pies because of the thick crusts. If there’s a whole spread of desserts to choose from I’m usually going for cookies, brownies, or anything chocolate. But I can’t resist an apple crisp! This apple crisp will remind you of your favorite apple pie, but with way less effort and time to make, since an apple crisp is crustless. Instead, it has a great crispy golden crumble to add some crunch.
What is apple crisp?
Apple crisp is a dessert made of apple slices which are tossed with cinnamon and sugar. The warm juicy apples are then topped with a crumble made of oats, flour, butter, sugar and spices. The whole dessert is baked until the apples are soft and tender, and the oat crumble is crunchy.
Is this apple crisp healthy?
For this post I experimented with different recipes and attempted to make a healthier version of apple crisp. However, the results were just not the same. Honestly, you need the butter in this recipe to get the amazing crumble results. I was able to reduce the amount of sugar, which I was presently surprised allowed the natural sweetness of the apples to shine through. Also, I added high fiber oats to the crumble, and instead of using regular white flour , used oat flour for more added nutrients. I found these small changes did not compromise the flavor of this indulgent dessert.
Fat-free, sugar-free food will leave you unsatisfied
I know there are a lot of “healthier” versions of your favorite classic treats out there. My food philosophy is that a little bit of the real stuff is always much more satisfying than the spinoffs, and prevents additional cravings. Compared to having a much larger portion of the fake, fat-free, sugar-free versions which will just leave you unsatisfied and looking for additional foods to fill the void.
Depriving yourself of foods you love or labeling a food as ‘bad’ almost always guarantees you will crave and binge on them sooner or later. This can end up leading to an unhealthy cycle. Instead of denying yourself what you want most, focus on portion control and a balanced diet.
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Eat a balanced diet
A healthy diet is not about eating as many vegetables as you can. A healthy diet is eating a wide variety of nutritious foods in the right amounts most of the time and enjoying occasional treats to create balance. When we learn to enjoy and get pleasure out of the occasional treat, that is what is going to make a healthy diet and lifestyle sustainable for the long term.
Remember, all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle. So go ahead and make this yummy dessert and enjoy it with friends and loved ones on a cozy fall day!
Which variety of apples is best?
There are many varieties of apples, all with slightly different flavors. Some are better for eating fresh and some are better for baking. The best baking apples are the ones that keep their shape. Some good options include: cortland, granny smith, honey crisp, empire, jonagold, golden delicious, and gala.
I usually make this crisp with whatever apples I have available and I like to use a combination of apples for different flavor and texture. I used gala, empire, and mcintosh. Just a note: mcintosh apples tend to break down when cooked (great for making applesauce), so they are best paired with an apple that holds its shape from the list above.
How to serve apple crisp
My favorite way to serve this apple crisp is warm out of the oven and topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Honestly, this recipe is so good that it doesn’t even need the ice cream. But there is nothing like that combination, as the scoop of ice cream melts into the warm apples and crunchy topping, mmm!
Can this apple crisp be reheated
This apple crisp is best right out of the oven. However, if you have leftovers store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat the apple crisp in the microwave or in the oven for few minutes being sure not to overcook. The crumble will not be as crisp but the flavor will still be amazing.
Tips & suggestions
- Don’t forget to peel the apples. Apple peel will be tough in the apple crisp
- Use real butter. I found nothing is going to replace the buttery flavor in this recipe. In addition the butter provides the crisp texture of this amazing crumble
- Try your best to cut your apples the same thickness so they cook evenly. Be sure to slice your apples thinly so they become fully tender.
- Add chopped nuts for more crunch in the topping. Walnuts, pecans or slivered almonds would all be great additions
- It may seem like the baking dish is overflowing with the apples, but the apples will cook down.
- Double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 baking dish if feeding a crowd
- If you don’t have oat flour, regular flour, whole wheat flour or even almond flour would work fine
You really can’t mess up this recipe except for maybe over-baking. It is much faster than making an apple pie. The most time consuming part is cutting the apples, but really you only need 4-5 apples.
Take advantage of the abundance of apples available during this time of year and make this delicious apple crisp!
More recipes you may enjoy!
Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto
Vegetarian Enchiladas with Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans
Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 4-5 medium apples or 5 cups peeled, cored and sliced into ¼ inch thick wedges
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the crumble topping
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup oat four
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch salt
- ¼ cup butter room temperature and cubed
- Optional: chopped nuts walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl combine, rolled oats, oat flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add cubed butter to the bowl. Cut with a pastry cutter (or 2 knives, or the back of a fork) until well combined and mixture resembles coarse meal. Optional: add nuts to the crumb mixture if using and stir well.
- In a large bowl combine the sliced apples and cinnamon and stir well. Grease an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish. Add the apples to the greased pan and spread as evenly as possible, lightly pressing down.
- Spread crumbs evenly over apple mixture and pat down . Bake for 45- 50 minutes until apples are soft, and the crumble is lightly browned. Takeout of the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Nutrition Facts
To make vegan: substitute butter for vegan stick butter or coconut oil and serve with dairy free ice cream
What’s your favorite apple variety? Share in the comments below. Also, be sure to stay in touch and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
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