Tart granny smith apples laced with caramel and baked with a crunchy pecan topping. You’ll love this easy Apple Crisp loaded with fall spices and brown sugar!
Tis the season for all apple desserts. We are in love with this easy Apple Crumble Recipe! Readers adore our delicious Apple Hand Pies. Which one do YOU love?
Why this Recipe is Best
Folks, I’m not kidding when I say this Apple Crisp knocks every other apple crisp recipe off the charts. I know, I know. Crisps are such basic desserts.
But THIS apple crisp? It takes the delicious and comforting taste of classic apple crisp and makes it even better with the addition of buttery caramel, plenty of crunchy pecans!
If you love caramel apples, this is bound to become your new favorite apple dessert.
You can serve this on its own but I (of course) love it best with a giant scoop of Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. Don’t forget the extra caramel drizzle on top!
Did I mention that this recipe is also super easy? Just mix the filling together, sprinkle on the topping, bake and dig in.
There is a time and place for Apple Pie and French Apple Pie, but if you’re looking for an easy, throw it in a baking dish type of dessert, this is for you.
Crisp vs. Crumble
Wondering what the difference is between a fruit crisp and a fruit crumble? You’re not alone.
The two terms are used interchangeably most of the time for any dessert that involves fruit baked with a crispy and crumbly topping. You work butter into flour with sugar and, sometimes spices.
Crisps, though, almost always involve oats to make them more crispy! In this variation on traditional Apple Crisp, I also added pecans for even more texture.
I love the combination of soft apples, swirled with caramel and finished with the crisp buttery pecans and oats. It’s impossible not to.
Ingredient Notes
- Granny Smith Apples – This variety of apple is extra tart and crisp making it perfect for baking. You can sub another tart variety of apple, but Granny Smiths are by far my favorite.
- Unsalted Butter – If needed, you can use salted butter in the topping, just omit the added salt.
- Old Fashioned Rolled Oats- Instant oats will be too small and soft and steel cut oats would be too hard. Be sure to check the labels to make sure you’re using the correct oats!
- Pecans – Walnuts works great as a substitute or you can leave the nuts out entirely.
- Caramel – Caramel ice cream topping or jarred caramel sauce for both the filling and for drizzling on top.
Step by Step Instructions
STEP 1. Apple filling
Add slices of apples to a large bowl and toss with the other filling ingredients to combine. Pour the apple mixture into a prepared casserole dish.
STEP 2. Topping
In another bowl, mix together all of the topping ingredients to combine. Sprinkle it over the apple mixture.
STEP 3. Bake
Bake the apple crisp uncovered for about 1 hour. When it’s ready, the apples will be soft, the juices bubbling and the edges of the crisp lightly browned.
Drizzle the crisp with extra caramel sauce and serve in bowls with a ice cream or fresh Whipped Cream.
Does it get any better than the taste of warm apple crisp with a spoonful of cold ice cream melting through the layers? If you think of anything else that’s quite so satisfying in the fall, let me know.
Recipe FAQs
Up to you! I like the texture the apple skins add to the crisp. If you don’t enjoy that, feel free to peel them.
I make this crisp in a standard sized 2 qt casserole pan. You could also use a glass square baking dish.
I LOVE the tartness that Granny Smiths give the crisp, but sure, other apples will work too. I recommend apples that are juicy and at least a little tart, like Honeycrisps or Pink Ladies.
The flavors will be good but I much prefer it when it’s warm, especially alongside the cold ice cream.
More Fall Baking Recipes
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
- Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
- Pumpkin Pie Recipe
- Pumpkin Dump Cake
- Apple Cobbler
- Instant Pot Apple Crisp
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Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Ingredients
Filling:
- 6 granny smith apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons caramel sauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon apple pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup old fashioned oats
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Serve with:
- Caramel drizzle
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 8×8 or small casserole dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add the evenly sliced apples (about ¼-inch thick), sugars, flour, caramel sauce, vanilla, apple pie spice, and salt to a large bowl and toss to combine.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the greased baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the topping ingredients until completely combined and sprinkle over the top of the apple mixture.
- Bake for 1 hour until the top is golden brown, the apples are tender, and the juices are bubbling around the edges of the pan.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Other kinds of apples can be used but I love the tartness of granny smith with the caramel sauce.
- Salted butter may be used in the topping, just omit the salt in the mixture.
- Quick oats will be too soft for this recipe and steel-cut oats are too hard.
- Walnuts could be used instead of pecans or the nuts can be omitted if desired.
Nutrition
The best Apple Crisp recipe is also the easiest! Fill your kitchen with the intoxicating aroma of baking apples and spices, then sit back and dig into a bowl of warm, fresh Apple Crisp.
Is there something else to sub for oats?
I had 8 family members over tonite for dinner and this apple crisp was a hit. They all loved it! I used the double recipe and it was perfect! Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome! Glad it was a hit!
What is apple pie spice? What are the ingredients to make my own since it’s not at any of my stores? Thanks
I decided to make an apple pie, but I didn’t have my go to pie crusts, so I checked your recipe list and found this one. I used walnuts instead of pecans and used twice as much apple pie spice because I really love that flavor. It came out perfect and I loved it. The hubs wasn’t a big fan of the caramel sauce, but that just means more for me. What an easy way to make an impressive dessert.
So delicious and easy to make. We love apple season and this is a perfect way to celebrate the harvest!
Such a delicious recipe! Your recipe is so easy to follow too. My family loves it.