Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp: Rustic Cinnamon Crumble (Print Version)

Whip up an Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp with tender apples and a buttery, spiced crumble. Pure comfort, just like grandma made.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian

# Ingredients:

→ Apple Filling

01 - 6-8 medium baking apples (like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ Crumble Topping

08 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
09 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
10 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
12 - 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Optional Serving

14 - Vanilla ice cream
15 - Whipped cream
16 - Warm custard

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, let's get those apples ready for your Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp. I peel, core, and slice my apples to about 1/4-inch thick. You want them uniform so they cook evenly – no sad, mushy bits next to crunchy ones! I usually find myself humming a little tune while doing this, it's quite meditative. This is where the kitchen starts smelling faintly of fresh fruit, a promise of good things to come. Don't worry if a slice isn't perfect, it's homemade, not a factory!
02 - In a big bowl, toss those sliced apples with the granulated sugar, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Give it a good stir to make sure every apple slice is coated in that lovely, spiced goodness. Honestly, this is where I usually taste a tiny piece of apple just to make sure the spices are hitting right. Don't be afraid to adjust a little! I once forgot the lemon juice, and the apples turned a bit brown and bland, so don't make my mistake.
03 - Now for the best part of any Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp – the crumble! In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, both sugars, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using your fingertips, a pastry blender, or even a fork, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until you have a coarse, crumbly mixture with some pea-sized bits of butter remaining. This step is key for that perfectly crisp topping. It should feel like damp sand, maybe a little messy, but oh so worth it!
04 - Pour the apple filling into a 9x13 inch baking dish (or an 8x8 if you want a thicker crisp, I’ve done both!). Make sure the apples are spread out somewhat evenly. Then, sprinkle that glorious crumble topping all over the apples. Don't press it down too much; we want air for maximum crispiness! I always make sure there's a nice even layer, especially around the edges, because those browned, buttery bits are my favorite.
05 - Pop your Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for 35-45 minutes. You're looking for the topping to be beautifully golden brown and the apple filling underneath to be bubbly and tender. I usually start peeking around 30 minutes, because the anticipation is just too much! If the topping starts browning too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil, I've had to do that a few times myself.
06 - Once it's out of the oven, let your Old Fashioned Easy Apple Crisp cool for about 10-15 minutes. This lets the filling set a bit and prevents you from burning your tongue (ask me how I know!). The kitchen smells heavenly at this point, all warm apples and toasted oats. Serve it warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. It's pure comfort, a delightful end to any meal, or honestly, a fantastic breakfast.

# Notes:

01 - Always use cold butter for the crumble; it makes all the difference for a truly crisp topping, trust me on this!
02 - Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-4 days, but reheat in the oven for best topping texture.
03 - Try adding a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom to the apple filling for an extra layer of warmth.
04 - Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for pure bliss.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 9x13 inch baking dish
02 - large mixing bowls
03 - pastry blender (optional)
04 - peeler
05 - knife

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 350
Total Fat: 15g
Total Carbohydrate: 50g
Protein: 3g

Back