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Old-fashioned apple crisp is a classic recipe you’ll find yourself making year after year. Tender spiced apples are topped with a crispy oat and brown sugar topping. Use freshly picked apples from the orchard or a bag of your favorite baking apples from the grocery store to make it any time of year.
I’m a creature of habit, especially when it comes to seasonal recipes. Fall isn’t fall around here until I’ve made my nana’s pumpkin roll recipe at least three times. Pumpkin crunch cake and my slow cooker apple butter (a reader favorite!) are also in heavy rotation, right along with this old-fashioned apple crisp recipe.
There is nothing “out there” or trendy about this apple crisp. It is the version I grew up with: apples tossed in sugar and spices and topped with plenty of oat crumble. Pure comfort food, especially when you top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
You can make this one in about 1 hour from start to finish, so it’s just as great for a weeknight dessert as it is for a holiday table. Want to dress it up? Skip down to “recipe variations” below…but don’t sleep on this simple, classic version either.
What readers are saying
“Just outstanding. I ignore all the other recipes because this one is so quick and just as delicious if not more! Why add lemon juice when you can just dial down the sugar. This recipe is genius!” -Matilda
“Excellent! This recipe is a keeper. I’m totally printing it out and adding it to my go-to recipe binder. Thank you for sharing.” -Becky
“Got rave reviews! This recipe is going into my collection to use again.” -Joy
A note from Jamie
2026 update: I shared this old-fashioned apple crisp recipe 6 years ago and readers have been coming back to it year after year ever since. I have updated the photos and post to help you make this the best fall dessert ever, but the recipe remains the same: just pure, classic apple crisp goodness.
Recipe testing tips
- If you bake with apples on a regular basis, make prepping them easier by getting a 3-in-1 peeler/corer/slicer. It makes it so much faster to prepare the apples and to get even slices. I use it for everything from easy sautéed apples to homemade apple cake, too.
- Mix the apple base right in the baking dish so you don’t have an extra bowl to wash.
- A little bit of water helps the apples cook down better and prevents the crisp from getting dry. I promise it won’t dilute the flavor (but feel free to use apple juice if you’d like!).
- If you don’t have quick oats for the streusel topping, rolled oats will work in a pinch. Just keep in mind that they tend to be more chewy than quick-cooking oats.
What are the best apples to use for crisp?
Apples that are best for baking aren’t always the same apples that you’d want to eat on their own. Honeycrisp apples are great for both, but they’re kind of in the minority there.
When looking for apples to make apple crisp, you want apples that are tart and crisp. That way they don’t get overwhelmed by the sugar in the crisp or mushy in the oven.
Some of my favorite apple varieties for baking with include:
- Granny smith
- Honeycrisp
- Pink lady
- Golden delicious
- Jonagold
- Cortland
Feel free to use 2-3 different varieties for an even more robust apple flavor.
1 medium apple yields about 1 cup of apple slices. Since this recipe calls for 10 cups of sliced apples, you need about 8 large or 10 medium apples.
Storage
Store any leftover apple crisp covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Note that the longer you store the crisp, the less…well, crispy the topping will get. If you are making this recipe for guests, I recommend making it no more than the night before you plan to serve it, although the same day is even better.
Individual portions can be reheated in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.
Easy Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 10 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples from about 8–10 apples
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup water
For the topping
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place the sliced apples in a 9×13-inch pan. Mix the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over the apples. Pour the water evenly over the the mixture.10 cups peeled, cored and sliced apples, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 cup water
- In a medium bowl, combine the topping ingredients together until crumbs form. Sprinkle evenly over the apple mixture.1 cup quick-cooking oats, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Bake for about 45 minutes, until the apples are soft, the juices are bubbling around the edge of the pan, and the crumble is golden brown.
Notes
Ingredients
- For best flavor and texture, use baking apples such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, or Cortland.
- The cinnamon can be substituted for apple pie spice.
- If you do not have quick oats, rolled oats can be used but will have a chewier texture.
Storage
- Crisp is best served within 12-18 hours of when it is made, but leftovers can be stored covered at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Recipe variations
This easy apple crisp is hard to beat, but there are plenty of ways you can dress it up if you’d like:
- Swap the cinnamon for apple pie spice, which will add extra warmth from nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom.
- Add salted caramel sauce before sprinkling on the oat topping for a caramel apple crisp.
- Try pairing the apples with a second fruit. Apple pear crisp is a great option during the fall, while cranberry apple crisp is a sweet-tart option that’s perfect during the holidays.
- For all of the flavors of this dessert in a handheld version, give apple crisp bars a try!
Just outstanding. I ignore all the other recipes because this one is so quick and just as delicious if not more! Why add lemon juice when you can just dial down the sugar. This recipe is genius!
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback – it is so appreciated!
Happy baking!
-Jamie