To me, nothing says fall like cozy desserts: warm pumpkin pie, apple cider donuts, and of course, apple crisp. Apple crisp is a classic. There’s nothing not to love about warm, gooey baked apple slices with a sweet crumble topping and some melty vanilla ice cream. Especially during fall when there is an abundance of apples that are in season and extra delicious!

In this recipe, I use Granny Smith apples to create a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors and slivered almonds in my crumb topping for a nutty, crunchy touch. Though the classic recipe uses butter, you can easily make it dairy-free and vegan by swapping the butter with a dairy-free alternative! This is truly a recipe that everyone can enjoy. Try making it for your family or serving it at your next dinner party to impress your guests. It’s the perfect comfort food on a chilly autumn day!
FAQ:
Can I make this recipe dairy-free/vegan?
Yes! You can easily make this recipe dairy-free by swapping the butter with margarine or another dairy-free butter substitute.
Can I make this recipe nut-free?
Yes! If you have a nut allergy or nut sensitivity, you can make this recipe nut-free by swapping the ¼ cup of nuts with an additional ¼ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats.
Do I need to peel the apples?
This is a personal preference. If you like the chewy texture of the apple skin, feel free to leave it on. I personally like to peel the apples for a smoother texture.
Can I use another type of apple instead of Granny Smith?
Yes, you can swap Granny Smith apples with another apple variety. I use Granny Smith since they provide a good balance of tart and sweet flavors, but if you want a apple sweeter crisp, you can use a sweeter type of apple. If you use another type of apple, make sure it is a crisp, sturdy apple that can hold its structure when baked. Empire, Fuji, Honey Crisp, and Golden Delicious apples all work well. A softer, less sturdy apple like a Macintosh will yield an undesirable, mushy texture.
3 tips for the best possible apple crisp:
1. Make sure to cut your apples in very thin, even slices so that they all cook through
2. Use dark brown sugar rather than light brown sugar for a richer, more caramel-like taste
3. Serve your apple crisp fresh. The crisp will keep in the fridge for a few days after you make it, but the topping will quickly lose its crispiness when stored so the sooner you eat it, the better.
Apple Crisp Recipe
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
45 minutes
Total Time:
60 minutes
Serves:
4
Ingredients:
- 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup slivered or chopped almonds
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- ⅓ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a small baking dish.
- In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon juice, half of the cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Place the apple slices in the baking dish and set aside
- Prepare the crumble topping. Place the oats, almonds, flour, remaining sugar, remaining cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl and mix, working the butter into the dry ingredients, until you have a crumby consistency and there are no chunks of butter remaining.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apple slices in the baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.
To me, nothing says fall like cozy desserts: warm pumpkin pie, apple cider donuts, and of course, apple crisp. Apple crisp is a classic. There’s nothing not to love about warm, gooey baked apple slices with a sweet crumble topping and some melty vanilla ice cream. Especially during fall when there is an abundance of apples that are in season and extra delicious!

In this recipe, I use Granny Smith apples to create a perfect balance of tart and sweet flavors and slivered almonds in my crumb topping for a nutty, crunchy touch. Though the classic recipe uses butter, you can easily make it dairy-free and vegan by swapping the butter with a dairy-free alternative! This is truly a recipe that everyone can enjoy. Try making it for your family or serving it at your next dinner party to impress your guests. It’s the perfect comfort food on a chilly autumn day!
FAQ:
Can I make this recipe dairy-free/vegan?
Yes! You can easily make this recipe dairy-free by swapping the butter with margarine or another dairy-free butter substitute.
Can I make this recipe nut-free?
Yes! If you have a nut allergy or nut sensitivity, you can make this recipe nut-free by swapping the ¼ cup of nuts with an additional ¼ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats.
Do I need to peel the apples?
This is a personal preference. If you like the chewy texture of the apple skin, feel free to leave it on. I personally like to peel the apples for a smoother texture.
Can I use another type of apple instead of Granny Smith?
Yes, you can swap Granny Smith apples with another apple variety. I use Granny Smith since they provide a good balance of tart and sweet flavors, but if you want a apple sweeter crisp, you can use a sweeter type of apple. If you use another type of apple, make sure it is a crisp, sturdy apple that can hold its structure when baked. Empire, Fuji, Honey Crisp, and Golden Delicious apples all work well. A softer, less sturdy apple like a Macintosh will yield an undesirable, mushy texture.
3 tips for the best possible apple crisp:
1. Make sure to cut your apples in very thin, even slices so that they all cook through
2. Use dark brown sugar rather than light brown sugar for a richer, more caramel-like taste
3. Serve your apple crisp fresh. The crisp will keep in the fridge for a few days after you make it, but the topping will quickly lose its crispiness when stored so the sooner you eat it, the better.
Apple Crisp Recipe
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
45 minutes
Total Time:
60 minutes
Serves:
4
Ingredients:
- 4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup slivered or chopped almonds
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- ⅓ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a small baking dish.
- In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with the lemon juice, half of the cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Place the apple slices in the baking dish and set aside
- Prepare the crumble topping. Place the oats, almonds, flour, remaining sugar, remaining cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl and mix, working the butter into the dry ingredients, until you have a crumby consistency and there are no chunks of butter remaining.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apple slices in the baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream on top.