This easy apple crisp recipe without oats is the perfect fall dessert. Serving it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an apple crisp without oats is the ultimate comfort food for chilly autumn days.
You might remember my stove top apple crisp recipe that I posted a while ago. Well, I have another delicious version for you to try! Trust me, you don't want to miss this one!
Yes, I know. It is technically a crumble.
This classic British dessert is the perfect way to enjoy autumn flavors when apples are in season.
Serve your apple crumble with some chantilly cream or vanilla ice cream for a decadent treat that everyone will love.
Why you will LOVE this recipe
Warm apples with a buttery crumb topping. It has a buttery, crunchy topping that contrasts with the soft and juicy apple filling.
This dessert has all the Fall flavors. If you love Autumn, you'll love this treat. It's like a warm hug from the season, with cozy spices and sweet apples in every bite.
Super easy to make. Just mix the apples and spices together in a baking dish and sprinkle some streusel on top.
Serves a crowd. It doesn't matter if you are making this recipe for one or for a large group. In fact, you can very easily adjust this recipe to the desired amount.
It has a crumble topping. Need I say more?
Perfect for leftover apples! If you have leftover apples that are past their prime, you won't have to throw them away! This recipe is perfect for using up apples that are a bit soft or bruised.
Ingredients
Flour - I recommend using all-purpose flour for this recipe.
Butter - we all know that butter adds a rich flavor to your dessert, but it also makes sure you get a nice crispy topping with an amazing golden color.
If you need to make your dessert lactose free or prefer to eat vegan, you can substitute the butter for plant-based butter or margarine.
Apple - I always go for a mixture of sweet and slightly sour apples, like Granny Smith. This mix gives the crumble the perfect balance.
You can, however, use any type of apple you like, but I do recommend using a variety that holds its shape while cooking.
We don't want the fruit to turn into a purée.
If you're short on time, you could also use apple pie filling instead of fresh apples.
Sugar - regular granulated sugar works perfectly in this recipe, but if you want to add a caramel flavor to the dough, you can use brown sugar as well.
Cinnamon - cinnamon adds a warm flavor to the apples that will make your house smell amazing!
While cinnamon is delicious, I often make this recipe with speculaas spices or pumpkin spice!
What apples are best for this apple crisp recipe?
I always use a mixture of Granny Smith and a sweet apple like Gala when I make apple crisp.
Whichever apple you choose, it is important that your apples are firm and hold their shape while cooking.
My tips for the best apple crisp without oats
Add enough crisp topping. In my opinion, you can never add too much crumble topping to the apples.
Shortcuts. A quick and easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth is to use pre-made apple pie filling for your dessert, or you can make your own caramel apple pie filling the day before!
Make sure the butter is cold. You want a nice crispy crumble, and the easiest way to achieve this is to make sure your butter is as cold as possible. It also helps if your hands are cold when you rub the butter into the flour.
Don't cut the apples too thin.
Varieties
Add different types of fruit. There are so many possibilities when it comes to making crumble. Apple is a classic choice, but don't be afraid to try out different fruits. Berries, pears, and peaches all make for tasty variations.
Speculaas. I love the combination of warm apples and speculaas, so I often add speculaas spice mix to the dough.
Chopped nuts. Adding nuts gives the crumble a nice crunch and adds extra flavor to the crumble.
Almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts are my favorite.
Make it vegan. To make this recipe completely vegan, you can swap the butter with vegan butter.
Use brown sugar. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and apples are a classic combination. Because of the molasses, it gives the dish a rich caramel flavor.
Frequently asked questions
Absolutely! Apple crumble will stay fresh for up to four days, but the topping may become slightly softer after a day or two..
Yes! For a gluten-free apple crisp, substitute regular flour with gluten-free flour or oat flour.
Equipment
To prepare this recipe, you will require two large mixing bowls, either a kitchen scale or measuring cups, parchment paper, and a 9-inch baking dish.
Storage
A homemade apple crisp can last for up to five days in the fridge.
If you plan on serving the dish at a later time, I recommend freezing it.
Before freezing, cover the crisp with plastic wrap to keep them fresh for up to three months.
To enjoy your delicious treat, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge but keep in mind that the topping may become a bit softer.
I often serve it at room temperature, but it can be reheated in a preheated oven or a microwave.
More delicious recipes using apples
Apple crisp without oats
Ingredients
- 6 apples
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 for the filling and 1 for the topping
- 1 cup flour
- 7 tablespoons cold butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Peel and core the apples. Cut them into thin slices and add them to a bowl.
- Add the cinnamon and mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon, and cold butter.
- Rub the butter into the flour with cold fingers until the mixture starts to resemble bread crumbs. It is important that you don't make the crumbles too small.
- Place the apples in a 9-inch dish and evenly distribute the crisp topping on top.
- Bake the apples for about 30 minutes. You know it is ready when the apples are bubbling away, and the crisp topping is nice and golden.
- Let it cool for a few minutes and serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or vanilla sauce.
Looks delicious!
Thanks!
I'm so excited for apple picking this fall! I love this recipe and can't wait to make it!
Hi Courtney! Let me know how it turned out!
Yum! Such a great way to use all those Fall apples we always get apple picking!
This looks so good. Thank you for this easy recipe 😊
Pastor Chris + Pastor Natalie 😊
It was super easy to make and delicious! I made it with vegan butter and it turned out perfect. Apple season is coming so I'm sure I'll be making this often.
It says to add cinnamon in 2 different steps. So do I do 1 tsp in apples and 1 in mixture or is there a separate measurement? 1st time making this.
Hi Shari. Yes! You add 1 teaspoon in both steps. Good luck!
This is the very old fashioned way to bake real apple crisp. It's the absolute best dessert especially topped with ice cream. Thank you for putting the recipe out there for all to read and hopefully try.
I've tried this recipe twice. It has not worked for me at all! The butter was cold, I cubed it up and crumbled it into the flour mixture. The topping turns into a goopy mush on top of the apples. The first time I made it, we threw the whole dish out. It wasn't good at all. This time I tried it and it looked the same, so I made another batch of the topping and am waiting to see how it turns out... But it's already looking goopy. Don't know what I'm doing wrong to not have a crunchy topping.
Hi Jamie. How frustrating that your topping didn't work out! It's hard to tell from here what went wrong, but I think the problem is that your butter got too hot while you were making the crumbs. I would let the crumbs set in the fridge next time or use a little less butter. Good luck!
Brand of butter makes a huge difference! I buy" land o lakes"
For my mothers recipes, that is what she used. Add brown sugar instead of white,
and it makes a great crusty, sweet topping!
The same thing happened to me! The top was mushy and not crisp at all and some part tasted like like flour.