This recipe provides instructions for making a classic Cinnamon Apple Crisp, a comforting and easy-to-prepare dessert featuring sweet and tender baked apples topped with a buttery, crumbly oat streusel. The apples are typically seasoned with cinnamon and sometimes a touch of nutmeg, enhancing their natural sweetness with warm spice notes. The oat topping provides a delightful textural contrast to the soft apples, offering a slightly chewy and crisp element. Apple crisp is a beloved dessert, especially during the fall season when apples are abundant, and it’s often served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence. The image shows a rectangular glass baking dish filled with what appears to be a Cinnamon Apple Crisp. The bottom layer consists of soft, baked apple slices that are coated in a syrupy sauce. The top is covered with a golden-brown, crumbly topping that seems to be made of oats, flour, butter, and possibly nuts, and it is generously sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
The heart of this dessert is the apple filling. Apples, such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala, are peeled, cored, and sliced or chopped. They provide a sweet and slightly tart base. Granulated sugar sweetens the apples, and the amount can be adjusted based on the apple variety and personal preference. Ground cinnamon is the quintessential spice, adding a warm and comforting flavor that pairs perfectly with apples. A touch of ground nutmeg is often included to add another layer of warm spice. Lemon juice helps to prevent the apples from browning and adds a subtle brightness to the flavor. All-purpose flour or cornstarch can be used as a thickener for the apple juices released during baking, creating a luscious sauce.
The topping, or streusel, is what gives the crisp its signature texture. Rolled oats (not instant) provide a chewy and slightly nutty element. All-purpose flour contributes to the crumbly structure. Brown sugar adds sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor, as well as helping the topping to become slightly caramelized. Unsalted butter, often cold and cut into pieces, is crucial for creating the crumbly texture as it’s incorporated with the dry ingredients. Chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, are optional but add extra crunch and flavor.
The preparation involves first making the apple filling by tossing the sliced apples with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), lemon juice, and flour or cornstarch in a baking dish. Then, the oat topping is prepared by combining the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, and cold butter until a crumbly mixture forms. Chopped nuts are stirred in if desired. The topping is evenly sprinkled over the apple filling, and the entire dish is baked until the apples are tender and bubbly, and the topping is golden brown and crisp.
Cinnamon Apple Crisp is best served warm, allowing the aromas to be fully appreciated and the topping to retain its crispness.
The texture is a delightful contrast between the soft, tender, and slightly saucy baked apples and the crumbly, slightly chewy, and often crisp oat topping.
The flavor is a comforting blend of sweet and slightly tart apples, warm cinnamon spice, and the buttery, nutty notes of the oat topping.
Cinnamon Apple Crisp is a baked dessert featuring a sweet and spiced apple filling topped with a buttery, crumbly oat streusel.
The preparation involves making a spiced apple mixture, creating an oat-based crumb topping, layering the topping over the apples, and baking until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
Ingredients:
For the Apple Filling:
- 6-8 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala), peeled, cored, and sliced or chopped
- ½ – ¾ cup granulated sugar (adjust to sweetness of apples)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch
For the Oat Topping:
- 1 cup rolled oats (not instant)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
Equipment:
- 9×13 inch baking dish (or similar size)
- Large mixing bowl
- Pastry blender or fork (or your fingertips)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced or chopped apples with the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg (if using), and lemon juice. Sprinkle the all-purpose flour or cornstarch over the apples and toss again to coat evenly. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Make the Oat Topping: In the same mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, and packed light brown sugar. Add the cold, cut-up butter. Use a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingertips to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. If using nuts, stir them into the topping mixture.
- Assemble and Bake: Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the apple filling in the baking dish, ensuring that the apples are mostly covered. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crisp, and the apples are tender and bubbly. The baking time may vary depending on the type and size of the apples.
- Cool Slightly and Serve: Let the apple crisp cool in the baking dish for a few minutes before serving. It is best served warm.
- Serve: Serve the warm Cinnamon Apple Crisp on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra treat.
Enjoy this comforting and delicious dessert!