Best of Swanky Recipes/ Cakes/ Desserts/ Holiday Food/ Seasonal

Caramel Apple Crisp

Name: Caramel Apple Crisp
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups old fashioned oats; 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon, divided; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 12-14 medium-sized apples peeled, cored, sliced (Use tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious); 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 2/3 cup caramel sauce (or Smuckers Caramel Sauce)

Easy old-fashioned Caramel Apple Crisp made from scratch. If you’re looking for a delicious fall dessert, consider this fall baked apple dessert with a double delicious buttery oat crisp topping. The perfect deep-dish apple dessert recipe to use leftover fruit in.

Caramel Apple Crisp made with a crumbly crisp topping and homemade apple filling. My recipe features a double the crisp topping. Served with caramel sauce or ice cream..

This classic apple crisp recipe features an extra layer of buttery oat crisp topping that traditional apple crisp so very much needs! Yes, I said it! I love apple crisp but the topping is JUST as important as the filling.

Apple recipes are a real treat. Once August arrives, I’m ready to head to an apple orchard and pick a variety of apples. I like to use those apples in homemade applesauce, which, if you have not made before, you need to try it! Then, I make my mom’s favorite dessert, apple crisp and apple cupcakes. Any leftover apples get used to make homemade apple jello shots which is fun for a girls weekend.

A close up of apple crisp with brown sugar buttery oat topping crumbles throughout with a soft apple and caramel sauce drizzle.
Text in green border in center says old fashioned double crumble topping apple crisp. Bottom photo is the same as first but further away on a white plate.

What is Apple Crisp?

Apple Crisp is an American dessert that’s typically made during the fall months of September through October. That’s because apple harvest takes place in the fall during cooler weather. Of course, apple dessert recipes can be baked any time of the year.

Apple crisp is a deep dish fruit dessert made with a distinct crisp/crumble or streusel topping and baked until the apples are tender.
It is a casserole style dessert.
The crumbly topping is made with a mixture of butter, old-fashioned oats (rolled oats), flour, brown sugar, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
The filling is from scratch with fresh apples that will need to be peeled, cored, and sliced and then tossed in lemon juice to prevent browning. In addition, the homemade apple filling ingredients also include sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Make apple crisp for a fall or winter holiday. I make this dessert for Thanksgiving, and sometimes Christmas.
Apple crisp is not the same as an apple brown betty, crumble, cobbler, buckle, clafoutis, or spoon pie.

Caramel Apple Crisp made with a buttery oat crumble topping. A classic fall apple dessert recipe.

How Do You Make Apple Crisp?

Making a crisp is the best way to use leftover fruit.

Peel, core, and slice apples then toss in lemon juice. Mix in sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. When I bake, I like to use tart apples because they told their shape best. Use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, or Pink Lady apples.
Make crumb topping by cutting butter into a mixture of flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until it resembles small crumbs covered in butter. I’ve included a tip below in my post about this step.
Cut crumb topping in half and press 1/2 of it into the bottom of a baking dish.
Top with the apple filling.
Sprinkle remaining crumb topping over the apples.
Bake in oven 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown and apples are soft.

NEVER WATERY: This old fashioned caramel apple crisp is not soggy like most recipes I have tried. That’s because my recipe has a crumble topping on the bottom of the baking dish as well the traditional crisp topping. This helps to absorb a light amount of natural sugar and liquid from the apples as it bakes in the oven. In fact, I often hear that this recipe tastes even better the second day once all the juices settle. Adding caramel sauce will give it some more moisture to the top layer.

Caramel Apple Crisp with caramel sauce drizzled over a warm butter and oat topping. Fresh apple filling made from scratch with a double oat crisp.

Baking Tips

Apple Best for Baking Apple Crisp: Use tart apples like Granny Smitch, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, or Pink Lady (Cripps Pink).

Old-FASHIONED OATS: Made from steel-cut oats that are rolled to make them flat. In addition, they cook faster than steel-cut oats. They are also called whole oats, rolled oats. I like to use Quaker Old-fashioned Oats.
When is the best time of year to pick apples? Apple harvest typically takes place during the coolor months from September through October. If you’ve picked your own apples, this apple recipe won’t disapoint.
CARAMEL SAUCE: I like to drizzle caramel sauce over the apple crisp before serving. Here is a homemade caramel sauce recipe I like to use for this apple dessert.
CRISP TOPPING TECHNIQUE: Cut butter into small cubes and allow to come to room temperature. Toss the butter in a little at a time and use your hands to ensure the dry ingredients is generally coated in the butter. You may use a mixer, but make sure the crisp topping texture is still crumbly. Feel free to add your favorite nuts like pecans, almonds, or walnuts to the topping.
TOPPING REDUCTION: This recipe is for a double layer of apple crisp oat topping. It can easily be modified for 1 oat topping. Simply split the topping ingredients in half and only use as a topping to the apple crisp.
FALL DESSERTS: Try my Caramel Apple Dip, Caramel Apples, Caramel Apple Cupcakes, Caramel Apple Jelly Shots, Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes, Butter Pecan Cookies, Maple Bacon Cupcakes, Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

What is YOUR favorite fall dessert recipe that you want to re-create at home?

Caramel Apple Crisp

Easy old-fashioned Caramel Apple Crisp made from scratch; if you're looking for a delicious fall dessert, consider this fall baked apple dessert with a double delicious buttery oat crisp topping. The perfect deep-dish apple dessert recipe to use leftover fruit in.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Apple, Apple Crisp, Fall Dessert, Fruit Filling, Old Fashioned Apple Crisp

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 419kcal

Author: Jessica (swankyrecipes.com)

Ingredients

For the Crisp Topping

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon, divided
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

Apple Filling

12-14 medium-sized apples peeled, cored, sliced (Use tart apples like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2/3 cup caramel sauce (or Smuckers Caramel Sauce)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Peel, core and slice apples and toss with lemon juice. Toss apples with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar and sugar. Cut butter into mixture until crumbly.
Take half of the mixture and pat it into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Cover crumb mixture with the filling of apple slices and juice. Sprinkle remaining crisp mixture on top of sliced apples.
Cover with foil and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until apples are tender.
Remove foil the last 20 minutes of baking and allow the topping to brown lightly.
Drizzle with caramel sauce and serve.

Notes

Apple Best for Baking Apple Crisp: Use tart apples like Granny Smitch, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, or Pink Lady (Cripps Pink).

Double Crisp Topping Reduction: This recipe is for a double layer of apple crisp oat topping. It can easily be modified for 1 oat topping. Simply split the topping ingredients in half and only use as a topping to the apple crisp.

Caramel Sauce: I like to drizzle caramel sauce over the apple crisp before serving. Here is a homemade caramel sauce recipe I like to use for this apple dessert.

Crisp Topping Pro Tip: Cut butter into small cubes and allow to come to room temperature. Toss the butter in a little at a time and use your hands to ensure the dry ingredients is generally coated in the butter. You may use a mixer, but make sure the crisp topping texture is still crumbly.

Nutrition

Best Ever Caramel Apple Crisp! Fresh apples baked in the BEST apple crisp topping! The best apple dessert this fall!

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33 Comments

Sarah

08/19/2014 at 10:15 pm

The recipe calls for nutmeg twice in the apple section. I’m guessing one is nutmeg and the other is supposed to be cinnamon. Just a small typo. This recipe looks delicious. I love the idea of a double crisp. The crisp is usually my favorite part.

Reply
Jessica Knott
08/20/2014 at 12:06 pm
Hi Sarah,I updated the recipe. Thanks for catching that and stopping by!

Ashley | The Recipe Rebel

08/21/2014 at 6:15 pm

I saw this on The Weekend Re-Treat and had to stop by — this is like all 3 of my favorite fall things in one! Apples, caramel and crisp. Looks to die for!

Reply
Jessica Knott
08/21/2014 at 8:49 pm
Thank you so much Ashley, I’m really excited for fall baking! Thanks for stopping by.

Angela

08/21/2014 at 9:53 pm

I am loving this apple recipe, especially with the caramel!!! Would love for you to come link up at The Wednesday Roundup Link Party {http://lemoinefamilykitchen.com/2014/08/wednesday-roundup-week-39-link-party/}! Have a great weekend!

Kimberlee

08/22/2014 at 12:11 pm

Sounds like a wonderful recipe. I look forward to trying it soon – I just bought a bunch of apples, too.

Reply
Jessica Knott
09/22/2014 at 11:36 am
Thanks, Kimberlee!

Carolyn @ Raspberries in the Rough

08/22/2014 at 10:58 pm

Apple crisp is one of my favorite desserts, but I don’t have a good recipe for it yet–I’ll have to try this one. It looks delicious! I found your link on the Weekend Re-Treat.

Reply
Jessica Knott
08/22/2014 at 11:08 pm
Hi Carolyn, you will love this recipe! Thanks for visiting,have a good weekend.

Rachel - A Southern Fairytale

08/26/2014 at 1:25 pm

I adore Apple Crisps and Crumbles and Pies, and Oat crusts are really the way to go! 🙂 Love the caramel addition! Thank you so much for taking the time to link up with Mouthwatering Mondays!!

Reply
Jessica Knott
09/22/2014 at 11:35 am
Thanks, Rachel!

Hilary

09/01/2014 at 10:43 am

Found this on Mouthwatering Mondays. Looks very good. Have an apple tree with giant apples and it is calling me to cook.

Anna

09/08/2014 at 3:06 pm

Looks good, I’m looking forward to trying it.
Your ingredient list doesn’t not, however include the caramel sauce. So if I were to glance at the recipe and do my shopping, I would be missing that vital ingredient…