These warm and cozy apple crisp desserts are perfect for any season, bringing comfort and delicious apple flavors to your table. I want to share some of my favorite apple crisp recipes with you today.
I know you’ll find a new favorite among these easy-to-make crisp ideas, whether you’re looking for something gluten-friendly, a bright fruity option, or a grown-up treat. Let’s get baking!
Jump to Recipe:
Almond Flour Apple Crisp for a Gluten-Friendly Treat
This almond flour apple crisp offers a delicious, nutty topping that’s perfect if you’re looking for a gluten-friendly dessert. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy a classic comfort food with a thoughtful ingredient choice.
Key Ingredients & Tips
- Almond Flour Base: This ingredient replaces wheat flour in the topping, giving it a unique, slightly sweet taste and a fine crumbly texture.
- Tart Apples: I suggest using Granny Smith apples to get a nice balance with the sweet topping. Their tartness shines through.
- Cold Butter: Make sure your butter is very cold and cut into small pieces. This helps create a perfectly crumbly, not soggy, topping.
What You Need
- 6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (divided)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (divided)
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
⏱️ Time: 50 minutes🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make It
Step 1: Prepare Apple Filling
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, gently toss the sliced apples with 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Spread this apple mixture evenly into an 8×8 inch baking dish.
Step 2: Make the Crisp Topping
In a separate bowl, combine the almond flour, rolled oats, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add the cold butter pieces and use your fingers or a pastry blender to mix until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle this topping over the apples in the dish.
Step 3: Bake and Serve
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when poked with a fork. Let the crisp cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. It’s truly wonderful warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
📝 Final Note
For a richer almond flavor, you can lightly toast the almond flour in a dry pan for a few minutes before mixing it into the topping.
Apple Cranberry Crisp: A Bright and Fruity Dessert
This crisp brings together the sweet taste of apples with the bright, tangy flavor of cranberries. It’s a colorful dessert that tastes especially good during the fall and winter holidays.
Key Ingredients & Tips
- Cranberry Choice: You can use fresh or frozen cranberries here. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand; just add them straight from the freezer.
- Orange Zest Brightness: Don’t skip the orange zest in the filling! It adds a lovely fresh scent and brightens the flavors of both the apples and cranberries.
- Oat Topping Crunch: The rolled oats in the topping help create that classic crunchy texture that contrasts so well with the soft fruit filling.
What You Need
- 5 medium Gala or Fuji apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
⏱️ Time: 60 minutes🍽️ Yields: 8 servings
How to Make It
Step 1: Mix Fruit Filling
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, gently combine the sliced apples, cranberries, granulated sugar, orange zest, and nutmeg. Pour this fruit mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Step 2: Prepare Crisp Topping
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, rolled oats, and brown sugar. Add the cold butter cubes and cut them in until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the fruit in the baking dish.
Step 3: Bake and Cool
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the fruit filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown. Let the crisp cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. It’s lovely warm with a dollop of whipped cream or plain yogurt.
📝 Final Note
If you want a less tart crisp, you can increase the granulated sugar by 1/4 cup in the apple-cranberry filling.
Bourbon Apple Crisp for Grown-Up Flavor
This Bourbon Apple Crisp is a cozy dessert with a wonderfully warming and deep flavor. The bourbon adds a special touch to the apple filling without being too strong.
Key Ingredients & Tips
- Choosing Bourbon: Use a bourbon you enjoy drinking, as its taste will be present in the dessert. You don’t need the most expensive bottle, just one you like.
- Pecan Addition: Adding chopped pecans to the crisp topping gives a lovely nutty crunch and complements the bourbon flavor beautifully.
- Apple Pie Spice: This pre-mixed spice blend often includes cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, making it easy to add a perfect balance of warming spices.
What You Need
- 6 medium baking apples (like Honeycrisp or Braeburn), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
⏱️ Time: 65 minutes🍽️ Yields: 6-8 servings
How to Make It
Step 1: Flavor the Apples
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the bourbon, lemon juice, granulated sugar, and apple pie spice. Pour this apple mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Step 2: Prepare Pecan Topping
In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Add the cold butter cubes and cut them in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the bourbon-soaked apples.
Step 3: Bake and Serve Warm
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown and bubbly. Let the crisp cool for about 10-15 minutes before serving. It’s absolutely delicious warm, perhaps with a little crème fraîche or even more bourbon-infused whipped cream.
📝 Final Note
The alcohol in the bourbon will mostly cook off during baking, leaving behind its wonderful flavor. If you prefer, you can use apple cider instead for a non-alcoholic version.