Fool-Proof Apple Crisp: Pure Joy in Under an Hour

Oh, fall! There’s just something magical about this time of year, isn’t there? The crisp air, the colorful leaves, and of course, the smell of warm, spiced apples filling the kitchen. That’s exactly why I think this Easy Skillet Apple Crisp is an absolute must-have for your cozy season cooking. Forget complicated desserts; this recipe is all about bringing that comforting, soul-satisfying goodness right into your home, super simply. I remember being so burned out and thinking I just wasn’t a ‘kitchen person,’ but discovering how much joy I could find in creating something like this – perfectly tender apples under a buttery, crumbly topping, all baked right in a skillet – changed everything for me. It’s proof that incredible food doesn’t need to be difficult, and trust me, this apple crisp is pure, unadulterated joy.

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Why You’ll Love This Apple Crisp Recipe

Honestly, this apple crisp recipe is a total game-changer for so many reasons:

• It’s ridiculously easy – seriously, anyone can make it!
• Everything cooks in just one skillet, which means less cleanup, yay!
• It smells absolutely divine while it’s baking, pure fall comfort.
• The texture is spot-on: tender, spiced apples with that perfect crunchy topping.
• It’s super adaptable – you can even skip the oats if that’s not your thing!
• It’s the ultimate comfort food, perfect for cozy nights in.

Ingredients for Your Perfect Apple Crisp

Okay, let’s get down to brass tacks! This apple crisp recipe is all about pulling together simple things you probably already have to make something truly special. You’ll need:

• 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 6 cups worth!)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Apple Crisp

When it comes to apples, you really can’t go wrong, but I love using a mix of Granny Smith for a bit of tartness and Honeycrisp or Fuji for sweetness. They hold their shape so well when baked! And for the crumble topping, that cold butter is super important. It’s what makes the topping nice and crumbly, not gooey. If you’re not an oat fan, or just ran out, you can totally skip them! Just use an extra 1/4 cup of flour and another pinch of brown sugar in the topping. It’ll still be amazing!

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How to Make Skillet Apple Crisp: Step-by-Step

Alright, making this apple crisp is honestly the easiest part of your day, I promise! It’s all about putting simple things together in the right order. First things first, get that oven preheating to 375°F (190°C). While it’s warming up, grab a big bowl and toss your sliced apples with that little bit of lemon juice – that just keeps them pretty and bright! Then, add in your granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and the nutmeg. Give it all a good stir so every apple slice is coated in that lovely spice. Pour that gorgeous apple mixture into your 10-inch oven-safe skillet. Don’t worry if it looks like a lot of apples, they’ll cook down!

Tips for the Best Apple Crisp Topping

Now for the best part: the topping! In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, oats (if you’re using them!), that other 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and salt. The real secret here is cold butter. Cut it into small cubes and then work it into the dry ingredients. You can use a pastry blender, two knives, or even just your fingertips. You want it to look like coarse crumbs, sort of like wet sand. Don’t overwork it! Just get it to that crumbly stage, because that’s what gives you that perfect texture on top of your apple crisp.

Baking Your Apple Crisp to Perfection

Once your crumble is ready, sprinkle it evenly over the apples in the skillet. Just cover everything up! Then, carefully place that skillet into your hot oven. You’ll want to bake it for about 30 to 40 minutes. Keep an eye on it – you’re looking for that topping to be beautifully golden brown and you’ll see the apple filling getting all bubbly around the edges. That’s your sign that it’s done and ready to come out! The skillet really helps it cook evenly, giving you those perfectly tender apples and a lovely crisp topping. My favorite is when you can smell it all through the house!

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Serving and Storing Your Apple Crisp

So now you’ve got this gorgeous, bubbling skillet apple crisp right out of the oven! The best way to enjoy it? I’m a huge fan of serving it while it’s still warm – that’s when the apples are perfectly soft and the topping is wonderfully crumbly. A big scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into it is pure heaven, or some softly whipped cream is pretty dreamy too. If, by some miracle, you have any leftovers, just let it cool completely. You can store it in the fridge for a few days. When you’re ready for more, just pop a serving in the microwave for a little bit or warm it gently in a low oven to get that lovely crisp topping back!

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Crisp

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Nutritional Estimate for This Apple Crisp

Just so you know, any nutritional info you see for this apple crisp is just an estimate, okay? It can really change depending on the exact brands you use and how much of each ingredient you end up adding. We’re all about deliciousness here, not strict measurements that might take away from the joy!

Share Your Apple Crisp Creations

I bet your delicious apple crisp is out of this world! I’d absolutely love to hear about it. Did you try it with a different kind of apple? Maybe you added a secret spice? Drop a comment below and let me know how it turned out, or give the recipe a star rating if you loved it! Sharing your baking adventures makes this whole process so much more fun.

Easy Skillet Apple Crisp

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A simple and delicious apple crisp made in a skillet, perfect for a comforting fall dessert.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 40 min
• Total Time: 55 min
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour the apple mixture into a 10-inch oven-safe skillet.
3. In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt.
4. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
5. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples in the skillet.
6. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly.
7. Let the crisp cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
• For an oat-free version, simply omit the rolled oats from the topping mixture.
• You can use a mix of apple varieties for a more complex flavor.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 30g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 50g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 45mg