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Crispy Apple Crisp Recipe – Easy Warm Cinnamon Caramel Dessert

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This crispy apple crisp features a golden, chunky oat topping over tender, cinnamon-spiced apples, finished with a warm caramel sauce. It’s a comforting, crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for any occasion and comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples (about 2 lbs) – peeled, cored, and sliced (Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for caramel sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4-inch slices. Toss in a large bowl with granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice until evenly coated.
  3. Transfer apple mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nuts if using. Mix well.
  5. Add cold, cubed butter to the topping mixture. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers to work the butter in until pea-sized clumps form.
  6. Sprinkle topping evenly over apples without pressing down.
  7. Bake for 40–45 minutes until topping is deep golden and juices are bubbling at the edges. If needed, broil for 1–2 minutes for extra crispiness.
  8. While crisp bakes, make caramel sauce: In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium heat. Swirl (do not stir) until mixture turns deep amber, about 6–8 minutes.
  9. Remove from heat and whisk in cream and butter. Add sea salt if desired. Let cool slightly to thicken.
  10. Let crisp cool for 10–15 minutes before serving. Drizzle warm caramel sauce over each portion.

Notes

Mix tart and sweet apples for best flavor. Keep butter cold for a crispy topping. For gluten-free, use almond flour and certified gluten-free oats. Dairy-free swaps include vegan butter and coconut cream. Nuts are optional for extra crunch. Let crisp cool before serving for neat spoonfuls. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, caramel apple crisp, easy apple dessert, cinnamon apple crisp, fall dessert, oat topping, comfort food, family dessert, potluck dessert, autumn recipe

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/crispy-apple-crisp-recipe-easy-warm-cinnamon-caramel-dessert/