The Chopping Block Cooking & Wine Blog

Cinnamon Apple Crisp: The Perfect Fall Dessert

Written by Kelly K | Nov 17, 2023 9:10:28 PM

 

It wouldn’t be fall without an apple dessert! I love a good apple pie (especially The Chopping Block's), but sometimes I don't want to fuss with pie dough. This recipe gives you everything you know and love about apple pie, without it being so time consuming. Warm spiced apples with a buttery oat crisp topping served with vanilla ice cream - what could be better?

The Best Apples for Baking

You want a flavorful apple that will soften slightly but still hold its structure. My favorite apples to use for baking are Granny Smith. They are flavorful, tart and won't completely break down when baking. Honeycrisp and Pink Ladies are also good options for baking apples. They are juicy, flavorful and have a nice texture.

Oats 

When making the topping, make sure to use old fashioned oats. This will give you the crisp and crunchy texture that you want. Avoid steel cut oats, as these have a completely different texture and structure and will take forever to bake.

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Scroll down for a printable version of this recipe

Yield: 10 servings

Active time: 25 minutes

Bake time: 40 minutes

Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes

 

For the oat streusel:

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

8 Tablespoons melted butter

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

 

For the apple filling:

6 cups granny smith apples (peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices)

1/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 lemon, juiced

Pinch of salt

 

Vanilla ice cream for serving

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. Prepare the streusel. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix together until well combined. Add melted butter and mix until just combined. Set aside.

3. Peel, core and cut apples into 1/4-inch slices and place in a medium size bowl.

4. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Flour will help thicken the filling. I like to mix my flour and sugar before mixing it with the fruit. This will ensure there will be no flour clumps in the filling and everything is evenly and easily distributed.

5. Add the dry ingredients to the apples along with the lemon juice. Mix until the apples are fully coated. Adding an acid to the filling cuts through some of the sweetness and balances out the flavors.

6. Place filling into a baking dish and sprinkle the streusel over the top. This recipe fits perfectly in a 9 in pie dish, but use whatever baking dish you like.

7. Bake until the filling is bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 40 minutes.

8. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Come learn more about baking and pastry this holiday season at The Chopping Block. We have classes for the whole family as well as adults:

 

Yield: 10
Author: Kelly Kijak

Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 1 H & 5 M

Ingredients

For the oat streusel
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 8 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
For the apple filling
  • 6 cups granny smith apples (peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices)
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • Pinch of salt
For serving
  • Vanilla ice cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Prepare the streusel. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and salt. Mix together until well combined. Add melted butter and mix until just combined. Set aside.
  3. Peel, core and cut apples into 1/4-inch slices and place in a medium size bowl.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the apples along with the lemon juice. Mix until the apples are fully coated.
  6. Place filling into a baking dish and sprinkle the streusel over the top. This recipe fits perfectly in a 9 in pie dish, but use whatever baking dish you like.
  7. Bake until the filling is bubbly and the top is golden brown, about 40 minutes.
  8. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.