This apple crisp is packed with the wonderful flavor of fresh apples and a classic oat and sugar-based topping. This recipe is ideal for serving any time of year but is particularly well suited for the fall.
With a traditional apple crisp flavor, this is my family’s favorite fresh apple crisp recipe. We are fortunate to live in an area where there are many apple orchards, so every fall we grab bushels of different types of apples.
So, apple-based desserts are a big part of my fall baking menu. And this apple crisp has earned its place in my regular rotation. I think you will love it just as much as my family does.
Make sure to bookmark or pin this recipe so you can find it the next time you’re craving fresh apple crisp.
Granny Smith apples are always a great choice for making apple crisp. But you will also find other great apple options below just, in case you don’t have any available.
Tip
How to Make Homemade Fresh Apple Crisp from Scratch

This recipe has been in my family for generations. It’s one of those simple, classic desserts that are incredibly easy to make.
Prep time is a few minutes, and all you need is a 9″x9″ baking dish and a mixing bowl.
Save this recipe for later: Apple crisp without oats
Fresh Apple Crisp Ingredients

I’ve tried a number of different recipes over the years, and still come back to this one over and over again. It produces a wonderful flavor and texture every time.
When it comes to apple crisp, it’s all about the level of spice and type of topping you make. And this recipe hits both of those areas wonderfully.
Ingredients List
- Fresh Apples
- Brown Sugar
- Lemon Juice
- Ground Cinnamon
- Rolled Oats
- All-Purpose Flour
- Butter
- Salt
Apples: You will slice your apples and remove the cores. I keep the skin, but you can peel your apples if desired. We will cover the type of apples you can use further below.
Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar can be used. Light has a subtler flavor, whereas dark brown sugar has stronger molasses notes. When measuring your brown sugar, be certain to pack it down.
Cinnamon: I’ve found a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to provide the ideal level of spice. You can increase or decrease the amount used according to taste if desired.
Flour: All-purpose flour produces a wonderful texture for our topping. You can opt for cake flour if that is all you have on hand.
Lemon Juice: Don’t skip the lemon juice! This provides acidity to our dish, which heightens all the other flavors.
Oats: I prefer rolled oats (also called old fashioned oats) as their texture holds up better during the baking process. While you can use quick oats if that is all you have, I do recommend sticking with rolled oats if possible.
Butter: I recommend unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter on hand, omit the added salt. Melt your butter before adding it in to your other ingredients.
Types of Fresh Apples You Can Use in Apple Crisp

I’ve found that tart or semi-tart apples work best for apple crisp. And while I usually go with Granny Smith, there are a number of other varieties that you can go with.
Each of the following types of apples will produce a great apple crisp flavor.
- Granny Smith: tart
- Jonagold: tart with a hint of sweet
- Honeycrisp: sweet and tart
- Braeburn: semi-sweet with nutmeg and cinnamon notes
- Winesap: sweet and tart
- Pink Lady: sweet and tart
- Mutsu: semi-tart
- Cortland: sweet and tart
- Fuji: sweet
Check out this for more inspiration: Flavors that go with apples
Easy to Follow Instructions

Beside the amazing flavor, my favorite thing about this recipe is how simple and quick it is to make. It’s a great recipe for those last-minute desserts when unexpected guests are on the way.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Step 2: Slice and core your apples.
Step 3: Put apple in your baking dish and sprinkle them with your lemon juice.
Step 4: In your mixing bowl, add your brown sugar, ground cinnamon, flour, oats, butter, and salt. Stir until crumbly.
Step 5: Pour crisp mixture on top of your apples.
Step 6: Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Step 7: Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve warm, topped with ice cream if desired.

Simple Apple Crisp (With Fresh Apples)
Equipment
- 1 9×9 Baking Dish
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 4-4½ Cups Sliced Fresh Apples
- 1 Tbs Lemon Juice
- ⅓ Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Rolled Oats
- ½ Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ⅓ Cup Butter melted
- ½ tsp Salt omit if using salted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Slice apples and remove cores.
- Place sliced apples in your baking dish and sprinkle your lemon juice on top.
- Put the rest of your ingredients in your mixing bowl. Stir until combined, yet clumpy.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove and cool partially. Serve warm and enjoy!