Cinnamon Apple Crisp Without Oats is one of the best desserts for fall. This easy fruit crisp recipe is simple and delicious. Made with Granny Smith apples, brown sugar and plenty of cinnamon, it's even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce!
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One of the best things about fall is that it's apple season. Everyone in my family loves apples in just about any form, but we especially enjoy eating them when they've been baked to perfection in a sweet and juicy apple crisp.
It's funny but I had never even heard of this simple fall dessert until I got married. Growing up, my favorite apple recipes were apple pies and caramel apples, and lots of applesauce. But the Hubs' mom always made classic apple crisp after the family trip to the apple orchards.
So, a lot of apple crisps are made with oats. Actually, it seems like almost everyone else uses oats in their apple crisp recipes. The Pioneer Woman's apple crisp is one of the few recipes for apple crisp without oats that I have seen.
This easy apple crisp recipe is made without oats, and it's incredibly simple to make -- easier than apple pie!
Anyway, like I said, this easy dessert is basically Grandma's recipe for old fashioned apple crisp, except that I like to add a bit more cinnamon when I make it. That's why I call this tasty version Cinnamon Apple Crisp.
Best Apples to Use
I always use Granny Smith apples when baking or making sweet apple desserts. You get a nice balance of tart and sweet.
Plus, these tart apples are firm enough to hold up well when baked. If you want a slightly different taste, try honey crisp, golden delicious, gala or pink lady apples.
Ingredients
Not only is this delicious recipe easy to prepare, but it's also made with simple ingredients. Most of these are pantry staples!
- Granny Smith apples
- White sugar
- Brown sugar
- All purpose flour
- Cinnamon
- Lemon juice
- Butter
How to Make Apple Crisp without Oats
First, you wash, peel, core and cut the apples into thin slices. I'm not the best apple peeler in the world, but it's fine if there are some peels left on.
Next, place the sliced apples into a prepared baking dish. A 9 x 13-inch pan is perfect! Then, pour the lemon juice over the apples, so they don't brown.
Mix the sugars and cinnamon together, and sprinkle them over the apples. You can do this in the baking dish! Then, dot with butter.
To make the crisp topping, mix the flour, sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. next, cut the butter into the flour mixture with a knife, fork, pastry cutter or pastry blender.
I use room temperature butter for best results in fruit crisp toppings -- not super cold butter or melted butter. It's easier to mix but still makes a crumbly topping.
Next, lightly pat the topping over the cinnamon apple filling. Pop the apple crisp into the oven, bake it until the top is golden brown, and you're done! Super easy.
Topping the warm apple crisp, or any fruit crisps, with a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream really takes this simple dessert to the next level.
If you serve this apple dessert while it's still warm, the scoop of ice cream melts into the crumbly topping and baked cinnamon apples, and makes it cool and creamy.
The brown sugar in the apple filling gives this delicious fall dessert a hint of caramel flavor -- yum! You can also top the crisp with caramel syrup or maple syrup for one of the most comforting desserts ever!
Variations
My recipe for apple crisp uses a little more cinnamon than most -- it's a personal preference. Reduce the cinnamon to 1 teaspoon and leave it out of the crunchy topping if you like.
Use your favorite apple variety if you're not a fan of tart apples. Or use a combination of Granny Smith and sweeter apples.
How to Store
Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container or cover the baking dish with aluminum foil or a lid. You can keep it in the refrigerator or at room temperature if it's cool enough in your house.
We had this tasty cinnamon apple crisp for dessert last night, and today, there is just a tiny corner piece left.
It's definitely a family favorite dessert around here! We think it's the best apple crisp recipe ever!
Recipe
Cinnamon Apple Crisp without Oats
Ingredients
for the filling
- 7 large Granny Smith apples, washed, peeled, cored and sliced
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- lemon juice from 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
for the topping
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup softened butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Lightly grease a 9 X 13 baking dish.
- Wash apples, then peel, core and slice them up.
- Arrange apples so that they cover the bottom of the pan and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.
- Sprinkle with sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon, and mix well.
- Cut the butter and arrange over the apple mixture.
for the topping
- Combine the flour, sugar and cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl.
- Cut the butter into thin slices, and cut into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Cover the apples with the topping, and pat down lightly.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and apples are soft.
Video
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
Recipe first published in 2014 and last updated in 2021
I hope you enjoy this easy apple crisp recipe without oats as much as we do. For more easy recipes and plenty of easy dessert recipes, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter!
Mary Katherine Flanagan says
Over the course of many years, I have made variations of apple crisp. This one, is without doubt, one of the BEST. The apples were thoroughly cooked, the topping was PERFECT, and I can't wait to serve it for dessert tonight. Thank you for NOT using oats - I have never been a fan of oats in any recipe (I think they dry out the other ingredients). Dee, this recipe is a keeper for sure! Delicious!!! Thank you!
Dee says
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Mary. I'm thrilled that you like it!
Melinda says
Hi Dee I made your Cinnamon Apple Crisp without oats last night serving it this evening for dessert. To serve it warm what would you advise? We are serving 4 people?
Dee says
I always reheat the apple crisp in the oven so the top stays nice and crisp. Hope you enjoy it!
Jennifer says
Would this recipe be ok to freeze to cook later? It looks delicious! I'm wanting to make some for the freezer for later use.
Dee says
Yes, you can freeze apple crisp before baking. Just wrap it well with plastic wrap, and cover that with aluminum foil before freezing.
judy says
This apple crisp is SO good ! The perfect dessert for autumn and holidays! Easy to make too ! But it doesn’t last very long in our household. Everyone loves it!
Dee says
I'm so happy to hear this, Judy. Thank you so much!
Lucy says
I don't like oats in apple crisp so I was so excited to try this and it did not disappoint! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
Jake says
This is the best apple crisp recipe I have had lately. Reminds me of my mom's recipe and hers was the best.
Christina C says
Easy to make and it came out delicious! I've saved this recipe and will make it again for sure!
Dee says
So glad you liked the apple crisp! Thanks, Christina!
Robin says
This looks so good. Can't wait to try it.
Robin
Kr says
Amazing!! So darn good. Add a bit of vanilla ice cream or even just a bit of cream and it really opens up the flavor!
Dee says
I'm so glad you liked the apple crisp! Thanks!
joanne tansey says
What am I missing here. Wanted to make peach crisp or apple crisp and can't figure out what setting on the Instapot to use. and the timing. I think it said 30 minutes but now not sure.
Dee says
This is for the oven baked apple crisp. I have an Instant Pot peach dump cake recipe and an air fryer peach crisp recipe but not an apple crisp recipe for the pressure cooker.
Sarah says
Very delicious!!
Dee says
So glad you liked the apple crisp -- thanks! 🙂
Patricia Walker says
Easy and delicious...though I used 1 1/2 cups of flour & 1- 1/2 sticks of butter for topping mixture...😊
Dee says
Thanks so much, Patricia! Glad you liked it!
Juliana Fendez says
These looks soo good! I just bought a bag of apples and cant wait to try this recipe! yum! Regards Juliana
Dee says
Thanks! Hope you like it, Juliana. 🙂
James says
A huge hit! Have made this for dessert 3 times now. Kids can't get enough of it!
Dee says
Thank you so much, James! I'm so happy everyone liked it!
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
This is making me drool!!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
Healthy and yummy! Love this for fall!
Melanie Bauer says
Whoa! These are mouth watering, kids would go crazy for these!
Kimberly says
Yummy, apple crisp is one of my favorites!
Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says
That topping is calling my name! I am excited to try this no-oat version. Give me all things apple!
Dee says
One of my kids just picks the topping off of the leftovers! 🙂