Apple Crisp for Four

No dessert says fall like a cinnamon-spiked apple crisp with its crunchy oat and brown sugar topping. This is a classic apple crisp with plenty of sliced fruit and a generous amount of topping.

Apple crisp makes a fantastic Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner dessert, too. If you don’t have time or patience to fuss with a pie crust, make a crisp instead! It’s so much easier, and everyone loves an apple crisp.

What’s the History of Apple Crisp?

The first mention of streusel-topped dessert, also called “apple crumble,” was in 1924 in Everybody’s Cook Book: A Comprehensive Manual of Home Cookery, compiled from records from The School of Household Science and Arts Pratt Institute and edited by Isabel Ely Lord It was a simple dessert made with sliced apples, cinnamon, and a topping made with sugar, flour, and shortening. The author suggested serving apple crisp with a creamy sauce or maple syrup.

The popularity of apple crisp grew during World War II, when pastry ingredients were scarce. It was an excellent alternative to an apple pie, while taking only a small amount of flour and sugar for the topping.

What are Some Similar Desserts?

Apple Brown Betty – A layered dessert traditionally made in layers with sweetened buttered breadcrumbs or a sweetened streusel crumb mixture.
Apple Cobbler – A baked apple dessert made with a pie crust, biscuit, or batter topping.
Apple Pandowdy – Usually topped with pieces of broken pie crust.
Apple Crumble – A British dessert similar to apple crisp that originated in World War II during a period of food rationing. It is traditionally served with a custard sauce.

Make Ahead

Prepare the topping and refrigerate the crumb mixture until you are ready to slice the apples and bake the apple crisp.
Alternatively, prepare the apple crisp up to step 5, then wrap the pan tightly in 2 layers of foil and freeze the dessert for up to 6 months.
Bake the frozen foil-covered apple crisp for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for about 35 to 45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is browned. You could double the recipe and make one for now and one for the freezer!

How To Serve Apple Crisp

Serve apple crisp warm or at room temperature with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream. For a more festive presentation, drizzle with caramel sauce.
Consider unique dessert dishes. Try serving them in a fancy martini glass or as a parfait, with ice cream or whipped cream separating layers. Or serve it as a mini dessert in espresso cups or small glasses.

Recipe Variations

With Cranberries – Add 1/2 cup of fresh or dried cranberries for a festive option.
Pear Crisp – Instead of apples, make the crisp with sliced pears.
With Nuts – Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping.
No Oats – Omit the oats and use 1/2 cup of flour in the topping.
Gluten-Free – Use a gluten-free flour blend, such as Measure for Measure or One-To-One.

How to Store Apple Crisp

• If you have leftovers, refrigerate them in an airtight container and enjoy them within 3 days.
• To freeze a whole baked apple crisp, wrap it well in 2 layers of foil. Label with the name and date and freeze for up to 6 months. Defrost the apple crisp in the fridge overnight.
• To reheat the defrosted baked apple crisp, cover it with foil and bake it at 350 F for about 20 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes longer, until heated through.

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