When it comes to apple-filled desserts, crisps are always a winner. They’re light, flavorful, and hands down one of the easiest desserts to make (i.e. you’re guaranteed to look like a baking rockstar). Picture fresh apple pie filling topped with a dreamy, granola-like combination of oats and nuts, served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. It doesn’t get much better.

This no-fuss recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and works with any kind of tart apple. I love using honey crisp or granny smith apples because of their perfectly tart flavor and texture (they don’t get mushy when baked), but feel free to use any tart apples you have around the house. The name of the game is keeping things easy. When hosting a party, simply prepare the crisp before your guests arrive and then pop it in the oven as you’re serving the main course for a fresh-from-the-oven treat everyone will love.

Happy baking!

Ingredients

Apple Filling

4 large tart apples, room temperature (my favorite baking apples are granny smith and honey crisp)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt

Topping

1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel apples and thinly slice so each piece is approximately 1/4 – 1/8 inch thick. You should have 4 heaping cups of sliced apples.
In a medium bowl, thoroughly mix apple filling ingredients, then pour mixture into the bottom of a greased 8x8 baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Pour melted butter on top of dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Evenly distribute oat topping over apple filling.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until oat topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.