An apple crisp without oatmeal relies on an especially buttery, melt-in-your-mouth topping that becomes extra crunchy due to the lack of grains. This alteration emphasizes the blend of cooked fruit beneath.
Traditionally, such a topping mixes flour, sugar and butter along with spice accents like cinnamon and nutmeg. Sometimes, a hint of citrus enhances the blend further. The goal is a light mixture that provides both structure and rich flavor to pair with the soft fruit filling.
Within lies a bed of sweet, juicy apples tailored for baking. Enjoyed piping hot from the oven, it’s customary to accompany each comforting bite with a scoop of ice cream or swirl of caramel for contrasts in temperature and textures. Together, the warm spices playing off cooling cream or sauce evoke downhome Americana flavors.
Apple Crisp Without Oatmeal Ingredients
Here are the ingredients I used to make an apple crisp at home
– Apples – I chose Granny Smith and Golden Delicious for their texture and balanced sweet-tart flavors.
– Fresh lemon juice – I squeezed a lemon over the sliced apples to help retain their color while baking.
– White sugar – I added sugar to the filling for natural sweetness to offset the apples’ acidity.
– Cinnamon – A sprinkle of cinnamon imparted warm aromatic notes that complement apples superbly.
– Topping – I used light brown sugar for its molasses complexity atop the fruit.
– Flour – All-purpose flour formed the crunchy base of my topping mixture.
– Butter – Working the butter into the mixture created tenderness and promoted browning.
– Salt – A pinch of salt balanced the natural sweetness and intensified the other flavors.
With these simple pantry items, I created a comforting classic to enjoy its homemade flavors.
How I Made Apple Crisp Without Oatmeal
Step 1: Prepare the Apple Filling
Peel and slice the apples: Start by washing and peeling 4-5 medium apples. Slice them into thin, half-inch pieces for an even bake.
Toss with lemon juice: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples to preserve their natural color and add a slight tanginess.
Mix the spices and sugar: In a bowl, combine ¼ to ½ cup of your preferred sugar (granulated white or light brown), cinnamon, a dash of salt, vanilla extract, and nutmeg.
Coat the apples: Toss the apple slices with the sugar and spice mixture, ensuring the apples are evenly coated. If you need a little extra thickness in the filling, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water to make a slurry, and stir it in.
Step 2: Prepare the Topping
Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. This forms the base of your streusel topping.
Cut in the butter: Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the cubed butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You want some larger bits for a flaky texture.
Step 3: Assemble the Crisp
Layer the apples: Spread the prepared apple filling evenly in a greased baking dish.
Add the topping: Sprinkle the buttery topping evenly over the apples, gently pressing it down to ensure it sticks.
Step 4: Bake
Bake in the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. The apples should be bubbly and soft, and the topping should be crisp and caramelized.
Step 5: Cool and Serve
Once out of the oven, let your apple crisp cool for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to thicken and the flavors to meld together.
Pro Tips and Variations
Apple Variety: The best apples for apple crisp are firm, tart apples like Granny Smith. They hold their shape well and balance the sweetness of the sugar and cinnamon. You can also mix varieties, such as Granny Smith and Golden Delicious, to get both tart and sweet flavors in each bite.
Use of Sugar: You can use light brown sugar for a more caramelized, deeper flavor or white granulated sugar for a lighter sweetness.
Topping Variations: Add nuts like chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping for some crunch. You can also add rolled oats if you decide to make a more traditional oatmeal topping.
Spices: Feel free to adjust the cinnamon and nutmeg to your taste. You can also add ground ginger for a warm, zesty kick.
Butter Substitute: If you prefer a dairy-free option, you can substitute the butter with coconut oil or vegan butter for a plant-based version.
Ingredient Notes
Apples: Granny Smith apples are ideal due to their tartness, but you can use other varieties like Honeycrisp or Braeburn for a sweeter option. A mix of tart and sweet apples gives the best results.
Butter: If you want a healthier option, you can substitute the unsalted butter with coconut oil or ghee. However, butter creates the best texture for the topping.
Storage Instructions
Leftovers: Store any leftover apple crisp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or microwave individual servings for about 30-45 seconds.
Freezing: You can freeze apple crisp before baking. Assemble the crisp as instructed, but don’t bake it. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Bake directly from the freezer at 375°F for about 1 hour or until golden and bubbly.
FAQs
1. What are the best apples to use for apple crisp? The best apples for apple crisp are firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith, which hold up well in baking. A mix of tart and sweet apples, such as Granny Smith and Golden Delicious, creates the best flavor balance.
2. Can I make this apple crisp ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the apple filling and topping ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge. Assemble and bake the crisp when ready to serve.
3. Can I make this recipe gluten-free? Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make this apple crisp gluten-free.
4. Can I add oats to the topping? If you prefer a traditional oatmeal topping, simply add 1 cup of rolled oats to the dry ingredients for a heartier texture.
5. Can I substitute the sugar? Yes, you can use coconut sugar or a sugar substitute if you’re looking for a lower glycemic index option. Adjust the amount based on your preference.
More Recipes
- Spiced Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats With Almond Milk
- 3 Ingredients No Bake Apple Pie
- Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Apple Crisp Without Oatmeal
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 4-5 medium sized apples approximately 2 pounds, preferably using one variety or mixing two kinds like Granny Smith and Golden Delicious
- Juice from half a lemon about 1 tablespoon
- ¼ - ½ cup granulated white sugar OR light brown sugar depending on how much you want them sweeter
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- A dash of kosher salt
- ⅛ – ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract
- Pinch es of ground nutmeg
- Cornstarch slurry made up of 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed into about 2 tbsp cold water if needed for thickening
Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 8 oz unsalted butter at room temperature cut into cubes
- ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- Dash of kosher salt
- Sprinkle of ground nutmeg
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Apple Filling
- Peel and slice the apples: Start by washing and peeling 4-5 medium apples. Slice them into thin, half-inch pieces for an even bake.
- Toss with lemon juice: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the apples to preserve their natural color and add a slight tanginess.
- Mix the spices and sugar: In a bowl, combine ¼ to ½ cup of your preferred sugar (granulated white or light brown), cinnamon, a dash of salt, vanilla extract, and nutmeg.
- Coat the apples: Toss the apple slices with the sugar and spice mixture, ensuring the apples are evenly coated. If you need a little extra thickness in the filling, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp cold water to make a slurry, and stir it in.
Step 2: Prepare the Topping
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. This forms the base of your streusel topping.
- Cut in the butter: Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the cubed butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You want some larger bits for a flaky texture.
Step 3: Assemble the Crisp
- Layer the apples: Spread the prepared apple filling evenly in a greased baking dish.
- Add the topping: Sprinkle the buttery topping evenly over the apples, gently pressing it down to ensure it sticks.
Step 4: Bake
- Bake in the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. The apples should be bubbly and soft, and the topping should be crisp and caramelized.
Step 5: Cool and Serve
- Once out of the oven, let your apple crisp cool for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to thicken and the flavors to meld together.