Easy Apple Crisp Recipe Without Oats

This homemade apple crisp recipe without oats is the ideal fall dessert to make if you just went apple picking! The tender caramelized brown sugar apples are covered in a buttery cinnamon crumble no-oats topping that melts in your mouth, leaving you wanting more with each bite. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top for an old-fashioned comforting apple crisp. 

Why I Love This Apple Crisp Recipe Without Oats

I grew up eating apple crisps at family gatherings, but almost all of them were made with oats in the topping. I never really liked it because the oats were too chewy, and I thought they ruined the texture of the topping. My wife and I went apple picking one fall weekend, and we ended up picking way too many green apples. Since that's the apples that were always in the classic apple crisps my family used to make, I decided to try making my own apple crisp recipe with no oats. After a few failed attempts (good thing we had so many apples), I created what I think is the best apple crisp recipe ever!

 The buttery brown sugar topping bakes up into a sweet, crunchy crust that reminds me more of old-fashioned cobblers, and it lets the flavor of the apples shine through without the chewiness that oats add. Now this is one of those recipes that I find myself making on repeat every autumn season. Whenever I bring it to a dinner with friends or a holiday get-together, it’s always the first dessert to disappear. Even my nieces and nephews, who usually push fruit desserts aside, go back for seconds of this one. 

It truly tastes amazing, but what I love most is how effortless it is to make. With just a few basic pantry staples and fresh apples, you can have this crisp in the oven in about ten minutes tops. While it bakes, the kitchen fills with that irresistible smell of cinnamon, sugar, and butter. By the time it comes out, ooey-gooey and golden, you’ll be tempted to dive right in. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce, and I promise it’ll become your go-to fall dessert, just like it has in my house.

Ingredients You'll Need

For the warm apple crisp filling:

• 4 Apples, sliced (I prefer Granny Smith apples)
• 2 tbsp. Brown Sugar

For the delicious crumble topping:

• 1 cup Flour
• ¾ cup Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp. Cornstarch
• 1 tbsp. Cinnamon Powder
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 Stick of Unsalted Butter, cold and diced

Now, since this recipe uses four apples, my wife and I usually end up making it after we go apple picking in the fall. There's just nothing better than using some farm-fresh apples to make this crisp. But you can use any store-bought apples that you want! I like using green apples for a slightly tart taste, but feel free to use any kind.

Oh, and if you've got some leftover apples that you don't know what to do with, give this fried apples recipe, apple butter recipe, or these apple empanadas a shot next! They're a great way to use up your extras.

How To Make Apple Crisp Without Oats

Step 1: Prep

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and slice apples into any-sized slices you want. Grease a pie dish or baking dish with butter and arrange the sliced apples in it. Add the brown sugar to the prepared baking dish and toss the apples to coat them.

Step 2: Make the Crumble Topping

In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon powder, and salt. Add lemon juice, vanilla extract, and cubed butter to the bowl. Work it with a pastry cutter or your hands to mix the flour and the butter until you reach a sandy, crumbly texture.

Step 3: Bake the Apple Crisp & Serve

Top the apples with the crumbly flour mixture and bake for 40 minutes or until the crunchy topping is golden brown. Let it rest or serve warm with vanilla ice cream, and enjoy!

Expert Tips for Making The Best Apple Crisp Without Oats

• Start with the right apples: For the best balance of flavor and texture, use a mix of tart and sweet apples—like Granny Smith for acidity and Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious for natural sweetness. Mixing varieties creates layers of flavor and ensures the filling doesn’t turn mushy.
• Cut apples evenly: Slice apples about ¼-inch thick and keep the slices uniform. Even sizing helps them cook at the same rate so you don’t end up with some pieces too soft while others are underdone.
• Toss apples before baking: Coat apple slices in sugar, spices, and a little lemon juice before adding them to the dish. This step not only enhances flavor but also prevents browning and gives the crisp a glossy, saucy filling.
• Thicken the filling: Adding cornstarch (about 1–2 teaspoons per pound of apples) keeps the filling from turning watery. The starch binds with the juices released during baking, creating a perfectly gooey texture.
• Use cold butter in the topping: Cold butter is essential for that classic crumbly texture. Cut it into the flour and sugar mixture until you see pea-sized clumps—this ensures the topping bakes up crisp, not greasy.
• Don’t pack down the topping: Sprinkle the crumble lightly and evenly over the apples rather than pressing it down. A loose layer allows steam to escape and helps every bite stay crisp.
• Chill the topping before baking: If you have time, refrigerate the topping for 10–15 minutes before sprinkling it on. Cold crumbs hold their shape better in the oven, giving you crunchier, more defined crumbles.
• Bake until bubbling in the center: Don’t rely just on the clock—look for bubbling juices in the middle of the pan. This means the filling has thickened and the apples are fully cooked. A golden-brown topping plus bubbling liquid is the best indicator that your crisp is done.
• Let it rest before serving: Rest the apple crisp for at least 20 minutes before digging in. This cooling period helps the juices set up so each serving holds together, and it also deepens the flavor.

How To Store This Apple Crisp with No Oats

• At room temperature: Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or a lid, or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. Store for up to 2 days.
• In the fridge: Transfer the leftovers to the fridge and keep them for up to 5 days.
• In the freezer: To keep it longer, you can freeze apple crisp and store it for up to 3 months. Just make sure that it has cooled completely before freezing in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
• Reheating: Put the leftovers back in a baking dish and warm in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until hot. Heat a single serving in a bowl in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

Apple Crisp Recipe Without Oats FAQS

What's the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp?

An apple crumble and apple crisp are essentially the same thing, except they have a slightly different topping texture. Flour is the ingredient that will help bind everything else together and make for the best apple crisp crumble topping ever!

What can I serve with apple crisp?

I love serving apple crisp with vanilla ice cream, topped with caramel sauce, whipped cream, and chopped nuts. The ice cream melts a little bit and softens the crumble topping and it all just melts in your mouth, so good!

What are the best apples to use for apple crisp?

I've found the best type of apple is either Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious. You can use any of them, it really depends on what flavor you want your crisp to have. Oh, and those apples work great for my apple puff pastry and apple bundt cake too.

Can apple crisp be made ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the filling and topping separately up to 24 hours in advance and store them in the fridge. When ready to bake, assemble just before putting it in the oven. Baked apple crisp also stores well—keep it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat uncovered to bring back that crunch.

How do you keep apple crisp topping crunchy?

To keep your topping from getting soggy, always use cold butter and avoid covering the crisp while it cools. If you’re making it ahead, reheat leftovers uncovered in the oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes—this restores the crisp, golden topping.

More Dessert Recipes To Try

If you liked this easy apple crisp recipe, we have a ton of other dessert recipes on the blog that I think you'll like too!

Here are some of my favorites:

• Pumpkin cream cheese bread
• Sweet Potato Cobbler
• Biscoff cheesecake
• Canned peach pie
• No bake cheesecake with cool whip
• Pumpkin ice cream
• Fried apple pies
• Gingerbread cookies without molasses
• Crack cake