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Perfect Apple Crisp

October 20, 2012 by Anna 29 Comments

Can we all agree that apple crisp is the bomb?


I could eat apple crisp every. single. day.

And this week I did.  It was wonderful.

You know what else I did?

Graham crumbs in the topping.

I told you, I’m obsessed.

This is going down in history as the best apple crisp ever made, and I’ve always made a mean apple crisp, as did (and does) my mother before me, if we do say so ourselves :)

I’ve tried maaaany versions of fruit crisps and loved almost as many of them, especially this peach raspberry crisp, but sometimes you just have to pick favourites.  My mom’s classic, basic, perfect apple crisp, that I remember her making regularly while dinner cooked so we could eat it warm for dessert, is the winner, HANDS DOWN.  

And if you swap out the usual flour in the topping with a greater amount of graham crumbs?

Oh man. I don’t even have words.  

It’s not that you can clearly taste that there are graham crumbs present, it’s more that they mesh so perfectly with the other flavours for a perfectly crunchy topping with a deep, caramel-esque flavour running through the whole shebang…and the combination I had this time of gala apples and honeycrisp apples, those miracles of fall flavour, is making me hungry just thinking about it.  

I fully plan to make another one tomorrow and proceed to eat it every day for another week, knowing Carl will be thrilled to join me, since it turns out he loves the stuff as much as I do.  

Six years of marriage and we finally found something we really, truly have in common.  The stuff of fairytales, my friends, and a “happily ever after” in the making :)



4.8 from 5 reviews
PERFECT APPLE CRISP
 
Print
Prep
15 mins
Cook
30 mins
Total time
45 mins
 
Author: Anna @ Hidden Ponies
Recipe type: Dessert
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • APPLES:
  • 6 cups peeled and sliced apples (6-8 apples: gala or honeycrisp recommended!)
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp flour
  • TOPPING:
  • ¾ cup butter or margarine, melted
  • 1½ cups quick oats
  • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 cup graham crumbs (or ¾ cup flour)
  • 1½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp salt
Instructions
  1. Put apples in lightly greased 8x8” square baking dish and toss with brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour.
  2. Melt butter in a medium bowl and add all other topping ingredients. Mix until crumbly and evenly mixed. Sprinkle over apples and pat down lightly. Bake at 350º for about 30-40 minutes, until apples are soft when poked with a fork and crisp is golden.
Notes
I love a high ratio of crisp to apple...if you prefer the apple part, add an apple and cut the topping ingredients in half.
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Filed Under: Desserts & Candy, Reader Favourites Tagged With: apple crisp, baking, best ever apple crisp, brown sugar, butter, desserts, fall dessert, graham crumbs, oats, Saturday sweets

Comments

  1. Cynthia says

    October 6, 2024 at 8:32 am

    That was supposed to be 5 star!

    Reply
  2. Cynthia says

    October 6, 2024 at 8:31 am

    If you double the recipe, do you double the cooking time?
    Thanks

    Reply
  3. Arthur says

    February 17, 2024 at 6:57 am

    Haven’t baked or cooked in decades .An urge to celebrate a victory, with a long sought treat. My first instinct, was to graham it up, maple syrup,in for half brown sugar,quinoa flour different sized oats ,for particle sizes scale blending, textures and such…good to see I’m on the right track of good ideas in all fields, or maybe it’s that hundredth monkey thing,hahaaa.The only thing I remember possibly better than would be that cobbler topping taste texture aroma 50 years old to me now. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Marion says

    May 2, 2021 at 1:45 am

    Omg! I thought I was the only one who put graham cracker crumb in their crisp topping mix!! Lol..not even sure how/why I ended up here but I’m glad I did..I got a kick out of the shock factor I initially had when I read that.. Followed by a bit of sadness that I was no longer as original &creative as I previously thought…followed up with even more happiness in knowing there are other like minded individuals out there!! To add to the like minded-ness; I, too, LOVE the high topping to apples ratio lol. So much so that I’ll actually make this using only apple sauce (no apples,just sauce lol)with a huge amount of topping,cooked in the microwave (I actually cook ALL my crisps in the microwave. I promise you, you’d never know the difference other than the fact youre able to shove your face with its deliciousness so much faster!) which results in an on the go apple crisp semi soft perfectly crisp granola bar.. Its basically amazing. Its basically just the topping imparted with the apple flavor without there actually being any apples. I make this using canned peaches as well cherries. I’m actually getting ready to make one right now….it’s almost 2am. I think I might have a slight obsession..difference between you&I is 1)I do not share mine lol & 2) it doesn’t even last me a whole week..3 days TOPS if I’m trying to behave myself lol
    I’m telling you, try it in the microwave. Just do it. Prepare it exactly the same, obviously using a glass/ceramic pan instead of metal,&cook for approx 10mins. One step Id add is to make the topping first and set it in the freezer while you prepare the pan&filling..that guarantees that perfectly crisp topping while being able to keep it simple using melted butter rather than having to cut in hard butter. And you gotta add some tartness..green apples are amazing but if nothing else at least add some lemon juice. Best combo ive found by far- green &pink lady apples. Holy shit, its out of this world. Try it. You won’t regret it.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      May 12, 2021 at 10:27 pm

      Well if you use graham crumbs in your topping too you must be trustworthy about the microwave trick :) I have never heard of that!

      Reply
  5. Krystyna Gryszkian says

    September 20, 2020 at 5:42 pm

    Went apple picking today royal gala apple made my first apple crisp with gala excellent recipe love the graham crumbs! just need some vanilla ice cream! YUM!

    Reply
  6. Kelly says

    April 26, 2020 at 3:56 pm

    Made this today, it was amazing. The graham crackers mixed in to the crust topping was a nice twist!

    Reply
  7. Michele says

    November 27, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    I just used your apple crisp recipe to make 136 servings for our Christmas Tea fundraiser, it was such a hit I have been asked to make it for 200 people at the Salvation Army Christmas Dinner, great balance of flavours, I used all purpose flour not graham as I had none. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      November 27, 2014 at 8:20 pm

      That’s amazing, and a lot of apples!! Glad it was a hit and is being put to good use :)

      Reply
  8. Sue says

    October 18, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    I was looking at the Apple Crisp recipe and couldn’t help admiring the plate that you have it on in the picture. Is this an old plate that has been passed down in your family?. It is beautiful. What is the name of the pattern of the dishes.

    Thanks, Sue

    Reply
    • Anna says

      October 18, 2014 at 8:53 pm

      Hi Sue! I actually happened on this set of dishes for an amazing price in an antique shop on holidays visiting my parents. We packed some in amongst my luggage and my sweet husband took the rest as carry-on in two boxes for the plane ride home :) The back says George Jones & Sons Plymouth, but they also say Marlborough…not sure which is the official pattern name.

      Reply
  9. Ashley - Baker by Nature says

    October 24, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Apple crisp + a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream = happiness.
    This looks ah-mazing.

    Reply
  10. Kathleen @ KatsHealthCorner says

    October 22, 2012 at 8:12 pm

    Are gramb crumbs broken-up graham crackers?

    Reply
    • Marion says

      May 2, 2021 at 1:48 am

      Basically..more like pulverized to a flour-esk texture. You can purchase pre made ones at just about any grocery store.

      Reply
  11. Jackie @ Domestic Fits says

    October 22, 2012 at 10:17 am

    This looks so good! And honeycrisps are totally the way to go with this :)

    Reply
    • Anna says

      October 22, 2012 at 7:58 pm

      They really are an amazing apple!

      Reply
  12. Ina says

    October 22, 2012 at 10:07 am

    I have not had apple crisp in years! Thank you for the inspiration to make some for my family.

    Reply
  13. Valerie says

    October 22, 2012 at 6:29 am

    I love your crunchy obsession! And I love apple crisps, which were made specifically for autumn.

    Reply
    • Marion says

      May 2, 2021 at 1:50 am

      I beg to differ…. I believe they were made for everyday all year long. But, to each their own. Lol you enjoy yours during autumn/fall&I shall enjoy mine summer,spring,fall,winter & everything in between! Lol

      Reply
  14. Kim Bee says

    October 21, 2012 at 8:33 pm

    Love apple crisp so much. This looks amazing. The topping is genius.

    Reply
  15. Stephanie says

    October 20, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    Apple crisp is really the best fall dessert! So comforting! I love the idea of using graham cracker crumbs!

    Reply
  16. Mercedes says

    October 20, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    There’s nothing like a good apple crisp and graham crumbs in the topping would totally put it over the top!

    Reply
  17. Erin @ Texanerin Baking says

    October 20, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    That topping looks so good! I would have never thought of using graham crackers crumbs. :)

    Reply
  18. Kim says

    October 20, 2012 at 9:50 am

    I shall have to try it with the graham crumbs :) Sounds good!

    Reply
  19. Becky @ Becky Bakes says

    October 20, 2012 at 6:17 am

    Ooooh. Great idea with the graham cracker crumbs! Apple crisp is one of my favorite things too:-)

    Reply
  20. amy @ fearless homemaker says

    October 20, 2012 at 5:59 am

    Oh my, this looks sooo good, especially with that delicious scoop of icing. If I had that in my house, I’d be sitting down to a plate of it for breakfast right now! =)

    Reply

Trackbacks

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  3. Hidden Ponies – Top 20 Recipes of 2012 says:
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Welcome to Hidden Ponies! I'm Anna, and I'm sharing simple, tried-and-true recipes alongside life outside the kitchen. Read More!

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