Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe

If there's such a thing as a new-fashioned apple crisp, we're not sure what's in it, nor do we feel inclined to find out. This recipe, however, is as old-fashioned as it gets — it's definitely your grandmother's apple crisp, and there's not a thing wrong with that. As recipe developer Jessica Morone tells us, "it is a very classic recipe that has been around forever." She calls apple crisp a "classic comfort food," and speaks highly of its "fresh apples [that] pair perfectly with warm spices and a crunchy topping."

While apple-based desserts are generally associated with fall, the fruit itself is available year-round. Morone also notes that "you can use the same recipe with other fruits," and notes that with peaches and pears you wouldn't even have to adjust the baking time. With berries, however, she thinks "the cooking time will probably be a bit shorter," and suggests that a berry crisp might be done in as little as 30 minutes. But we're not focused on berries right now — instead, we're just looking forward to diving right into this delicious apple crisp!

To make this crisp, you'll need some apples — you can use any kind you like. You'll also be using brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in the filling. The topping is made from butter, rolled oats, flour, and baking powder and flavored with additional brown sugar and cinnamon.

A note on the oats: Morone uses old-fashioned ones to fit in with the recipe's theme, but also says that she likes "the crispier texture you get by using the old fashioned oats." Any type of oats will work here, however.

Before you start baking, preheat the oven to 350 F and grease up an 8x8-inch square pan. Put the apples in a bowl (or just put them straight into the pan to save on dishes), then add the granulated sugar, nutmeg, lemon juice, vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar and ½ teaspoon of the cinnamon. Stir the seasonings with the apples until the latter are completely coated with the former.

Mix the oats, flour, and baking powder in a separate bowl along with the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry cutter, two knives, or a fork. When you're done, you should have what looks like a bunch of crumbs in the bowl.

If they aren't already there, put the apples into the baking pan, and spread them out until they make a fairly even layer. Then sprinkle the oat mixture over the top. Try to make sure you've covered all the apples so there are no bare spots. Put the pan in the oven and bake it for 40 to 45 minutes. You'll know the crisp is cooked when the apple filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.

Morone suggests serving the crisp warm, but it tastes just as good when it's cold. She also says that vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or Cool Whip would all work well as toppings, although you can certainly enjoy it plain as well.