Apple crisp is one of the coziest fall desserts — warm, tender spiced apples beneath a crunchy, golden streusel. Serve it straight from a cast iron skillet with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream for the perfect sweet-and-tart finish. This skillet apple crisp is simple to assemble and bakes into a classic, comforting dessert that’s great for family dinners or holiday gatherings.
Why I Love This Recipe
I don’t bake every day, so I appreciate desserts that come together quickly without complicated techniques. This skillet apple crisp is exactly that: sliced apples tossed with a little sugar, lemon, and warm spices, then topped with an oat-based streusel and baked until bubbly and crisp. It captures the flavor of apple pie but with far less fuss. Make it in a 12-inch cast iron skillet for an attractive presentation and even baking.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Granny Smith apples: Tart, firm apples like Granny Smith hold up well while baking. Other good baking varieties include Golden Delicious, Braeburn, or Cortland — or use a mix for more complex flavor.
- Lemon juice: A splash of fresh lemon brightens the apple flavor and keeps the slices from browning. It’s optional but recommended.
- Old-fashioned oats: Rolled oats give the streusel a hearty, crunchy texture. Quick oats work in a pinch; avoid instant oats, which are too fine.
- Brown sugar: Packed brown sugar adds caramel notes and helps the topping crisp. Light or dark both work; dark gives a richer flavor.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg: These warm spices are essential — they pair beautifully with baked apples and the oat topping.
Ingredients and exact quantities are listed in the recipe section below.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Step 2. Make the streusel: combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cold diced butter in a bowl. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly and holds together in small clusters.
Quick tip: The smaller the butter pieces, the easier they are to work in. Cold butter yields better texture.
Step 3. Prepare the apple filling: toss sliced apples with melted butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice in a 12-inch cast iron skillet until evenly coated.
Quick tip: Adjust cinnamon and sugar to taste depending on how tart your apples are.
Step 4. Evenly sprinkle the streusel over the apple layer. Bake uncovered for about 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown. Test the apples by piercing with a toothpick; they should be soft but not mushy.
Step 5. Allow the crisp to cool slightly before serving. Spoon into bowls and top with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream if desired.
More Skillet Desserts
Skillet Blueberry Cobbler With Almond Glaze
Skillet Strawberry Cobbler
Skillet Cookie Recipe
Skillet Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Enjoy this recipe? If you make it, please leave a review in the comments and share your rating below.
Skillet Apple Crisp Recipe
By: Shawn Williams
Servings: 6 | Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 35 mins | Total: 50 mins
Classic apple crisp baked in a cast iron skillet — sweet and tart apples with a crunchy oat streusel. Serve warm with ice cream for a cozy, comforting dessert.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 6 medium-large Granny Smith apples, optionally peeled and thinly sliced (about 1/4 inch thick)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (about half a lemon)
Streusel Topping
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and diced
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold diced butter and work it into the dry ingredients with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture becomes crumbly and forms coarse crumbs.
- In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, toss the sliced apples with melted butter, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until the apples are evenly coated.
- Spread the streusel evenly over the apples.
- Bake uncovered for about 35 minutes, until the topping is golden and the apples are very tender when pierced with a toothpick.
- Let cool slightly, then serve warm with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream if desired.
Notes
- Peeling the apples gives a smoother texture; leaving peels on adds a rustic look and extra fiber.
- Substitute or combine apple varieties like Golden Delicious, Braeburn, or Cortland for different flavor and texture.
- Quick oats may be used instead of old-fashioned oats; avoid instant oats as they are too fine.
- This recipe can also be baked in a 9×13-inch baking dish if you don’t have a skillet.
Nutrition (per serving, without ice cream)
- Serving size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 414 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Protein: 5.2 g
- Fat: 11.9 g
- Saturated fat: 6.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
- Sodium: 58 mg
- Fiber: 8.5 g
- Sugar: 41.8 g
Nutrition is an estimate and should be used as a guideline.
Additional Info
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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