Pressed for time, or just pastry averse? If you can’t pull off a fresh apple pie, an easy apple crisp is the next best thing. Just peel, core, and slice the apples; toss them with a bit of sugar and cinnamon; and dump them into a baking dish. Then mix the oats, brown sugar, and butter for the streusel in the same bowl you used for mixing the apples (that saves you a dish to wash). Sprinkle the streusel over the apples, and in about an hour you’ll have an easy dessert of bubbling apples blanketed with a crunchy, sweet topping. Feel free to adjust the sugar in this recipe to the sweetness of the apples, using 2 tablespoons for exceptionally sweet ones and 3 if the apples are on the tart side.

  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 1 hr 40 mins 
  • Active: 20 mins 

Ingredients (8)

  • 2 1/2 pounds medium Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples (about 5 or 6), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into small pieces, plus more for coating the dish

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Lightly coat an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with butter. Combine the apples, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon of the salt in a large bowl and toss to coat. Place the apple mixture in the prepared baking dish and set aside.
  2. Using the same bowl as for mixing the apples, mix together the brown sugar, oats, flour, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt until evenly combined. With your fingertips, blend in the butter pieces until small clumps form and the butter is well incorporated, about 2 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples and bake until the streusel is crispy and the apples are tender, about 50 to 60 minutes. Let cool on a rack at least 30 minutes before serving.