Warm & Cozy Cinnamon Apple Delight Crisp Recipe for Fall

Sweet, aromatic cinnamon apple delight crisp reinvents ordinary desserts into extraordinary culinary experiences.

Warm spices and tender fruit create a harmonious blend that dancers across taste buds.

Layers of carefully selected ingredients promise a symphony of textures and flavors waiting to unfold.

Homemade comfort emerges through each carefully crafted bite, inviting memories of cozy kitchen moments.

Seasonal ingredients weave magic into this classic dessert, elevating simple components into something truly spectacular.

Rustic and elegant, this recipe speaks to both novice and experienced bakers seeking something memorable.

The magic happens when humble ingredients combine with intuition and love.

Why Cinnamon Apple Crisp Is So Comforting

• Savor Seasonal Comfort: This cinnamon apple crisp brings warm, cozy fall flavors right to your kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into a delightful dessert that feels like a heartwarming hug.
• Effortless Baking Bliss: With minimal prep time and straightforward steps, even novice bakers can create this gorgeous dessert that looks and tastes like it came from a professional bakery.
• Texture Paradise: Experience a magical contrast between soft, tender cinnamon-spiced apples and the crunchy, buttery oat crumble topping that adds irresistible depth and excitement to every single bite.

What You Need for Cinnamon Apple Crisp

• Apples: Crisp, sweet-tart varieties perfect for baking with good structure and flavor intensity.
• Lemon Juice: Prevents apple browning and adds bright, tangy balance to the sweetness.
• Granulated Sugar: Enhances natural apple sweetness and helps create a syrupy filling.
• Cinnamon: Warm, classic spice that complements apple's natural flavor profile.
• Nutmeg: Subtle, aromatic spice that adds depth to the apple mixture.
• Flour: Thickens the apple filling and creates a smooth, cohesive texture.
• Water: Helps create moisture and prevent apple filling from becoming too dry.

• Oats: Provides hearty, rustic texture and nutty undertone to the crisp topping.
• Flour: Helps bind the topping ingredients together.
• Brown Sugar: Adds rich, caramel-like sweetness and helps create crispy edges.
• Cinnamon: Warming spice that ties the topping to the apple filling.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor complexity.
• Butter: Cold and cubed, creates flaky, rich texture in the crisp topping.

• Chopped Nuts: Adds extra crunch and nutty flavor to the crisp topping.

How to Make a Warm Cinnamon Apple Crisp

Step 1: Warm Up the Kitchen

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grab a 9×9-inch or 8×8-inch baking dish and give it a light grease to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Prepare the Apple Base

• Peel the apples carefully
• Core them completely
• Slice into even pieces

• Lemon juice
• Granulated sugar
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Flour

Add a splash of water and mix everything until the apples are beautifully coated. Transfer this fragrant mixture into your prepared baking dish.

Step 3: Create the Crispy Topping

• Oats
• Flour
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Salt

Take cold butter and cut it into small cubes. Work the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry cutter or your fingertips until the mixture looks like rough crumbs. If you’re feeling nutty, toss in some chopped nuts for extra crunch.

Step 4: Assemble Your Dessert

Sprinkle the crispy topping evenly over the apple mixture, making sure every apple gets a delicious coating of crumbly goodness.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when the top turns a gorgeous golden brown and the apples become bubbly and tender. If the topping starts browning too quickly, simply cover it with aluminum foil to prevent burning.

Serving Tip: Let the crisp cool for a few minutes before serving. It’s amazing on its own or topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Tips for a Crunchy Cinnamon Apple Topping

• Choose the Right Apples: Select firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that hold their shape and provide excellent texture during baking.
• Prevent Apple Browning: Toss sliced apples immediately with lemon juice to maintain their fresh color and prevent oxidation.
• Master the Crumb Topping: Work with cold butter and use your fingertips to create a crumbly texture, ensuring a perfect crispy and golden-brown top.
• Check for Doneness: Insert a fork into the apple filling to ensure they're tender but not mushy, and look for a bubbling, golden-brown topping.
• Make Ahead and Store: Prepare the crisp in advance and refrigerate unbaked, or store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, reheating gently in the oven.

Best Ways to Store Apple Crisp Leftovers

• Refrigeration: Store leftover apple crisp in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer to a sealed container to maintain freshness and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors.
• Reheating: Warm individual servings in the microwave for 30-45 seconds until heated through. For a crispier topping, reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Gently tent with foil to prevent excessive browning while restoring the crisp's delightful texture.
• Freezing Option: Freeze the cooled crisp for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Perfect Pairings for Cinnamon Apple Crisp

• Pair with Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream: Scoop a generous dollop of cold, smooth vanilla ice cream alongside the warm, cinnamon-spiced crisp. The contrast between the hot, bubbling apples and the cool, velvety ice cream creates a delightful flavor explosion.
• Complement with Spiced Chai Latte: Brew a rich, aromatic chai latte with its warm blend of cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon. The spicy tea harmonizes perfectly with the apple crisp's sweet and cinnamon-forward profile, enhancing the dessert's comforting warmth.
• Match with Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle a light stream of golden caramel sauce over the crisp just before serving. The buttery, sweet caramel adds an extra layer of indulgence, intensifying the dessert's rich and complex flavors.
• Serve with Whipped Mascarpone: Top the crisp with a dollop of light, creamy mascarpone cheese. Its subtle tanginess cuts through the sweetness, providing a sophisticated and balanced finish to this classic dessert.

Flavor Ideas for Cinnamon Apple Crisp

• Tropical Fruit Fusion: Replace apples with a mix of mango, pineapple, and coconut for a vibrant, exotic dessert that transports you to a sunny beach.
• Berry Nutty Crumble: Swap apples with a combination of mixed berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Add chopped almonds for extra crunch and depth.
• Pear Caramel Comfort: Use ripe pears instead of apples, and drizzle caramel sauce over the topping before baking for a rich, decadent spin on the classic crisp.
• Seasonal Spice Blend: Incorporate seasonal fruits like peaches or plums, and experiment with warming spices such as cardamom or ginger to create a uniquely aromatic dessert.

Cinnamon Apple Delight Crisp Recipe

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4.6 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 to 8 1x

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Description

Sweet cinnamon and tender apples mingle in this irresistible dessert from Midwestern kitchens. Warm spices and buttery crumble create a comforting treat you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 6–8 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix)
• ¾ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Sugar and Sweeteners:

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar

Spices and Enhancers:

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup water
• ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously prepare a 9×9-inch (23×23 centimeters) baking dish with a light butter coating to prevent sticking.
2. Carefully wash, peel, and core 4-5 fresh apples, then slice them into uniform, thin wedges approximately ¼-inch (0.6 centimeters) thick.
3. Transfer apple slices into a spacious mixing bowl and gently drizzle fresh lemon juice over them to prevent browning and enhance flavor complexity.
4. Sprinkle granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and all-purpose flour over the apple slices, ensuring each piece is thoroughly and evenly coated.
5. Add a small amount of water and delicately stir the mixture until ingredients are harmoniously blended, creating a glossy and well-distributed apple filling.
6. Carefully transfer the seasoned apple mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to create a consistent layer.
7. In a separate bowl, combine rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to create the crisp topping’s dry foundation.
8. Introduce cold, cubed unsalted butter into the dry ingredients, using fingertips or a pastry cutter to blend until the mixture resembles coarse, crumbly breadcrumbs.
9. Optional: Incorporate chopped nuts for added texture and depth of flavor, gently folding them into the crumb mixture.
10. Generously and uniformly distribute the crisp topping over the apple filling, ensuring complete coverage.
11. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, monitoring the topping’s color and the apples’ tenderness.
12. If the topping browns too rapidly, loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil to prevent burning while allowing the apples to continue cooking.
13. Remove from the oven when the topping achieves a golden-brown hue and the apple filling becomes bubbly and soft.

Notes

• Perfectly balanced sweet and spicy dessert that transforms ordinary apples into a comforting, warm treat.
• Selecting firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp guarantees the best texture and flavor balance in this classic crisp.
• Chilling the butter before mixing ensures a crumbly, flaky topping that creates delightful golden-brown layers when baked.
• Covering with foil prevents over-browning and helps the apples cook evenly, maintaining a soft, juicy interior.
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an indulgent dessert that elevates simple ingredients into a memorable experience.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, gently reheating to restore the crisp’s delicious texture and warmth.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6 to 8
• Calories: 112 kcal
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 45 mg
• Fat: 6 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 12 mg