This apple crisp without oats has a rich, buttery topping and sweet apple filling and takes just twenty minutes to mix together. It’s a delicious, easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any time of year, not just fall!
Our simple apple crisp recipe is sure to be a hit with family and friends, whether served at a casual gathering or a festive holiday celebration, and you’ll love how easy it is to make.
Although technically a crumble since there are no oats in the topping, we still call this recipe an apple crisp because the topping gets nice and crispy. Whether you’re looking for a traditional cobbler, like our famous Southern Peach Cobbler or Blackberry Cobbler, you’ll love how easy it is to put together a tasty fruit dessert in no time.
Beloved and shared by thousands of readers, this delicious apple crisp recipe without oats is the best and easiest you’ll find. Using just a few ingredients and some basic kitchen tools, you can create a comforting and satisfying dessert that showcases the natural sweetness and texture of apples.
The crumbly topping, made without the traditional oats, adds a delightful contrast to the soft, spiced apple filling beneath.
We love an apple dessert around here, so we also feature Fried Apple Pies, Baked Apple Tarts, and this super easy recipe for Apple Strudel.
Why crumble topping without oats
I will tell you a secret: I love oatmeal for breakfast. But. I detest oats in any type of dessert, or pretty much anywhere that is not oatmeal for breakfast.
So when making a fruit crisp, I like to top it with a streusel topping without oats. Sometimes toasted nuts can be part of the streusel depending on who is going to eat it, but usually, I opt for no nuts and no oats.
Our homemade apple crisp is so simple you can make it for a quick dessert even during a busy week. I peel the apples and then chop them right into a buttered shallow casserole dish. Mine is a little smaller than a 9×13 dish. The key is to make sure your topping stays crispy and doesn’t get soggy, and there are several factors that affect the topping: the apples, the dish, and the ratio of topping ingredients.
What apple is best for apple crisp
When choosing the best apples for baking, you want to think about baking structure and liquid because some apples will get too mushy and ruin your dessert.
I like to use a tart and sweet mixture of Granny Smith apples and Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp apples, just like when making my Classic Double-Crust Apple Pie.
There are plenty of other apple types that you can choose from, so just keep in mind that you want to choose apples that are good for baking and mix up sweet and tart for deeper flavor.
You can also use pears or a combination of apples and pears in this apple crisp recipe, and you can even throw in dried raisins or cranberries.
Helpful tools
I like to use a shallow baking dish similar to this one when making this apple crisp. If you use a dish that’s too deep, there will be too much moisture, and the topping will get soggy.
Ingredients for apple crisp without oats
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full ingredient amounts and instructions.
The simple ingredients for this apple crisp are pantry staples, so it’s easy to make at any time!
- Apples – use a mix of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious for the best results
- Lemon juice – freshly squeezed
- Brown sugar – we love the flavor of brown sugar in the crispy, oat-free topping.
- Flour – all-purpose or self-rising is fine
- Cornstarch – just a little helps the filling thicken
- Cinnamon and nutmeg – add for extra apple pie flavor
- Vanilla – you could also use almond extract
- Butter – I use Land O’Lakes unsalted
- Salt
Substitutions and variations
You can easily adapt this simple apple crumble without oats to suit dietary preferences.
- Gluten-free flour works great in this recipe! We tested with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-free Flour.
- Add nuts to the streusel topping; decrease the flour amount by 1/2 cup and use 1 cup of chopped nuts.
- Although we haven’t tried the recipe with vegan butter, this article indicates that it would work fine.
How to make apple crisp without oats
Pro Tip: The size of the dish is important to help the topping stay crispy. If you squish everything into a smaller, deeper dish, the topping won’t be spread out, and the liquid from the apples will be more likely to affect the texture of the topping.
You’re going to love how absolutely EASY this recipe is!
Step 1. Preheat oven to 375. Butter a medium-sized shallow casserole dish.
**Cook’s Tip: Mine is a little smaller than a 9×13 dish.
Step 2. Peel apples and chop them into 1/2-inch pieces right into the prepared baking dish.
Step 3. Add the lemon juice to the apples and gently toss to coat the apples.
Step 4. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, and cornstarch and gently toss until distributed throughout the apples.
Apple crisp topping
This apple crisp topping is a little different because I don’t use oats or nuts, but it still comes out crunchy and is absolutely delicious! Secret tip from one of my commenters—add a little lemon zest to the apple crisp topping!
Step 1. Stir together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, a little freshly grated nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
Step 2. Add the butter and use your hands to mix until a pebbly, crumbly mixture.
Cook’s Tip: Make sure you’re using cold butter.
Step 3. Sprinkle about a third of the topping over the apples and move the apples around a bit so some of the topping is mixed in with the apples. Sprinkle the remaining topping over the apples.
Step 4. Bake the Apple Crisp for about 50 minutes or until the apple crisp topping is deep golden brown.
Cook’s Tip: Keep an eye on it, as your oven might require less time–I have baked it in 35 mins.
Step 5. Remove your apple crisp from the oven and allow to rest for fifteen minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
So easy but so full of flavor!
FAQs
This apple crisp does not need to be refrigerated, at least for a day or so. I doubt it will be around longer than that, but I would store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator after a day.
Yes, you can freeze apple crisp. First, allow the crisp to cool completely, then wrap the whole dish with plastic wrap and cover the plastic wrap with tin foil.
No, you cannot cook apple crisp in the microwave. The oat-free topping will not get crispy.
You can make this easy apple crisp ahead of time. Put it together the day before you want to bake, but leave the apple crisp topping off until you’re ready to bake.
If you are rewarming the whole dish of apple crisp, heat in the oven until warm. This will help the topping stay crispy. You could use a toaster oven or microwave if only heating one serving.
Typically, apple crumble is made without oats, and apple crisp has an oat topping.
Working the butter too much or too finely into the flour can cause the topping to be soft.
We always use freshly grated nutmeg. We don’t even own nutmeg spice! It takes just seconds to grate a little nutmeg, and the flavor benefit from using fresh is immeasurable.
You can serve this apple crisp without oats at room temperature, although it’s best served right from the oven with a big old scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Serving suggestions
If you’re making the apple crisp without oats for a dinner party, may I suggest serving it with some good old Southern favorites? Try my Meatloaf Recipe or Baked Pork Chops, add a Southern Squash Casserole or some Macaroni and Cheese, and you’ve got the perfect meal!
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Apple Crisp Without Oats
Ingredients
Filling
- 4-5 apples (I use 2 Granny Smith and 2 sweeter apples, whatever I have on hand)
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- Pinch of kosher salt
Topping
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Pinch of kosher salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and diced
- **If you want to use chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts in the topping, decrease the flour by 1/2 cup and use 1 cup of chopped nuts.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375. Butter a medium-sized shallow casserole dish. Mine is a little smaller than a 9×13 dish.
- Peel apples and then chop into 1/2-inch pieces right into the buttered dish. Add the lemon juice to the apples and gently toss to coat the apples. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, brown sugar, and cornstarch and gently mix until distributed throughout the apples.
Topping
- Stir together the flour, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, a little freshly grated nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Mix well. Add the butter and use your hands to mix until a pebbly, crumbly mixture.
- Sprinkle about a third of the topping over the apples and move the apples around a bit so some of the topping is mixed in with the apples. Sprinkle remaining topping over the apples.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until topping is golden brown (just keep an eye on it, as your oven might require less time–I have baked in 35 mins). Remove from oven and allow to rest for fifteen minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
Video
Notes
Tips for Making Easy Apple Crisp:
- Use a shallow baking dish
- Use a mix of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples
- Cold butter works best for the streusel topping
Nutrition
This post is part of the Top Ten Recipes of Last Year collection.
Update Notes: This post for Apple Crisp Without Oats was originally published October 15, 2014, and on May 4, 2023, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.
Just made this for the first time. Its absolutely wonderful!!!! I grew up with NO oats in my apple crisp and this recipe tastes just like Grandma used to make. Thank you for the great recipe! One question….should leftovers be stored in the fridge or at room temp?
Hi Beth,
I usually store at room temp, but probably if keeping for several days I would put it in the fridge. But it never lasts that long!
I had honey crisp and gala apples in the fridge. Used all 5. Easy to make and came out delicious. Thank you so much. Will definitely be making this again.
This is the second time I have made this. My family absolutely loves it. Great taste and gone the same day I make it.
Thank you! So glad you like it!
could you use canned peaches?
Would you make any changes to the amounts of the different ingredients?
I don’t like the flavor or texture of canned peaches, so I wouldn’t. But with that said, if you like them then I’m sure they would work fine in the recipe.
@Lucy Brewer, can peaches soften up when cooked. I use them all the time.
I just don’t like the texture of canned peaches. Each to his own!
Thank you for this. My mother never put oats in her crumble topping on an apple crisp and I don’t like them in there either. Every recipe I have been able to find for apple crisp or apple crumble uses oats. I will definitely try this.
Thank u for sharing! So yummy! Made this today. Tweaked it alil because I am on a diet. So used brown sugar substitute & added pecans. Love it.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe! I love to hear the changes that people make — it’s pretty versatile so you can do lots of things. Try it with pears next time and I bet you’ll love it. 🙂
I replaced the Apples with unpeeled diced green tomatoes. I added 2 extra table spoons of brown sugar because the tomatoes were hard and tart, but should have only added 1 it was too sweet. My family enjoys green tart apples and this would have been perfect for them, a little tart if I would have only added one extra Table spoon of brown sugar. But they still loved it and the kids were surprised it was tomatoes and not apples.
Cooked for 35 minutes and it was great.
The tomatoes held their texture (a lot like apple) I did the 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts replacement you suggested (I thought the tomatoes might turn to mush and it would need the texture.
I was out of oatmeal, looking for a oatmeal free crisp recipe it what lead me here. Thank you
Just made this. Soooo good!!!!! Whole family ate it up! Thank you!
Just made this. Soooo good!!!!! Whole family ate it up! Thank you!
Merci pour cette recette parfaitement équilibrée au niveau des proportions. Un vrai délice ?. Thank you so much for this easy recipe, all flavors are perfectly balanced. Delicious !
Merci pour cette recette parfaitement équilibrée au niveau des proportions. Un vrai délice ?. Thank you so much for this easy recipe, all flavors are perfectly balanced. Delicious !
I made it tonight…..turned out absolutely beautiful…and soooo good….I will definitely make it again!
Ummm. Turned out great
This was fantastic with peaches! I used the nut variation (pecans) and thrilled with the results. Definitely will make again.
I made it tonight…..turned out absolutely beautiful…and soooo good….I will definitely make it again!
Ummm. Turned out great
This was fantastic with peaches! I used the nut variation (pecans) and thrilled with the results. Definitely will make again.
Really delicious . Made it for desert tonight and topped it with icecream. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
Really delicious . Made it for desert tonight and topped it with icecream. Thank you for the amazing recipe!
I bet this would be good to use with a few of the pears still hanging on our trees.
Looks so good, I can almost smell it.
Ramona