This apple crisp recipe without oats has been a go-to dessert for millions of readers over the years, and for good reason! Warm, cinnamon-kissed apples bake under a rich, buttery streusel that’s perfectly crumbly — with no oats in sight. It all comes together in one dish and is ready in less than an hour, making it as easy as it is delicious. Once you try it, you’ll see why this simple recipe has stood the test of time!
WOW! I had leftover apples and wanted to make some comfort food to prepare for the Buffalo storm coming tomorrow 😨. I’m used to using oats in apple crisp, even tho it turns into a mushy mess. Luckily I didn’t have oats, so I tried this recipe. Oh me oh my!!! Absolutely fantastic. The topping is crispy as promised, the apples held up to perfection, the taste is enough to knock me off my chair!!! Absolutely fantastic recipe! No more mushy mess for me, this recipe is a keeper! Thank you for sharing!
cathy
Why this apple crisp recipe is awesome
I will tell you a secret: I love oatmeal for breakfast. But. I detest oats in any 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 will eat it, but I usually opt for no nuts or oats.
We’ve tested and made this recipe so many times over the years, and the result is a perfect apple crisp without oats and with a topping that melts in your mouth. We made it all in one dish, so you have less mess, and the whole thing is super easy to throw together.
Although technically an apple crumble since there are no oats in the topping, we still call this recipe an apple crisp because the topping gets nice and crispy.
Beloved and shared by millions of blog, Pinterest, and Facebook readers, this delicious apple crisp recipe without oats is the best and easiest you’ll find.
I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!
P.S. 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.
Ingredient notes
➡️➡️➡️ The full ingredient amounts and instructions are listed below on the printable recipe card. Scroll below the recipe card for frequently asked questions and tips for success.
While most of the ingredients in this recipe are simple pantry ingredients that you likely already have on hand, there are a few key things to be aware of:
- Apples: 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. You can also use pears or a combination of apples and pears, and you can even throw in dried raisins or cranberries.
- Butter: No margarine allowed here, folks. Just don’t. Buy the butter, and don’t buy store-brand butter. When an ingredient is an integral part of the recipe, you need to get the best quality possible.
- Lemon juice: A touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens your apple crisp.
- Baking: 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.
Recipe options
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.
I made this yesterday and it was DELICIOUS!!!! The entire family loved it. I could not believe how easy it was to make. I have to say this recipe will most likely sub for an apple pie going forward. Thank you for this 10 star recipe.
ann
Let’s make an apple crisp without oats!
You’re going to love how absolutely EASY this recipe is!
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.
Prepare dish and apples.
Preheat oven to 375. Butter a medium-sized shallow casserole dish. Peel apples and chop them into 1/2-inch pieces right into the prepared baking 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 toss until distributed throughout the apples.
Make the apple crisp topping without oats.
Stir together the flour, brown sugar, 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.
Cook’s Tip: Make sure you’re using cold butter.
Add topping.
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.
Bake and serve!
Bake 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 an oven that only took 35 mins.
Remove your apple crisp from the oven and allow to rest for fifteen minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce.
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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
Update Notes: This post for Apple Crisp Without Oats was originally published on October 15, 2014, and on February 22, 2025, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, and new tips.
Tips and reader questions
Working the butter too much or too finely into the flour can cause the topping to be soft.
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 couple of days.
Yes, you can freeze this 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.
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 air fryer as well.
OMG!!! This has become my husband and I’s favorite apple dessert! I put a swirl of caramel sauce on the top and it knocked it out of this world!!!
You can never go wrong with caramel sauce! Thank you 🙂
WOW! I had leftover apples and wanted to make some comfort food to prepare for the Buffalo storm coming tomorrow 😨. I’m used to using oats in apple crisp, even tho it turns into a mushy mess. Luckily I didn’t have oats, so I tried this recipe. Oh me oh my!!! Absolutely fantastic. The topping is crispy as promised, the apples held up to perfection, the taste is enough to knock me off my chair!!! Absolutely fantastic recipe! No more mushy mess for me, this recipe is a keeper! Thank you for sharing!
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this recipe. Exact recipe has been a favorite in our family for 100 years and I misplaced it. Oatmeal makes a great breakfast but I haven’t found anything in baking that I like oatmeal in.
I love this apple crisp recipe. So easy and not too sweet. Glad I found a recipe without oats. Going to make this for Thanksgiving tomorrow!
I’ve made this twice already in one week from the apples we picked apple picking. Absolutely delicious
I’m also one of those that don’t care for oatmeal, so I’m trying this recipe for Thanksgiving! Can I use Nutmeg spice in place of real nutmeg, and how much? Thanks for your help.
It’s always best to grate fresh nutmeg! You just get much better/more flavor. I wouldn’t suggest buying pre-ground nutmeg.
Easy to make. Used Honeycrisps…held their shape well yet softened.😊 It was overly sweet. How can I change that?
I suggest a mix of tart and sweet apples.
@Lucy Brewer,
I like a harlson apple tart crispy good for baking and eating.
That’s good to know. I’ll try to find some of those!
How much is a stick of butter in weight?
Thanks
A quick google search tells me it’s 110 grams. Hope that helps!
I made this yesterday and it was DELICIOUS!!!! The entire family loved it. I could not believe how easy it was to make. I have to say this recipe will most likely sub for an apple pie going forward. Thank you for this 10 star recipe.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
This was really tasty 😋 a great recipe. I loved how it is oat free because here in Australia oats aren’t gluten free. Even my non-gluten free family really enjoyed it, didn’t even taste gluten free
made it this today I follow exactly the recipe…oh well, added some lemon zest on the toppings and it come out absolutely wonderful. Added it to my recipe collection. Thank you so much @Lucy Brewer for sharing your recipe.
If I want to add raisins (I presume together in the filling) how much and should amount of other ingredients need to be adjusted?
I don’t think adding a few raisins would affect the other ingredients.
I made the recipe as is but without the cinnamon. Americans add this spice to so many dishes but as a Brit I prefer the pure Apple flavour. Thank you fir the tip about using larger shallow dishes to promote a crust that isn’t soggy from Apple juices bubbling over and making tipping soggy. Everyone raved about it even my American neighbour. 😉
Can we make this in microwave too?
The topping will not get crisp in the microwave.
Could this be made the day before and stored in the fridge?
Yes, up to the baking point. The topping won’t be as crisp if you bake it the day before.
I was gifted quite a few apples and felt too lazy to make a pie, so I searched for an apple crisp recipe without oats. This was perfect!
Unfortunately, I did not notice the recipe called for fresh nutmeg till I was already assembling ingredients. Otherwise, I baked the recipe as is. I will definitely try less flour next time and add nuts or pecans.
This recipe was so easy. I will certainly make it again.
Was looking for an Apple Crisp recipe that did not have oats and came across this one! It was delicious! I had red delicious apples on hand so used them and it turned out great (even though they are not usually the best choice for baking). I did not have cornstarch here, so used all purpose flour (and doubled the measurement to compensate). The Apple Crisp was perfect and a huge success! Will be making it again for Thanksgiving!
Very nice recipe first time I used butter second time making used half butter half creeme cheese with gluten free flour very tasty
Thnx for this alternative topping for my favorite 3 berry crisp. I love an oat topping but sometimes its too heavy for certai fruits. So I tried this and it only lasts two days in my house if we’re lucky.
I’m so glad you like it! One of our favorites!
Used strawberries, almond flour, walnuts and sugar substitute. Made an amazing low carb strawberry crumble.