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Skillet Apple Crisp

A serving of apple crisp with the skillet in the background topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Skillet Apple Crisp is the perfect fall dessert, or anytime dessert really, with a deliciously sweet crunchy oat topping. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples are transformed into the perfect dessert when mixed with a few on-hand ingredients for a treat the whole family will love.

Apple season is here and if you’ve just gone apple picking at your local apple orchard, give our Cinnamon Apples or Apple Cake a try.

Branded image of Skillet Apple Crisp freshly baked still in the cast iron garnished with fresh apple slices and mint.

What is apple crisp

Apple crisp is one of the most quintessential American desserts that’s a fall favorite. Sliced apples tossed in warm spices and sugar then baked with a topping made with more spices, brown sugar, and old fashioned oats. Once baked, the apples are soft in a sweet buttery sauce with a crunchy top.

What is the difference between apple crisp and apple crumble?

For some, they’re the same and the names interchangeable. But when combing through old cookbooks while they are quite similar but different in one major way, crumble doesn’t use oats. A crumble’s topping is more like a streusel topping, a crumbly mixture of flour, sugar, and butter.

A serving of apple crisp on a white plate.

Recipe ingredients:

Ingredients to make apple crisp: butter, flour, apples, sugar, salt, apple pie sauce, cinnamon, nutmeg, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and brown sugar.
  • Apples — we used a mixture of granny smith apples, honey crisp, gala, and fuji apples.
  • Sugar — brown sugar is used in the oat topping and granulated sugar is tossed with the apples. We used dark brown sugar but you can use light brown sugar.
  • Dry goods — baking soda, baking powder, and flour. The flour will be divided between both the filling and the topping mixture.
  • Spices — salt, apple pie spice, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  • Butter — you’ll need at least one stick of butter, but if you want a more buttery sauce at the bottom, go with two. I used salted butter, but unsalted butter is perfect too.
  • Oat — we used quick cooking old fashioned rolled oats.

How to make Skillet Apple Crisp

Step 1 — Preheat the oven to 350°F. Core, peel, and slice apples into bite size pieces. Using an apple-core-peeler tool will make quick work of this process, then slice the rings into quarters and place them in a large bowl. If doing the apples by hand, toss them with some lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.

Step 2 — Toss the apples with the salt, apple pie spice blend, a tablespoon of flour, and granulated white sugar. Once the apples have been coated press the apple mixture into a cast iron skillet, smoothing it out as much as possible.

Step 3 — Add brown sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a medium bowl and mix it all together.

Step 4 — Slowly pour the melted butter and moisten the oat mixture. Alternatively, using a pastry cutter, a solid stick of butter can be incorporated into the oat mixture.

Step 5 — Spoon the buttery oats over the apples in the skillet, filling any nooks and crannies. If an extra buttery crisp is desired, place slices of butter all over the top of the crisp.

Step 6 — Bake the cast iron apple crisp uncovered for 40 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples have soften. The cooking time may take less time or longer depending on how thick or thin the apple slices were cut. Once baked, remove from the oven and serve immediately, as it is best served warm.

TIP — For camp oven, outdoor cooking, see recipe card.

Freshly baked apple crisp in a cast iron skillet garnished with fresh apple slices and mint.

Adaptations and variations

Apples — with so many apple varieties available, there are so many wonderful options. Having a nice mixture of both tart apples and sweet apples is important. Granny smith and honeycrisp are favorites. Pink lady apples are also good.

Nuts — add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the oat mixture for extra crunch.

Fruit — decrease the amount of apples and add in pears, peaches, or plums.

Serving — Vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and/or whipped cream are delicious toppings for this apple crisp.

A serving of apple crisp with the skillet in the background topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.

Recipe FAQs

What can I make this in besides a cast iron skillet?

You can make this in any oven-proof baking dish.

Can I use pumpkin pie spice instead of apple pie spice?

You sure can.

How do I store the leftovers

Place any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It can stay on the counter overnight. The topping will soften, so we do recommend eating this as quickly as possible.

How do I reheat this apple crisp?

The best way to reheat it to to pop it back into a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes. Make sure as much of the apple crisp topping is back on the top.

Branded image of Skillet Apple crisp with a serving on a white plate topped with ice cream and caramel.
A serving of apple crisp with the skillet in the background topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.
Print Recipe
5 from 16 votes

Skillet Apple Crisp

Skillet Apple Crisp is the perfect fall dessert, or anytime dessert really, with a deliciously sweet crunchy oat topping.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Apple crisp
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 428kcal
Author: Ned Adams

Equipment

  • 12" Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

Filling

  • 4 Granny Smith apples
  • 4 Honey Crisp apples
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 tsp apple pie spice
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Topping

  • 1 1/2 cups oats old fashion rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup butter unsalted, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Core, peel, and slice apples into bite size pieces. Using an apple-core-peeler tool will make quick work of this process, then slice the rings into quarters and place them in a large bowl.
  • Toss the apples with the salt, apple pie spice blend, a tablespoon of flour, and granulated white sugar.
  • Once the apples have been coated press them into a cast iron skillet, smoothing it out as much as possible.
  • Add brown sugar, flour, baking soda, baking powder, oats, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a medium bowl and mix it all together.
  • Slowly pour the melted butter and moisten the oat mixture. Alternatively, using a pastry cutter, a solid stick of butter can be incorporated into the oat mixture.
  • Spoon the buttery oats over the apples in the skillet, filling any nooks and crannies. If an extra buttery crisp is desired, place slices of butter all over the top of the crisp.
  • Bake the apple crisp uncovered for 40 minutes or until topping has browned and apples have soften. The cooking time may take less time or longer depending on how thick or thin the apple slices were cut.
  • Once baked, remove from the oven and serve immediately, as it is best served warm.

Outdoor Camp Oven

  • Heat coals in a charcoal chimney.Once hot, place 12 coals on bottom (camp table, fire pit, etc).
  • Nestle camp oven on top of the coals.
  • Apple crisp directions (see above.)
  • Cover with the camp oven lid.Place heated coals over the entire lid.
  • Check for doneness by using a lid lifter, if not done, cook up to an additional 15 minutes.
  • When done, remove from coals and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes.

Notes

Adaptations and variations

Apples — with so many apple varieties available, there are so many wonderful options. Having a nice mixture of both tart apples and sweet apples is important. Granny smith and honeycrisp are favorites. Pink lady apples are also good.
Nuts — add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the oat mixture for extra crunch.
Fruit — decrease the amount of apples and add in pears, peaches, or plums.
Serving — Vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and/or whipped cream are delicious toppings for this apple crisp.

Nutrition

Calories: 428kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 454IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 2mg

Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!
19 replies
  1. E Marie Chamberlain
    E Marie Chamberlain says:

    Made this today for brunch , but used my CI pie dish. It was delicious. Have one serving left which hubby will finish off tonight. Keep the recipes coming.

    Reply
  2. Kathleen
    Kathleen says:

    5 stars
    This apple crisp looks scrumptious. Really like that you use 2 different kinds of apples and how easy it all comes together. It’s a perfect dessert for the season.

    Reply
  3. Tavo
    Tavo says:

    5 stars
    Wow, your Skillet Apple Crisp is a knockout! The flavors meld together so perfectly, it’s like a cozy hug for your taste buds. The crumbly topping is the cherry on top—so to speak. Can’t wait to see what you whip up next!

    Reply
  4. Jen
    Jen says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is perfection. I have a bunch of apples from our tree and made this for dessert. My family loved it. I can’t wait to reheat the leftovers.

    Reply
  5. Alison Corey
    Alison Corey says:

    The use of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples adds a wonderful balance of tartness and sweetness. Plus, the oat topping is a delightful touch!

    Reply

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