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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Dessert Recipes

    Skillet Apple Crisp

    Published: Sep 16, 2023 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 23 Comments

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    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.
    Jump to:
    • What is apple crisp
    • Recipe ingredients:
    • How to make Skillet Apple Crisp
    • Adaptations and variations
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Our favorite tools to make Skillet Apple Crisp!
    • Other Related Cast Iron Dessert Recipes
    • Get the Recipe
    • Adaptations and variations

    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

    Peeled, cored, and sliced apples in a glass bowl.
    Step 1
    Cast iron skillet of apple pieces that have been coated with flour, sugar, salt, and apple pie spice.
    Step 3

    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.

    Oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and baking powder in a glass bowl.
    Step 2
    Melted butter has been mixed into the oat mixture to form the topping for the apple crisp.
    Step 4

    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.

    Oat crisp topping being spooned over the seasoned apple pieces in the cast iron skillet.
    Step 5
    Cast iron skillet apple crisp going into the oven to bake.
    Step 6

    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.

    Our favorite tools to make Skillet Apple Crisp!

    Image of 12" Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

    12" Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

    Buy Now →
    Image of BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    BuzzyWaxx Original Blend - Cast Iron and Carbon Steel Seasoning

    Buy Now →

    Other Related Cast Iron Dessert Recipes

    • Baked caramel apple cake garnished with scoops of vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce, fresh apple slices and mint along the sides.
      Caramel Apple Dump Cake
    • Slice of apple cake on a white plate with another slice and the remaining platter in the background.
      Dutch Oven Apple Cake
    • cinnamon apples in a cast iron skillet
      Cast Iron Cinnamon Apples
    • Red, white, and blue berry cobbler baked in a round 12-inch cast iron skillet.
      Red, White, and Blue Berry Cobbler

    If you tried this Skillet Apple Crisp or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    Get the Recipe

    A serving of apple crisp with the skillet in the background topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 18 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 mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 428kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 12" Cast Iron Skillet

    Ingredients

    Filling

    • 4 Granny Smith apples
    • 4 Honey Crisp apples
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon flour
    • 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Topping

    • 1 ½ cups oats old fashion rolled oats
    • ¾ cup flour
    • ¾ cup brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ cup butter unsalted, melted
    US Standard - Metric

    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!

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    Comments

      5 from 18 votes

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      Recipe Rating




    1. D says

      October 21, 2024 at 7:49 am

      5 stars
      Exceptional!!

      Reply
    2. Paula says

      August 01, 2024 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      I had no idea you could make an apple crisp this delicious in a skillet! Yum

      Reply
    3. Matt Garrett says

      December 20, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      Question: What if you donโ€™t peel the apples and you left the skin on?

      Reply
      • Ned Adams says

        April 01, 2024 at 6:43 pm

        This can be done without peeling the apples, however we have found that it's and better when they are peeled.

        Reply
    4. Dannii says

      September 28, 2023 at 3:03 am

      5 stars
      This oatmeal topping was so crispy and delicious. Total comfort food.

      Reply
    5. Kim says

      September 28, 2023 at 12:47 am

      5 stars
      Just made them this morning and they were wonderful! I think I just found my new favorite dessert.

      Reply
    6. Alison Corey says

      September 27, 2023 at 11:51 pm

      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
    7. Chelsea says

      September 27, 2023 at 11:26 pm

      5 stars
      That crunchy topping is EVERYTHING!!!! This truly is the perfect fall dessert and I will be making it all season long.

      Reply
    « Older Comments
    picture of dutch oven daddy holding a dutch oven.

    Hi I'm Ned,

    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

    More about me

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