This Sheet Pan Apple Crisp with Oats is a crowd-pleasing fall dessert made using simple ingredients and is ready for the oven in less than 10 minutes. It is made of juicy tender apple slices generously topped with a crisp cinnamon oat-walnut topping. Serve with a scoop of ice cream on top and enjoy!
This fruit crisp is the perfect dessert to use up those plump and luscious apples this season! It is so easy to make and yields a lot of portions in one go- perfect for gatherings or to store for later.
If you love the flavor of apple and cinnamon together as I do, try my apple desserts such as apple streusel coffee cake or rustic apple galette too! They are absolutely divine!
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What Are Some Best Apples For Apple Crisp?
I enjoy using whatever apples are in season, but it's usually best to blend at least two different types for optimal results.
Different apple varieties have different cooking times, textures, and sweetness levels.
For an ideal combination, aim for a balance of sweet and tart flavors. Consider using apples like Jonagold, Gala, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Granny Smith, Empire, and Braeburn to create a delicious apple crisp.
🛒Ingredients
- Apples – use apple varieties that hold their shape well when baked like Braeburn, Cortland, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp. If you like to add a little tartness to the recipe, you can also use Granny Smith apples. Or a mix of both sweet and tart apples for a balanced flavor profile.
- Brown sugar - this is added to the apples to give them a rich sweetness and jammy texture as they bake. You can also use white sugar, raw brown sugar, or coconut sugar as alternatives.
- Ground cinnamon - gives the apple crisp a warm, spicy, and earthy flavor. You can also use nutmeg or allspice as alternatives.
- All-purpose flour - this is added to the apple filling to give it a thick and jammy texture.
- Butter - before cutting the butter into the flour mixture, make sure it is cold. This will ensure that the topping turns out flaky and crumbly. Use unsalted if you can, however, if you have salted butter, you can use I and just reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
- Old-fashioned oats - also called rolled oats. These are perfect for making the crisp topping because they absorb well but still hold their shape after baking. Unfortunately quick-cooking oats won't have the right texture.
- Chopped walnuts - adds a crunchy texture and salty flavor to the topping. You can use other nuts like cashews, macadamia, or almonds.
- Maple syrup - aside from adding sweetness, this will also help bind the crumb topping. You can use other sweeteners like honey and agave.
- Vanilla extract - provides a subtle floral flavor and aroma.
- Salt - a pinch will boost the sweet and fruity flavors without a salty undertone. You can use sea or kosher salt for this recipe.
🥣Instructions
Preparations:
- Peel, core and slice apples into 8 wedges.
- Chop cold butter into small pieces.
- Measure the remaining ingredients.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Grease a baking sheet with raised edges.
For this recipe, you can also use a wider baking dish.
Tender Apples. In a big bowl, toss apple wedges with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and brown sugar until coated.
Add ½ cup flour and mix well.
Spread the apple mixture on the prepared sheet.
Make Crunchy topping. In another bowl, combine ½ cup flour with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and cold butter using 2 knives or a pastry blender until it looks like small peas.
Add oats, walnuts, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt.
Stir until mixed.
Evenly spoon the walnut oatmeal topping over the apples on the baking sheet.
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45-50 minutes until the fruit bubbles and the topping is golden brown.
Serve the crisp warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
For the full list of ingredients, please scroll down to where you'll find the recipe card.
⏲️ Recommended Equipment
- Large Baking Sheet
- Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Airtight Food containers
- Mixing Bowls
Apple Crisp Popular Substitutions
- Gluten-free apple crisp - use a gluten-free flour brand like Bob’s Red Mill 1:1. I also recommend buying oats that are gluten-free certified because some brands may be contaminated with gluten during manufacturing.
- Vegan - use dairy-free butter to make this recipe vegan-friendly. Miyoko's and Earth Balance are great options.
- Nut-free- if you are allergic to nuts, you can use pumpkin, hemp, or sunflower seeds instead.
- Low-sugar - use your favorite sugar alternative brand like Stevia. You can also omit the brown sugar if the apples you are using are sweet enough.
📋Tips
- Do not overmix. When cutting the butter into the flour, make sure that you do not overdo it. It should not be smooth at all, but crumbly and slightly grainy.
- Layer with care. Make sure that the oat and walnut mixture is equally distributed on top of the apple filling. This will give you an evenly baked golden crust!
- Adjust the baking time. Baking time may vary on the size of the pan and the type of oven you are using. Rotate the pan halfway through if needed.
- Add lemon juice. Give the sheet pan apple crisp a tangy twist by adding a splash of fresh lemon juice to the apple filling mixture.
- A smoother oat topping. If you like a smoother, less chunky topping, pulse the oats in a food processor before adding them to the mixture. Just make sure to not overdo it because it will become lumpy.
- Cool before serving. The filling will be piping hot so make sure to not serve this straight from the oven. Cooling the apple crisp for a few minutes will also allow the filling to thicken further and for the topping to set and become crispier.
Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Let the apple crisp cool down completely then place in an airtight container. You can store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- 🥶Freezing. Use a freezer-friendly container to store this fruit dessert in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- 🔥To Reheat. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat your desired portions in the oven for the best result.
👪Serving Suggestions
This is best served while still warm! Enjoy it as it is or top it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream then drizzle with caramel syrup (try this pumpkin caramel for a fun twist).
You can add more fruits and nuts on top before serving too.
🤷Frequently Asked Questions
Aside from apples, you can use fresh peaches, strawberries, and rhubarb or berries. Make sure that you select fruits that can withstand the baking process. Avoid watery fruits because they will make the crisp soggy.
While they are both baked fruit desserts with golden toppings, they are not the same. Fruit crisp is made with an oat streusel topping while apple cobbler use biscuits or pie dough.
For the best flavor I like to remove it, it is too chewy for me in this recipe affecting the texture of this classic dessert.
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Apple Desserts
For all tasty treats, scroll through our Desserts archives.
📖Recipe
Sheet Pan Apple Crisp With Oats
Ingredients
- 12 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 8 wedges each
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1 cup all purpose flour, divided
- ½ cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 ½ cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or fine sea salt
Instructions
- Prep. Peel, core and slice apples into 8 wedges.
- Chop cold butter into small pieces. Measure the remaining ingredients.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet with raised edges. You can also use a wider baking dish for this.
- Apples. In a big bowl, toss apple wedges with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and brown sugar until coated. Add ½ cup flour and mix well. Spread the apple mixture on the prepared sheet.
- Crunchy topping. In another bowl, combine ½ cup flour with cold butter using 2 knives or a pastry blender until it looks like small peas. Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, oats, walnuts, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until mixed.
- Evenly spoon the walnut oatmeal topping over the apples on the baking sheet.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45-50 minutes until the fruit bubbles and the topping is golden brown. Serve the crisp warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Do not overmix. When cutting the butter into the flour, make sure that you do not overdo it. It should not be smooth at all, but crumbly and slightly grainy.
- Layer with care. Make sure that the oat and walnut mixture is equally distributed on top of the apple filling. This will give you an evenly baked golden crust!
- Adjust the baking time. Baking time may vary on the size of the pan and the type of oven you are using. Rotate the pan halfway through if needed.
- Apples – use apple varieties that hold their shape well when baked like Braeburn, Cortland, Golden Delicious, and Honeycrisp. If you like to add a little tartness to the recipe, you can also use Granny Smith apples. Or a mix of both sweet and tart apples for balanced flavor profile.
Nutrition
❤️Did you make this recipe? Please be sure to leave a rating and a comment below. Thank you!❤️
Enjoy a delicious batch of apple crisp with crunchy oat and nut topping.