Deep Dish Apple Crisp

Deep Dish Apple Crisp: The Ultimate Comfort Dessert

There’s nothing quite like the sweet, cinnamon-scented aroma of a freshly baked apple crisp filling your kitchen. This Deep Dish Apple Crisp recipe is a comforting, irresistible dessert that’s perfect for any occasion. With tender, cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a buttery, golden oat crumble, this dessert is sure to please everyone at your table. Whether you’re preparing it for a family dinner, a holiday gathering, or simply indulging in a cozy treat, this apple crisp is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

What sets this version apart is its “deep dish” nature—it’s served in a generously sized dish, offering thick layers of warm, spiced apples and a crisp topping that’s perfectly balanced. Plus, it’s so easy to make that even beginner bakers will feel like pros!

Why You’ll Love This Deep Dish Apple Crisp

• Classic Comfort: Apple crisp is a classic dessert that evokes cozy fall vibes, but it’s delicious year-round. The combination of tender apples, cinnamon, and a crunchy oat topping is the epitome of comfort food.
• Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this is one of the easiest fruit crisps you can make. No need for pie crusts or complicated techniques—just layer, top, and bake.
• Make-Ahead Friendly: Apple crisp is a great dessert to prepare in advance. You can assemble it the night before, pop it in the fridge, and bake it when you’re ready to serve.
• Versatile: You can easily customize it to your liking—add nuts, swap in different fruits, or adjust the sweetness to your taste.

Ingredients:

For the Apple Filling:

• 6-7 medium apples (a mix of tart and sweet varieties, such as Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (you can adjust based on the sweetness of your apples)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (to help thicken the filling)
• Pinch of salt

For the Crisp Topping:

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (cut into small cubes)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional, for added crunch)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Apple Filling:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×9-inch (or similarly sized) deep dish baking pan with butter or non-stick spray.

Peel, core, and slice the apples into thin wedges or chunks. In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. The lemon juice helps brighten the flavor and prevents the apples from browning. The cornstarch will help thicken the juices as the apples cook, resulting in a thick, gooey filling.

Transfer the apple mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.

2. Make the Crisp Topping:

In a separate bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir everything together to ensure the dry ingredients are evenly mixed.

Add the cold cubed butter to the dry mixture. Using a pastry cutter, your fingers, or a fork, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. If you prefer a chunkier topping, leave a few larger pieces of butter intact. For a nutty crunch, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans at this stage.

Evenly spread the crisp topping over the apple filling in the baking dish, covering the apples completely.

3. Bake the Apple Crisp:

Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling and soft. If you notice the top browning too quickly, you can cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and continue baking until the apples are tender.

Once done, remove the apple crisp from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. The longer it sits, the thicker the filling will become, but if you’re like most people, you’ll want to dive in while it’s still warm!

4. Serve and Enjoy:

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