This Skillet Apple Crisp is an easy, old-fashioned dessert that comes together with everyday ingredients. The apples are tossed with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and a little flour to create a sweet, saucy filling. Then everything is covered with a buttery brown sugar topping that bakes into a crisp, golden layer.
We recently made this apple crisp for dinner and served it in small cast iron pans, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top. It was such a simple dessert, but everyone loved it. The little individual skillets made it feel a bit special, and watching the ice cream melt over the warm, cinnamon-spiced apples and buttery crisp topping was pretty hard to resist.
That experience reminded me why apple crisp is one of those desserts worth keeping in your recipe collection. It doesn’t require anything fancy, but it delivers all the warm, comforting flavors we want from a homemade dessert. Tender apples are tossed with brown sugar and warm spices, then covered with a buttery, crumbly topping and baked until the apples are bubbling and the top is golden brown.
While we made individual servings in small cast iron pans, you can easily make this in one 9-inch skillet or similar-size casserole dish. The individual version is especially fun when you’re serving family or guests because everyone gets their own warm apple crisp—and you don’t have to worry about dividing it up at the table.
And if you have vanilla ice cream in the freezer, don’t skip it. That cold, creamy scoop melting into the warm apple filling might just be the best part.
Why You’ll Love This Skillet Apple Crisp
Easy ingredients. You probably already have most of what you need in your pantry and refrigerator.
Simple preparation. There is no complicated dough or special technique. Just mix the apples, prepare the topping, and bake.
Perfectly cozy. Warm cinnamon, brown sugar, and baked apples make this a wonderful dessert for a chilly evening or a family gathering.
Great for apple season. This is an especially delicious way to use a basket of fresh apples in the fall.
Easy to make ahead. The crisp can be prepared earlier in the day and baked when you’re ready for dessert.
Skillet Apple Crisp Recipe
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 Pounds Apples peeled, cored, and sliced apples; about 9 cups
- 1/4 Cup Apple Juice or water
- 3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar or dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 Tablespoons Butter melted
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
- 3 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour or tapioca flour
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
Topping
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar or dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 8 Tablespoons Butter cold, cut in pats
Instructions
How to Make Skillet Apple Crisp
- Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch skillet or a similar-size casserole dish.
- Peel, core, and slice the apples about ¼-inch thick. Add them to a medium bowl with the apple juice, brown sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, flour, and salt.3 Pounds Apples, 1/4 Cup Apple Juice, 3/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar, 2 Tablespoons Butter, 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon, 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg, 1/4 Teaspoon Ginger, 3 Tablespoons All-Purpose Flour, 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- Stir until the apples are evenly coated with the mixture. Transfer the apples to the prepared skillet and spread them into an even layer.
- Next, prepare the crisp topping. Whisk together the flour, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder.1 Cup All-Purpose Flour, 1/4 Teaspoon Salt, 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar, 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon, 3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- Add the cold butter and work it into the dry ingredients using your fingers, a pastry cutter, or a fork. You want an uneven, crumbly mixture rather than a smooth dough.8 Tablespoons Butter
- Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
- Place the skillet on a baking sheet before putting it in the oven. As the apples cook, some of the sweet filling may bubble over the edge, and the baking sheet will catch any drips.
- Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until the apple filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.
- Remove the crisp from the oven and let it cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Your Own Private Notes
Notes
Tips for the Best Apple Crisp
Slice the apples evenly. Keeping the slices around ¼-inch thick helps them cook at approximately the same rate. Don’t pack the apples too tightly. Spread them evenly in the pan so the heat can circulate around the fruit. Use cold butter for the topping. Cold butter helps create those delicious crumbly pieces in the finished topping. Bake on a sheet pan. This simple step saves you from cleaning baked-on apple filling from the bottom of your oven. Let it rest. At least 20 minutes of cooling gives the filling time to thicken. For Individual Apple Crisps Grease eight 8-ounce baking dishes and divide the apple mixture evenly between them. Add the topping and place the dishes on a baking sheet. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.Nutrition
Ingredients for Skillet Apple Crisp
Apple Filling
Apples: You’ll need about 3 pounds of apples, or roughly 9 cups once peeled, cored, and sliced. I recommend slicing them about ¼-inch thick so they become tender without completely losing their texture.
Apple juice: A little apple juice adds moisture and extra apple flavor. Water works just as well if that’s what you have available.
Brown sugar: Either light or dark brown sugar works in this recipe. Dark brown sugar will give the filling a slightly deeper molasses flavor.
Butter: Melted butter adds richness to the apples.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger: This combination gives the filling that classic warm apple-pie flavor.
All-purpose flour: A little flour helps thicken the juices released by the apples as they bake. Tapioca flour can also be used.
Salt: Just a small amount helps balance the sweetness.
Crisp Topping
The topping is made with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and cold butter. Working the cold butter into the dry ingredients creates an uneven, crumbly mixture that bakes into a delicious golden topping.
Easy Ways to Change Up This Apple Crisp
This apple crisp is delicious as written, but there are a few simple ways to make it your own depending on what you have on hand or the flavors you enjoy.
Add a Little Lemon
If you’re using especially sweet apples, add 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to the apple filling. The bright acidity balances the brown sugar and brings out the natural apple flavor.
Make It Extra Cinnamon-y
If you love the flavor of cinnamon, add an additional ½ teaspoon to the apple filling or sprinkle a little extra cinnamon over the topping before baking.
Use Dark Brown Sugar
Light and dark brown sugar both work beautifully in this recipe. Dark brown sugar gives the apples and topping a deeper, richer caramel-like flavor.
Try a Touch of Vanilla
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the apple filling for another layer of flavor. It pairs especially well with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla ice cream served alongside the crisp.
Add Caramel
For an extra-indulgent dessert, drizzle caramel sauce over individual servings just before serving. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and let the caramel run down over the warm apple crisp.
Make It Gluten-Free
Use a cup-for-cup gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in place of the regular all-purpose flour in both the filling and topping. Be sure to choose a blend intended as a 1:1 baking substitute.
Add a Little Maple Flavor
Replace 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar in the apple filling with pure maple syrup. The maple flavor pairs especially well with apples and cinnamon.
Change the Topping
For a slightly different texture, add ½ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats to the topping mixture. The oats add a little extra chewiness and crunch while keeping the buttery brown sugar flavor of the original topping.
Make Individual Apple Crisps
This recipe is also perfect for individual desserts.
Grease eight 8-ounce baking dishes and divide the apple filling evenly among them. Add the crisp topping and place the dishes on a baking sheet.
Bake the individual crisps for approximately 45 to 55 minutes, or until the apples are bubbling and the topping is golden brown.
Individual apple crisps are wonderful for dinner parties, holidays, or family gatherings because everyone gets their own little dish of warm apples and crispy topping.
What Apples Are Best for Apple Crisp?
You can use a variety of apples for this dessert, and mixing two or three types can give you an especially nice balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Tart apples such as Granny Smith hold their shape well and provide a nice contrast to the sweet brown sugar filling. Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Pink Lady, and similar apples are also good choices.
If you’re picking apples from your own trees or have a variety that you aren’t sure about, don’t worry too much. Apple crisp is a wonderfully forgiving dessert.
Serving Suggestions
My favorite way to serve apple crisp is warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cold, creamy ice cream slowly melts over the warm apples and buttery topping.
You could also serve it with:
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
- A drizzle of maple syrup
- Vanilla yogurt
- A sprinkle of chopped pecans or walnuts
For an especially cozy dessert, serve individual portions while the crisp is still slightly warm.
Can You Make Apple Crisp Ahead of Time?
Yes. You can assemble the apple filling and topping earlier in the day and keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to bake.
For the best texture, I recommend keeping the topping separate from the apples until just before baking. This keeps the topping from absorbing moisture and helps it bake up crisp and golden.
How to Store Leftover Apple Crisp
Cover leftover apple crisp and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave, or you can warm the crisp in a 350°F oven until heated through. The oven is the better choice if you want to bring some of the crispness back to the topping.
A Simple Dessert Worth Making Again
Apple crisp is one of those desserts that doesn’t need to be complicated to be special. A few simple ingredients, fresh apples, and a little time in the oven turn into something warm, fragrant, and incredibly comforting.
Whether you make it in a skillet for the family or divide it into individual baking dishes for guests, this apple crisp is an easy dessert to keep in your recipe collection. Especially when apple season rolls around.
And don’t forget the vanilla ice cream. That little bit of cold, creamy sweetness melting over the warm apples and crisp topping is the perfect finishing touch.
A delicious and easy recipe for entertaining or serving the whole family a special dessert.