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Grandma’s Apple Crisp

DonyabyDonya Mullins
This easy homemade apple crisp features tender baked apples, warm cinnamon spice, and a buttery crisp topping—an old-fashioned dessert inspired by a treasured family recipe.
4.97 from 29 reviews
48 Comments
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5 Star Reader Comment

This is my new apple crisp recipe! It is the best of all the recipes I have made.

Donna
Apple Crisp from Grandma's Apple Crisp recipe
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An Heirloom Family Recipe Worth Passing Down

Donya Mullins, creator of A Southern Soul food blog

This recipe brings back such great memories. It’s from my husband’s Grandmother, Elizabeth Johns. When Rob and I were first married, he asked me to make Grandmother Johns’s apple crisp for him. It was an honor to receive her handwritten recipe card, and even though I have the ingredients and instructions memorized, I get filled with joy when I see her lovely handwritten words on that little card.

XO,

Donya

Things To Know Before Making

  • Choose apples with structure. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Jonagold hold up well during baking. Mixing varieties gives the best flavor.
  • Slice evenly. Thin, consistent slices bake more evenly and absorb the spices beautifully.
  • Cold butter is key. It helps create the classic crisp texture on top.
  • Let it rest before serving. This allows the warm apple juices to settle and create that luscious sauce under the crisp.
  • Serve warm. This recipe tastes best right out of the oven or slightly cooled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipe card written by Grandma to make her classic apple crisp.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Apples – A mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp gives you the perfect blend of tart and sweet. Firm apples hold their shape beautifully during baking.
  • Granulated sugar – Sweetens the apples and helps build the rich sauce at the bottom of the pan.
  • All-purpose flour – Forms the crisp topping and helps thicken the apple juices as everything bakes.
  • Butter – Cut into cubes and mixed into the flour and sugar, creating that classic crumbly topping.
  • Water + Vanilla – A simple mixture poured over the apples for moisture and flavor.
  • Cinnamon & Nutmeg – Warm fall spices that bring depth and coziness to the dessert.
  • Kosher Salt – Just a pinch to balance the sweetness.

Variations & Substitutions

  • Brown sugar topping – Swap part or all of the white sugar for brown sugar for a deeper caramel flavor.
  • Add nuts – Chopped pecans or walnuts add a wonderful crunch to the topping.
  • Make it gluten-free – Substitute a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend.
  • Warm spice blend – Add a pinch of cardamom or allspice for extra fall flavor.
  • Berry blend – Mix apples with blueberries or cranberries for a fresh twist.
Step-by-step preparation of Grandma's Apple Crisp

How To Make Homemade Apple Crisp

  1. Peel and slice the apples, layering them in a buttered baking dish.
  2. Pour a simple mixture of vanilla and water over the apples, then sprinkle everything with cinnamon and nutmeg.
  3. Cover the apples generously with the crumb topping.
  4. Start by mixing the topping: sugar, flour, a pinch of salt, and cold butter worked into the dry ingredients until crumbly. Bake until the top turns golden and the apples become tender and bubbly around the edges.
Apple Crisp from Grandma's Apple Crisp recipe

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More Cozy Fall Desserts

Grandma’s Apple Crisp

4.97 from 29 reviews
Author: Donya Mullins
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 4 seervings
Calories: 312kcal
Print Pin Rate
This old-fashioned recipe for Grandma's Apple Crisp is loaded with tender apples and a buttery topping that is crispy and sweet. Serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream for a heavenly comfort food dessert.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup softened butter cut into cubes
  • pinch Kosher salt
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 6 Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8×8 baking dish. Set aside.
  • Add the sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt to a bowl. Add in the cubed butter, and mix it into the dry ingredients using the back of a fork. Set aside.
  • Layer the sliced apples in the baking dish. Mix the water and vanilla and pour over the apples. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the apples.
  • Using a large spoon or your hands, sprinkle the butter-flour topping evenly over the apples. Place in the oven and bake for approximately 50 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.
  • Remove from the oven, and let rest for 5 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 312kcal · Carbohydrates: 50g · Protein: 2g · Fat: 12g · Saturated Fat: 7g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3g · Trans Fat: 0.5g · Cholesterol: 31mg · Sodium: 93mg · Potassium: 28mg · Fiber: 1g · Sugar: 38g · Vitamin A: 357IU · Vitamin C: 0.1mg · Calcium: 12mg · Iron: 1mg
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Everything Folks Ask About This Apple Recipe

Do the apples need to be peeled?

Peeling is recommended for the softest texture, but you can leave the skins on for a more rustic feel—just wash them well first.

Can I use other fruit instead of apples?

Yes! Peaches, pears, blueberries, or even cherries work well. If the fruit is very juicy, reduce the water slightly.

Can I add oats to the topping?

Absolutely. If you prefer a traditional “crisp” with oats, swap part of the flour for rolled oats.

What’s The Difference Between Apple Crisp And Apple Crumble?

This recipe could easily be called a crumble. A crisp traditionally has an oat topping, whereas a crumble has more of a streusel topping. Chopped pecans, almonds, or walnuts are also sometimes used in the toppings.

How To Serve This Warm Apple Dessert

This is the fun part! Once the crisp has cooled a bit, a rich sauce will develop from the apple juices, butter, and sugar. It’s so good. Now, it’s time to make things extra special. Vanilla Ice Cream is everyone’s favorite topping in my house. To take it to another level, add caramel sauce and chopped nuts. Fresh whipped cream is also a great choice.

If you tried this Grandma’s Apple Crisp Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!

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Recipe Rating




48 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    So yummy 😋!! I took your suggestion and used two kinds of apples (granny smith and gala) – my husband said it was excellent. Because the crisp needed a bit more color, I put it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to create extra color and crisp.

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    Made the Grandma’s apple crisp. Easy recipe. Turned out great. Delicious. Husband liked it too. Will definitely make again as it is quick to make.

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    This is the best Apple Crisp recipe which I have used for years. All other recipes call for oatmeal in the topping which isn’t the same as the real crisp topping. Thank you!

    Reply
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