Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Whether you have just returned from the apple orchard, or you are simply in the mood for warm spices, this skillet apple crisp is a recipe you are sure to enjoy!

Caramelized Apple Flavor - The first time I made apple crisp in a cast-iron skillet I knew I had just leveled up in the apple crisp-making game! This method caramelizes the apples, giving them a depth of flavor without changing the sweetness.

Great Texture - Soft and tender apple slices are the perfect base for this sweet dessert. The cast iron retains heat well, which helps the topping to get perfectly crispy, and golden brown, just like apple crisp should be.

Lots of Crisp Topping - My favorite part of apple crisp is the topping! So I add lots of it!

This easy apple crisp recipe is the perfect dessert during apple season in the fall, whether you are enjoying a family game night or watching a football game. For a buffet of fall desserts add these comforting recipes:

Toffeedoodle Cookies
Gooey Brownies
Granny Cake

See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full list of ingredients, including measurements.

Apples - I love a mix of sweet and tart apples. Substitute a few cups of

Oats - Old-fashioned oats work best for this recipe! While you could use quick oats your crisp will have a mushier texture. Avoid steel-cut oats, as they are too firm and do not work well for apple crisp.

Butter - Either salted or unsalted butter can be used. If it is unsalted then you will want to add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the topping. Be sure to use cold butter, as that helps the topping from getting soggy.

Brown Sugar - Dark or light brown sugar will work. Dark brown sugar will give your topping a little more of a molasses flavor.

What are the best apples for a crisp?

For the perfect apple crisp, use a combination of apples. This adds an amazing dimension to the flavor of your crisp!

A mix of Honeycrisp apples and Granny Smith apples are my preferred go-to. But pick any combination that suits you!

Some of the best apples for baking include:

Honeycrisp - Crisp, juicy, and sweet, the Honey Crisp is one of my favorites for baking!

Graevenstein - This apple has a tart flavor with firm flesh that holds up well when cooked.

Granny Smith - Tart and crisp. Best when paired with a sweeter apple.

Jazz - Mildly sweet with a little bit of a spice flavor.

Jonagold - A honey-like flavor makes these Autumn apples delicious!

Pink Lady - A balance of sweet and tart, all in one apple!

York - This is a mellow-flavored apple that holds its shape in baking.

How to Make Skillet Apple Crisp

1) Make the Crip Topping

• Add oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon into a medium bowl and mix together well.
• Cut butter into small pieces and press it into the flour mixture. This can be done with a pastry cutter, but I'll be honest, I just use my hands!
• Work the butter into the other ingredients until it is well incorporated and you have a whole bunch of coarse crumbs. 

2) Slice Apples

• I love to use my apple peeler, corer, slicer. It makes peeling, coring, and slicing apples so easy! If you do not have one then you can peel them by hand and then slice them about a quarter-inch thick.
• Tip: Place the apples in lemon-lime soda or a solution of one tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 cup of water if you want to keep them from turning brown as you work.

3) Caramelize Apple Filling

• One of the things that makes this apple crisp so simple is that it only uses one bowl and one pan!
• Melt your butter over medium-low heat. Then add the apples.
• Sprinkle all of the filling ingredients over the top of the apples. Then stir them around until they are pretty evenly coated.
• Cook the mixture for about 3 minutes. The apples will fully cook and get soft in the oven, but this little step adds a scrumptious flavor.

4) Top and Bake

• Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the apple mixture.
• Slide the skillet into a 350°F (177°C) oven and bake for about 30 minutes. The total bake time will depend on how thick you cut your apples. Bigger apple chunks take longer to cook.
• The crisp is ready when the top has started to brown, and the apples are soft. I pierce an apple with a table knife to test doneness. It should slide in with little resistance.
• Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• I love to serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

Expert Tips

• Choose a mix of apple varieties - combine sweet, tart, firm, and soft apples to get the best flavor and texture.
• Resist stirring the apples too much during the stovetop cooking time. The less you stir, the better they'll retain their shape.
• Use very cold butter when making the topping and don't overwork it. Pea-sized chunks of butter will give you crispy, delightful clusters.
• Let the crisp rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. This helps the filling set up and makes clean slicing much easier.

Variations

Add Nuts - Nuts can be a delicious addition to apple crisp. Stir 1 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans into the oat mixture before sprinkling over the apples.

No Flour - For a gluten-free crisp you can substitute almond flour or 1:1 gluten-free flour. Another no-flour option is to simply double the oats! And if you aren't concerned about gluten but want something other than flour, try adding crushed graham crackers instead!

No Oats - If you do not have oats on hand, or for some other reason you do not wish to use oats in your apple crumble, you can certainly make this recipe without them! Simply increase the flour to 1 ⅓ cups, and follow the rest of the recipe as normal.

Mixed Fruit Crisp - There are limitless variations when making a crisp! Some of my favorites include blueberry-apple crisp, pear crisp, and peach crisp. Try your 6 cups of your favorite fruit mixture in place of the apples!

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Recipe

This apple crisp was originally published on November 3, 2020. It was updated on September 2, 2022, with new photos and enhanced information in the post. Here is one of the original images!