Warm Apple Crisp Oat Topping (Printable version)

Tender baked apples combined with a golden oat crumble, ideal for cozy warm servings.

# List of ingredients:

→ Fruit Filling

01 - 6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - Pinch of salt

→ Oat Topping

08 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
09 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
10 - 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
14 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, toss apple slices with lemon juice, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until evenly coated. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl. Add cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or fingers to blend until coarse crumbs form. Fold in nuts if using.
04 - Sprinkle oat topping evenly over apple mixture. Bake for 40 minutes until topping is golden and apples are bubbling.
05 - Allow to cool slightly before serving warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This crisp topping feels like a little secret indulgence with its buttery, crumbly texture that pairs perfectly with tender apples
  • The mix of cinnamon and nutmeg gives it such a comforting warmth that made it an instant favorite in my family
02 -
  • Make sure to keep the butter cold when mixing the topping — it makes all the difference in getting that perfect crumbly texture
  • I discovered that stirring in nuts last minute adds the best crunch without weighing down the topping
03 -
  • Use cold butter and handle the topping just enough to keep it crumbly, not greasy
  • The secret to bubbly, tender apples is the quick toss with lemon juice and flour — it thickens the juices so you get that luscious filling

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