Apple Crisp

RECIPE BY: San

DATE: August 23, 2025

Total Time 1 hour

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This easy Apple Crisp will be the star of the meal. Spiced apples baked with a deliciously sweet topping combine for a perfect fall dessert.

I love a fruit crisp and this apple crisp is an all-time favorite. It’s easy to assemble, will make your house smell amazing, and there won’t be a single bite left after you serve it. It’s a must-make for apple season!

apple crisp with whipped cream and fork on black plate

Apple crisps are a favorite at our house; this show’s star is the crisp topping. It’s simply the best!

Homemade crisps are wonderful, and my recipe is seriously the easiest. The secret is in the topping. Instead of dragging out all the flour and other dry ingredients, I use cake mix to make it. Combined with the oats and butter, it makes the best topping.

I’ve been making my fruit crisps like this for years, ever since I learned the cake mix short-cut from a friend. It’s similar to the one I use for my peach cobbler recipe, but I made a simple apple crisp for this variation.

I’ve repeatedly played around with the topping before settling on this final result. This crisp topping is divine whether you use it on peaches, apples, cherries, or blueberries.

close-up shot of an apple crisp on  a plate with whipped cream.

How to Make It

Peel and core the apples and thinly slice them. Spread them in an even layer in a 9×13″ baking pan.

Top the apples with brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon and lightly toss so they are evenly coated.

photo collage showing the recipe steps.

Mix the melted butter, oats, cake mix, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt in a separate bowl. Top the apples with the crumble mixture.

Bake the crisp for 40 to 50 minutes at 350°F. When it’s done, the apples will be tender, and the topping will be golden brown and bubbly around the edges.

close-up shot of a serving of fruit crisp on a plate.

Recipe tips

  • If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and they will keep for a few days.
  • You can use this easy cake mix crisp topping with other kinds of fruit. It’s so good with fresh berries, cherries, and peaches during the summer. But, during the fall, we stick with apples!
  • Serve this apple crisp warm straight from the oven. It’s beautiful plain, but adding a topping takes it over the top.
  • Try a dollop of whipped cream dusted with cinnamon.
  • A scoop of ice cream is lovely – vanilla is excellent, but don’t be afraid to try a complementary flavor like butter pecan or caramel swirl.
  • Add a drizzle of a sauce like a salted caramel sauce, or my decadent peanut butter caramel sauce would be amazing.
overhead shot of the final apple crisp.

Combining apples and cinnamon with that sweet, crisp topping is a match made in heaven. You will love this easy apple crisp!

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collage image of apple crisp recipe

Apple Crisp

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 16
Calories: 386 kcal
This apple crisp is the ultimate taste of fall—easy to make, smells incredible, and disappears fast.
apple crisp plated with fork

Video

Ingredients
 

  • 8 apples we used honey crisp but any kind will work
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup butter melted
  • 2 cups yellow cake mix
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • pinch salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F
  • Peel and core the apples and then cut into thin slices. Place in an even layer to a 9"x13" baking pan.
  • Add 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/3 cup maple syrup, and 1/2 t. of cinnamon to the apples and toss to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the melted butter, oats, cake mix, 2/3 cup brown sugar, and a pinch of salt. Top the apples with the crumble mixture.
  • Bake for 40-50 minutes, the apples should be tender and the topping should be golden brown and bubbly around the edges.
  • Serve warm, optionally with ice cream or cool whip. Enjoy!

Calories: 386kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 323mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 4gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 404IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 1mg

apple crisp plated with fork
Tried this recipe?Let us know what you think!

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4.93 from 13 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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13 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank You A Dash of Sanity for this Apple Crisp recipe, made it this morning for a “Crocktoberfest luncheon” the guys at my husbands job do every October and it was a great hit. The recipe is easy to make and it’s so good. Will definitely make it again.