Description
A rustic, easy-to-make autumn dessert featuring tender Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples topped with a buttery oat and pecan streusel. This recipe skips the pie dough for a quick, comforting treat that smells like cinnamon and nostalgia.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples (mixed, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt (for apples)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup cold butter, cubed
- ½ cup chopped pecans (toasted)
- ½ teaspoon salt (for topping)
- Vanilla ice cream (for serving, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss sliced apples with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until evenly coated.
- In a smaller bowl, combine flour, rolled oats, chopped pecans, brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt.
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry topping ingredients. Use a pastry blender or fork to cut the butter in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.
- Spread the seasoned apples evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the streusel topping over the apples, aiming for an even layer but allowing some apple exposure for caramelization.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center of the apples slides in easily. If the topping browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
- Let the crisp cool for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow juices to thicken. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
For best texture, use a mix of sweet (Honeycrisp) and tart (Granny Smith) apples. Ensure butter is cold and cubed for a crumbly topping. Toast pecans in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before chopping for enhanced flavor. Leftovers taste better the next day as the oats absorb the juices. Can be made gluten-free by using GF flour and certified GF oats. Can be made dairy-free by using vegan butter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 32
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 4
Keywords: fall dessert, apple crisp, caramel apple, oat streusel, easy autumn recipe, gluten-free option, dairy-free option