This warm crumbly Ina Garten Apple Crisp is made with tart apples, rolled oats, and butter and ready in one hour and twenty minutes. The spiced apple juices bubble up perfectly around the edges of the golden brown oat topping as it bakes. I always bake this when autumn arrives.

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Why This Classic Works

I used to struggle with mushy fruit desserts until I tried this specific method. Mixing two types of apples creates the ideal balance of sweetness and structure that holds up in the oven.

The real secret is chilling the butter well before cutting it into the dry ingredients. This ensures the topping stays incredibly crisp instead of melting into a flat layer over the fruit.

Ina Garten Apple Crisp Ingredients

5 pounds McIntosh or Macoun apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the Topping

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup oatmeal (rolled oats)
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

How To Make Ina Garten Apple Crisp

Prep the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9×14-inch baking dish.
Toss the apples: Combine the sliced apples, zests, juices, half cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
Transfer to dish: Pour the seasoned apple mixture directly into the prepared baking dish.
Mix dry topping: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and oatmeal.
Cut in butter: Add the diced cold butter to the dry mix and work it with your hands until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Bake the crisp: Scatter the topping evenly over the apples and bake for 1 hour until the top is golden and juices are bubbling.

Recipe Tips

Use cold butter: Warm butter will melt too fast and make the topping greasy rather than crumbly.
Mix apple varieties: Combining tart and sweet apples creates a better flavor depth and prevents the filling from becoming one-note.
Check the thickest slices: Make sure your apple slices are roughly the same size so they bake evenly.

What To Serve With Apple Crisp

Serve this warm dessert with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream. A drizzle of warm caramel sauce over the top also pairs beautifully with the spiced apples.

How To Store

Cover the cooled baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can also freeze the unbaked crisp for up to three months and bake it directly from frozen, adding an extra fifteen minutes to the baking time.

FAQs

Can I make this dessert ahead of time? Yes, you can assemble the entire dish, cover it, and keep it in the fridge overnight before baking.
Do I have to peel the apples? Peeling is highly recommended to avoid tough skins ruining the soft texture of the baked fruit.
Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats? Rolled oats are best for a crunchy texture, as quick oats can become mushy during the long bake.

Nutrition

Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Cholesterol: 50 mg
Sodium: 120 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 68 g
Protein: 4 g

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Ina Garten Apple Crisp

Recipe by Imen Dridi

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hour

Total time

hour

minutes

Warm crumbly Ina Garten Apple Crisp made with fresh apples, rolled oats, and cold butter ready in one hour and twenty minutes. Serving this comforting classic is an easy way to feed a crowd after a cozy weekend dinner.

Ingredients

5 pounds McIntosh or Macoun apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup oatmeal (rolled oats)
1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

Directions

1. Prep the oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and butter a 9×14-inch baking dish.
2. Toss the apples: Combine the sliced apples, zests, juices, half cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl.
3. Transfer to dish: Pour the seasoned apple mixture directly into the prepared baking dish.
4. Mix dry topping: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, salt, and oatmeal.
5. Cut in butter: Add the diced cold butter to the dry mix and work it with your hands until it resembles coarse crumbs.
6. Bake the crisp: Scatter the topping evenly over the apples and bake for 1 hour until the top is golden and juices are bubbling.

Ina Garten Apple Crisp Recipe

Why This Classic Works