How to make the best apple crisp - This simple and easy recipe with fresh apples, oats, graham crackers, and brown sugar makes a healthy crumble topping that is baked in the oven. Homemade recipe adapted from Pampered Chef's Easy Apple Crisp.
2-year-old Grace loves to cook. You already knew that, right?
The three of us stopped at Wegman's on the way home from day care yesterday, and Grace was in the mood for apples. We picked up one each of six different varieties of apples, plus a few extra miniature apples that I thought would be a perfect snack for little hands.
I was right.
I had been inspired by my good friend whose blog featured a basket of apples craft yesterday. I thought we could bake an apple crisp and then do the craft.
We started out with an old faithful recipe that I made when I did Pampered Chef kitchen shows. I wanted Grace to be able to reach everything, so we prepared the food on the floor and on her stool.
Easy Apple Crisp
- First, peel, core, and slice the apples. We chose six different varieties of apples because I like how the flavors blend when the apples are cooked. You could also use six of the same apple, though I don't think it would be as nice.
- As you peel, core, and slice the apples, arrange them in a large baking dish.
- I have a fancy peeler/corer/slicer contraption, and Grace was able to do it herself. She was so excited that I can't describe it. She turned the crank, cut the apples, and laughed the whole time.
- Just as a side note, it bugs me to throw the peels and cores away. I hate wasting food, but nobody wants big pieces of apple peel in their apple crisp. Instead, we collected the peels and cores and fed them to Joe and Gracie's worm colony. As she peeled each apple, she said, This wormie food. or This yummy apples. and put it in the appropriate container.
- After the apples are all peeled, cored, sliced, and placed in the baking dish, you can start working on the crust. First, put the graham crackers into a large mixing bowl and crush them. We started with a spoon, but it didn't work very well.
- We quickly moved on to our Food Chopper, which made the work quicker, easier, and definitely more fun.
- Next, mix in the rest of the dry ingredients. Grace wasn't able to do much of the measuring, but she dumped all of the measuring cups and measuring spoons into her bowl, and she continued stirring to blend it together.
- Add melted butter to the crumb mixture, and combine well. This is only one of two steps that I would not allow Grace to help with.
- Make sure that the apples are arranged evenly in the baking dish. Try to avoid a mound in the center of the dish. (Do as I say, not as I do!)
- Spread the topping overtop of the apples.
- The second thing I wouldn't allow Grace to help with was the cooking. The original recipe said to microwave the Apple Crisp for 12 to 15 minutes. I like the top of my apple crisp to get, well, crispy, so I put it into the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes after microwaving it. The only problem is that the apples get really mushy this way.
- If you like your apples more firm, you may want to cut the microwave time down (or even cut it out all together).
- If you don't mind the crust being soft, you wouldn't have to put it in the oven at all.
- Serve with ice cream.
Recipe
Easy Apple Crisp
How to make the best apple crisp - This simple and easy recipe with fresh apples, oats, graham crackers, and brown sugar makes a healthy crumble topping that is baked in the oven. Homemade recipe adapted from Pampered Chef's Easy Apple Crisp.
Ingredients
- 6 large apples
- 8 graham crackers finely chopped
- ¾ cups brown sugar packed
- ½ cups flour
- ½ cups old fashioned oats
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
- ½ cups butter melted
- vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400º.
- First, peel, core, and slice the apples. We chose six different varieties of apples because I like how the flavors blend when the apples are cooked. You could also use six of the same apple, though I don’t think it would be as nice. As you peel, core, and slice the apples, arrange them in a large baking dish, taking care that they are in an even layer.
- Mix the graham crackers, brown sugar, flour, oats, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl.
- Add melted butter to the crumb mixture, and combine well. Spread the topping overtop of the apples.
- Microwave the apple crisp for 12 minute, then transfer to the preheated oven for 15 minutes more.
Notes
Microwaving then baking the apple crisp results in soft apples and a crispy crust. If you prefer your apples to be more firm, skip the microwave. If you don't mind that the crust is soft, then leave off the oven.
Nutrition
Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 269mg | Potassium: 344mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 593IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg
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Liz@HoosierHomemade says
I have the same apple peeler, I love it. I also save the peels, and sometimes put them in a pan with some water and spices just to put some aroma in the house.
Grace did an awesome job! My 15 DS helped me when he was that age, and now, he is an awesome cook. He cooks for his girlfriend all the time.
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
.-= Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..Aldi's Money Saving Meal – Mostacolli =-.
Tiffany says
We have a peck of apples, so I am for sure coming back to this!!
Liz@HoosierHomemade says
I have the same apple peeler, I love it. I also save the peels, and sometimes put them in a pan with some water and spices just to put some aroma in the house.
Grace did an awesome job! My 15 DS helped me when he was that age, and now, he is an awesome cook. He cooks for his girlfriend all the time.
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
.-= Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..Aldi's Money Saving Meal – Mostacolli =-.
Tiffany says
We have a peck of apples, so I am for sure coming back to this!!
Live.Love.Eat says
That is so adorable that you prepped the food on the floor so Grace could help. I want so bad for my 6yo son to take more of an interest in helping me in the kitch. One of these days.....
Your crisp looks wonderful, something I wouldn't mind having for breakfast like right now!
.-= Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Whole Chicken in a Crockpot & Asian Inspired Asparagus =-.
Live.Love.Eat says
That is so adorable that you prepped the food on the floor so Grace could help. I want so bad for my 6yo son to take more of an interest in helping me in the kitch. One of these days.....
Your crisp looks wonderful, something I wouldn't mind having for breakfast like right now!
.-= Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Whole Chicken in a Crockpot & Asian Inspired Asparagus =-.
Robyns Online World says
I remember when I was little that when my mom would make cookies we always put everything out on the floor in the kitchen so my brother and I could reach everything and do most of the work.
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..Rollup Laptop - I need this! =-.
Robyn's Online World says
I remember when I was little that when my mom would make cookies we always put everything out on the floor in the kitchen so my brother and I could reach everything and do most of the work.
.-= Robyns Online World´s last blog ..Rollup Laptop - I need this! =-.
chrissy says
Thanks for the memories this brought back. I helped my mom make this many a time. In her later years we cheated and after cutting the apples and putting them in a 9x13 pan we would put a white or yellow cake mix(right out of the box)on the top. Slice pads of butter on the top. Cook until apples tender. Delicious!!! Thanks again. Gracie is adorable.
chrissy says
Thanks for the memories this brought back. I helped my mom make this many a time. In her later years we cheated and after cutting the apples and putting them in a 9x13 pan we would put a white or yellow cake mix(right out of the box)on the top. Slice pads of butter on the top. Cook until apples tender. Delicious!!! Thanks again. Gracie is adorable.
Tara says
Liz - That's a great idea! I might be able to sneak one apple peel out, but they got pretty quickly into the wormies. Joe and Grace both get so excited about those worms! 🙂
I am so impressed that your mothers put food on the floor for you! I thought it was kinda strange to do it on the floor, but with the knife and the slicer and everything, I was afraid to perch her up on the counter.
Tara says
Liz - That's a great idea! I might be able to sneak one apple peel out, but they got pretty quickly into the wormies. Joe and Grace both get so excited about those worms! 🙂
I am so impressed that your mothers put food on the floor for you! I thought it was kinda strange to do it on the floor, but with the knife and the slicer and everything, I was afraid to perch her up on the counter.
Sheila says
Look at that cute Grace learning to cook! She's a doll, and that recipe sounds very good! Loved seeing you two enjoying yourselves and cooking together.
Happy Foodie Friday!
XO,
Sheila 🙂
.-= Sheila´s last blog ..Play With Your Food (Act II ) or In the Pink... =-.
Sheila says
Look at that cute Grace learning to cook! She's a doll, and that recipe sounds very good! Loved seeing you two enjoying yourselves and cooking together.
Happy Foodie Friday!
XO,
Sheila 🙂
.-= Sheila´s last blog ..Play With Your Food (Act II ) or In the Pink... =-.
Erica says
That looks like so much fun 🙂 Your daughter is so cute! Happy Friday!
.-= Erica´s last blog ..Friday Feast: Crepes with Pecan Banana Topping! =-.
Mary says
What a sweet child! She is just beautiful. It must be nice to have a helper in the kitchen. I'll bet it only took you three times as long as normal to make the crisp :-).
.-= Mary´s last blog ..Braised Vietnamese Fish - Ca Kho To - Foodie Friday =-.
Mary says
What a sweet child! She is just beautiful. It must be nice to have a helper in the kitchen. I'll bet it only took you three times as long as normal to make the crisp :-).
.-= Mary´s last blog ..Braised Vietnamese Fish - Ca Kho To - Foodie Friday =-.
Erica says
That looks like so much fun 🙂 Your daughter is so cute! Happy Friday!
.-= Erica´s last blog ..Friday Feast: Crepes with Pecan Banana Topping! =-.
Jean says
Apple Crisp is one of my favorite fall foods. I love the apple peeler, core, slicer too. Gracie was so cute and I can just hear her squeal with enjoyment while helping you. I hope everyone enjoyed that delicious dessert. I used to live by Wegman's and loved it!
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Thursday Tablescapes and Foodie Friday-Chicken Enchiladas =-.
Jean says
Apple Crisp is one of my favorite fall foods. I love the apple peeler, core, slicer too. Gracie was so cute and I can just hear her squeal with enjoyment while helping you. I hope everyone enjoyed that delicious dessert. I used to live by Wegman's and loved it!
.-= Jean´s last blog ..Thursday Tablescapes and Foodie Friday-Chicken Enchiladas =-.
Tara says
Mary - I imagine that you're right. Three times as long is a good estimate. 🙂 I don't mind the time, though. She'll remember these fun times forever, and the extra time is only an inconvenience for a bit.
Tara says
Mary - I imagine that you're right. Three times as long is a good estimate. 🙂 I don't mind the time, though. She'll remember these fun times forever, and the extra time is only an inconvenience for a bit.
Shan @ the fairy blogmother says
I have a ton of apples to use here, so apple crisp will be on my list. Thanks for the recipe! Great WCW post.
.-= Shan @ the fairy blogmother´s last blog ..you capture - red =-.
Shan @ the fairy blogmother says
I have a ton of apples to use here, so apple crisp will be on my list. Thanks for the recipe! Great WCW post.
.-= Shan @ the fairy blogmother´s last blog ..you capture - red =-.
Florence says
Beautiful pics of you and your daughter, and great recipe, just what I was looking for. Thanks!
Florence says
Beautiful pics of you and your daughter, and great recipe, just what I was looking for. Thanks!