If you're a fan of apple pie, then you'll love this skillet apple crisp. To me, the best part is the sweet, crispy buttery topping. Wait, maybe my favorite part is the sweet and tart apple filling with those wonderful spices. Well, seems I love this recipe inside and out and I hope you do, too.
Fresh sliced apples tossed with real maple syrup, no-sugar-added apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, and fresh thyme leaves topped with a sweet and crispy oatmeal, honey, and almond topping! Baked in a cast iron skillet for the ultimate comfort food experience.
Alternatives to honey are available to those who have dietary restrictions or allergies.
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Why You'll Love It
Breakfast, Snack, and Dessert - This lovely skillet apple crisp is a wonderful breakfast (goes great with coffee) as well as a delightful dessert (top with ice cream!). I love it as a mid-afternoon treat with milk!
Naturally Sweetened - One taste of this delicious dessert and you’ve won’t believe it is both gluten and refined sugar-free. Fresh thyme adds a delicate savory hint to the sweetness of this classic recipe.
Year-round Favorite - Apple crisp is popular any time of the year since apples are readily available year round.
Make Ahead and Freezer Friendly - Baked in a cast iron skillet for even baking, crisp outer edges, and beautiful presentation! This recipe can be made ahead of time, and it's freezer friendly. Give it try today!
Apple Varieties
Choose firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Pink Lady, for this recipe. These varieties will hold up well to the heat of baking without turning to mush.
Ingredients
Easy pantry ingredients make this skillet apple crisp a cinch to make!
Apple Filling
Apples - as stated above, Granny Smith or Pink Lady will give you the best flavor and texture!
Lemon juice - add this to prevent the apples from turning brown and to enhance the apple flavor.
Maple syrup - the syrup provides natural sweetness; plus, the flavor is fantastic.
Apple juice - go for the unsweet or the no-sugar-added apple juice (it still provides plently of sweetness to this crisp).
Spices - cinnamon and allspice add a warm, cozy flavor (and smells divine while baking!).
Seasonings - thyme leaves and salt add more delicate, savory flavor enhancements.
Sweet Oatmeal Topping
Old-fashioned rolled oats - avoid using instant or quick cooking oats.
Almond flour - use the super fine ground almond flour.
Sliced or slivered almonds - adds a fantastic crunch to the topping! Substitute pecans or walnuts if you already have them.
Honey - provides natural sweetness. Choose local honey, if available.
Unsalted butter - for the best flavor and browning, use the real thing!
Directions
For the best results, please follow the actual recipe card at the bottom of this post.
(1) Make the filling - Place apples in a large non-reactive bowl and toss with fresh lemon juice. Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, thyme leaves, and salt. Toss to combine and set aside.
(2) Make the topping - Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and stir until oats are thoroughly coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
(3) Pour apple filling into the skillet. Add the topping.
(4) Bake for about 30-45 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped topping. Yum!
How to Serve It
Serve warm with some vanilla bean iced cream or freshly whipped cream, if desired. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Some people like to put caramel sauce on their Apple Crisp. Sounds really good, doesn't it? I have not tried it but this naturally sweetend caramel sauce recipe seems easy and looks divine!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! For this Skillet Apple Crisp recipe, I peel the raw apples simply because the skin can get chewy and tough. Save yourself some time and use a Johnny Apple Peeler to peel, core, and slice an apple all at once!
Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids. Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.
Make the apple filling, place in an air-tight container, and refrigerate for up to one day. You can also make the topping the day before and put it in a separate air-tight container and refrigerate. When ready to bake, follow Steps 4 and 5 of the recipe card.
This freezes well. Allow the Apple Crisp to completely cool off. Then place into a freezer container or sealable plastic freezer bag (write the date on the bag so you can easily remember it). It will stay fresh for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge the day before you plan to eat if. You can reheat in the microwave, if desired.
Expert Tips
You can substitute all-purpose flour for the almond flour with a ratio of 1:1 however, this will change the recipe as far as the gluten is concerned.
No need to cover the skillet while this is baking (unless the topping starts to brown too quickly)! But you do need to cover it if storing leftovers in the refrigerator.
You can bake this in an 8" x 8" or 9" x 9" square pan but you will need to adjust the bake time.
More Fruit Filled Desserts
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Recipe
Easy Skillet Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 6 large apples, cored, peeled, and sliced Granny Smith or Pink Lady
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup real maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons 100% apple juice (sugar free)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 1-½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
TOPPING
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup sliced (slivered) almonds
- ⅓ cup honey, preferably local
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 or 10-inch cast iron skillet and set aside.
- Place apples in a large glass bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Add maple syrup, apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, thyme leaves, and salt. Toss with a spoon to combine and set aside.
- Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and stir until the oats are well coated and all ingredients are well combined. Set aside.
- Pour apple mixture into the skillet and spread evenly on the bottom. Spread the topping evenly across the top of the apple layer.
- Place into pre-heated oven on the center oven rack and bake for 30 minutes. If the top layer is nicely browned, cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Continue baking for another 15-20 minutes or until the apple crisp is nice and bubbling. Remove from oven and set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve warm with some vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream, or both if desired!
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2019 and was updated in 2022.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.
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