Apple cobbler is a classic fall dessert usually made with warm, soft fruit topped with a crisp, crumbly, baked streusel topping. Although folks occasionally confuse crisps and cobbler, there are important distinctions that need to be made between the two. The cobbler is like an upside-down pie; there is usually a thin pie dough or biscuit layer on the top of apples with no bottom crust, per Blue Flame Kitchen. An apple crumble is more of a crisp than a cobbler because the apple crumble contains a streusel topping made with oats, butter, sugar, and flour (via the Farmers Almanac). Therefore, for the purpose of this article, you can use these tips for either crisps or crumbles.
Both crisps and crumbles are excellent ways to use up a ton of apples at once or to use up apples with minor cosmetic damage. Plus, theres nothing more fall than a scoop of apple crisp topped with a hefty scoop of vanilla ice cream on a fall day. Here are some of our best tips for making excellent apple crisps and crumbles at home!
Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes. Serve the crisps warm with vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream, if desired.
Reheat your crisp in the oven
Cold apple crisp the morning after Thanksgiving is a good idea, but we believe baking your crisp in the oven is the best way to reheat this dessert. Apple crisp will usually last up to five days in an airtight container in the refrigerator, so youll want to remove the portion you plan to reheat rather than heating and cooling the dish repeatedly. Pantry & Larder recommends preheating the oven to 350 F and heating your apple crisp portion for 10 to 15 minutes. A foil covering on the apple crisp will keep it from drying out in the oven.
Alternatively, you can also reheat your apple crisp using your trusty air fryer. To use, make sure to line the basket of the air fryer with parchment paper to prevent dripping juices into the machine, then heat the cobbler for a mere three to four minutes at 350 F and remove promptly. The circulation of the air fryer can quickly burn the crisp, Pantry & Larder notes, so always keep an eye on the machine to monitor for burning.
Switch up your recipe by adding nuts
Adding nuts to your apple crisp is one of the most underrated ways to make your apple crisp more delicious. Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are some of the most popular nuts to add to a crisp because of the nuts oaky flavor and crunchy consistency after baking. Diamond Nuts recommend using raw walnuts for baking as walnuts burn easily because it has a high oil content. Diamond also recommends trying black walnuts for a more savory flavor. Pecans require minimal prep; you can grind the nuts into tiny pieces for a thin, brittle texture that nicely contrasts the butter in the streusel. If almonds are your jam, you can blanch the nuts quickly in water to remove the skin before pulsing the nuts and stirring the tiny pieces into your brittle.
If youre baking for a crowd, its always best to check with the people you plan to bake for to ensure no one has a tree-nut allergy before you stir in your favorite crunchy, nutty addition to your apple crisp.
Apple Crisp Recipe – How To Make Apple Crisp
FAQ
How do you know if apple crumble is cooked?
How do you know when crumble is done?
Why is the top of my apple crisp not cooking?
Should I assemble apple crisp before baking?
Preparing Ahead – I do not recommend assembling the crisp and letting it sit for hours or overnight before baking, as the apples will start to break down. Instead, go ahead and bake the apple crisp, allow it to cool, then cover and store as directed in the recipe below. Reheat in a 325-degree oven until warmed through.
How long do you cook apples for apple crisp?
Sprinkle mixture evenly on top of apples. Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until apples are tender and topping is golden brown about 45–55 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm from the oven topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired. Should I peel apples for apple crisp?
What is my apple crisp?
My crisp is a fun riff on classic apple crisp that’s just like grandma used to make, with a spicy twist. Warm and syrupy homemade apple crisp is the ultimate dessert to kickstart apple season (along with apple spice cake and apple fritters, of course). Once you’ve had a bite, you’ll want to make it all fall long.
Can you make apple crisp without oats?
Yes, absolutely. To make apple crisp without oats, use the topping from apple crumble pie, only slightly increased. Use 3/4 cup (150g) brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour, and 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled. Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour together.