Spiced Apple Crisp Dessert

Featured in: Soft Sweet Home Bakes

This soft crumb dessert features sliced apples tossed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, offering a warm and comforting flavor. A buttery topping made from flour, oats, and brown sugar creates a golden, crisp finish when baked. Perfectly balanced with sweet and spice, it suits cozy moments or simple sweet cravings. Variations include adding nuts or substituting pears. Serve warm, optionally with ice cream or whipped cream, for a delightful treat that brings homey flavor and texture.

Updated on Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:47:00 GMT
Steaming, golden-brown Soft Crumb Spiced Apple Crisp: a perfect taste of autumn on a plate. Pin it
Steaming, golden-brown Soft Crumb Spiced Apple Crisp: a perfect taste of autumn on a plate. | plumcrescent.com

A warm, homey dessert featuring tender spiced apples beneath a buttery soft crumb topping—perfect for cozy evenings or simple sweet cravings.

This recipe has become a favorite in my family, bringing back memories of autumn evenings and shared sweetness.

Ingredients

  • Apples: 6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced, 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • Filling: 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 tbsp light brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground cloves, 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • Soft Crumb Topping: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

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Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly butter a 9-inch baking dish.
Step 2:
In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice. Add sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and flour. Toss until evenly coated.
Step 3:
Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared dish.
Step 4:
In another bowl, combine flour, oats, butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Use your fingers or a pastry cutter to blend until soft, moist crumbs form.
Step 5:
Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the apples.
Step 6:
Bake for 40 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling and tender.
Step 7:
Cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
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Collect vegetable peels, food scraps, and trimmings while cooking to keep your kitchen clean and organized.
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Product image
Collect vegetable peels, food scraps, and trimmings while cooking to keep your kitchen clean and organized.
Check price on Amazon
A close-up shot of the juicy, bubbly apples beneath the inviting Soft Crumb Apple Crisp topping. Pin it
A close-up shot of the juicy, bubbly apples beneath the inviting Soft Crumb Apple Crisp topping. | plumcrescent.com

This dessert always brings my family together, often shared around the dinner table with laughter and cozy talks.

Notes

Pairs well with a glass of dessert wine or hot spiced tea.

Required Tools

9-inch baking dish, mixing bowls, peeler and corer, knife and cutting board, pastry cutter or fork

Allergen Information

Contains: Wheat (gluten), Dairy (butter). Oats may be cross-contaminated with gluten–use certified gluten-free oats if required. Double-check labels for allergens if using pre-packaged ingredients.

Warm, comforting serving of Soft Crumb Apple Crisp, ready to enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Pin it
Warm, comforting serving of Soft Crumb Apple Crisp, ready to enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. | plumcrescent.com
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This spiced apple crisp is a simple yet delightful treat to warm your home and heart quickly.

Recipe Questions & Answers

What type of apples work best for this dish?

Firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or sweet Honeycrisp apples hold their shape and balance the sweetness well.

Can I add nuts to the crumb topping?

Yes, chopped walnuts or pecans add extra texture and flavor when mixed into the crumb topping.

How can I make the topping more crunchy?

Use cold butter and avoid overmixing to create crumbly pieces that bake into a crisp, golden topping.

Is it possible to substitute pears for apples?

Pears are a great alternative and bring a slightly different sweetness and texture to the dish.

What are good serving suggestions for this dessert?

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or alongside spiced tea or dessert wine for a cozy experience.

Spiced Apple Crisp Dessert

Tender spiced apples under a buttery crumb, ideal for warm and comforting flavors.

Prep time
20 minutes
Time to cook
40 minutes
Overall time
60 minutes
Created by Avery Hayes

Recipe type Soft Sweet Home Bakes

Skill level Easy

Cuisine type American

Total made 6 Portions

Dietary details Vegetarian-friendly

Ingredient list

Apples

01 6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Filling

01 1/3 cup granulated sugar
02 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
03 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
04 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
05 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
06 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Soft Crumb Topping

01 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
03 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 1/2 cup light brown sugar
05 1/4 cup granulated sugar
06 1/4 teaspoon salt

How-to

Step 01

Prepare Oven and Baking Dish: Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch baking dish.

Step 02

Combine Apples and Filling Ingredients: In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with lemon juice. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and flour. Toss to evenly coat.

Step 03

Transfer Apple Mixture: Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.

Step 04

Prepare Crumb Topping: In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Blend using fingers or pastry cutter until soft, moist crumbs form.

Step 05

Assemble and Bake: Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over the apples. Bake for 40 minutes, until topping is golden and apples are tender and bubbling.

Step 06

Cool and Serve: Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Tools Needed

  • 9-inch baking dish
  • Mixing bowls
  • Peeler and corer
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Pastry cutter or fork

Allergy warnings

Review all ingredients for allergy risks and speak with your healthcare provider if you're concerned.
  • Contains wheat (gluten) and dairy (butter).
  • Oats may be cross-contaminated with gluten; use certified gluten-free oats if necessary.

Nutrition details (per portion)

These details are for reference and shouldn't replace healthcare advice.
  • Calorie count: 340
  • Fat content: 13 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 56 grams
  • Proteins: 3 grams