Ingredients:
Apple Filling:
- 6-7 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix are great)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Crumble Topping:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
Easy Caramel Sauce:
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Make the apple filling:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Place them in a large bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg (if using). Sprinkle this mixture over the apples and add the lemon juice. Toss to combine.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Make the crumble topping:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Assemble the crisp:
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple mixture.
Bake:
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork.
Make the caramel sauce:
- While the crisp bakes, combine the brown sugar, heavy cream, and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the sauce is smooth (about 5 minutes).
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
Serve:
- Let the apple crisp cool slightly before serving. Drizzle generously with the warm caramel sauce and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Tips:
- Customization: Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble for extra crunch.
- Serving: This crisp is delightful warm, but leftovers are still tasty at room temperature.
- Storage: Store leftover crisp in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
