Quick Cinnamon Applesauce Crisp Recipe
An easy old-fashioned apple dessert. This crisp with oats uses pantry ingredients, has a soft applesauce filling, warm spices, and a buttery oat crumble topping.
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
For the crisp oat topping:
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold and diced
For the apple filling:
- 3 cups applesauce homemade or store-bought, see Notes below
- 1 cup apple slices or chunks about 1 large apple
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar optional, adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour use unless applesauce is very thick
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8x8-inch (20cm) baking dish or pan.
Make the topping:
- In a medium bowl, combine ¾ cup old-fashioned oats, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Add ½ cup unsalted butter, diced and cold, and mix with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. It should be a bit clumpy.
- Keep refrigerated or frozen while making the filling, so it crisps nicely during baking.
Mix the filling:
- In a large bowl, stir together 3 cups applesauce, 1 cup apple slices or chunks, 2 tablespoons brown sugar (if using), 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour. Pour into the prepared dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the applesauce.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crisp around the edges.
- Cool slightly before serving.
- Serve warm or at room temperature, with vanilla ice cream, cinnamon ice cream, or whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon or drizzle of caramel sauce.
Notes
Applesauce: I use unsweetened and add sugar, but sweetened also works. I don't like very sweet desserts, but the idea is that you adjust the sugar to your taste. If you make your own applesauce (it's very easy), using your favorite baking apple or a mix of apples, you can adjust the sweetness from the start.
Oatmeal topping: It can be made ahead and refrigerated for a week or frozen for a month. Break up large clumps before using it directly, chilled.
