The Best Apple Crunch Recipe

If you’re craving a cozy dessert that’s bursting with cinnamon flavor and sweet baked apples, this apple crunch recipe is the perfect choice. With its crisp, buttery topping and soft, caramelized apple filling, this easy dessert feels like a warm hug in a dish. Whether you’re making an easy apple crunch recipe, an apple crunch cake mix recipe, or even an apple crunch pie recipe, this one will hit all the right notes.

Ingredients for the Best Apple Crunch Recipe

You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious apple crunch. Most of them are probably already in your kitchen!

For the Apple Filling:

6 medium apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp work great), peeled and sliced
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (optional, for thicker filling)

For the Crunchy Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup cold butter, cut into cubes
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon

How to Make Homemade Apple Crunch Step by Step

Step 1: Preheat Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

Step 2: Prepare the Apple Filling

In a large bowl, toss together the sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and flour (if using). Spread this mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.

Step 3: Make the Crunch Topping

In another bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add the cold butter and mix using your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 4: Bake

Sprinkle the crumbly topping evenly over the apple mixture. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.

Let it cool for a few minutes before serving it’s especially delicious warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce!

If you enjoy old-fashioned, preserved recipes like this, you’ll love our Cracklin Bread Recipe another Southern classic that’s full of flavor and tradition.

FAQs

Q1: Can I use canned apples for this recipe?
Yes! Canned or pie-filling apples can work if you’re short on time, but fresh apples give the best flavor and texture.

Q2: What’s the best apple to use for apple crunch?
Tart apples like Granny Smith or crisp ones like Honeycrisp balance the sweetness perfectly.

Q3: Can I make this apple crunch ahead of time?
Absolutely. Assemble it in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Bake just before serving.

Q4: How is apple crunch different from apple crisp?
They’re quite similar “apple crunch” typically has a thicker, crunchier topping with oats or cake mix for extra texture.