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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Crisp with Oat Crumble

Salted caramel apple crisp - featured image
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A warm, comforting dessert featuring soft spiced apples, a crunchy oat crumble, and a homemade salted caramel drizzle. Perfect for weeknights or special occasions, this easy recipe comes together in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces (for caramel)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (for caramel)
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (for caramel)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Make the salted caramel sauce: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, spread 1 cup granulated sugar in an even layer. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a whisk, until sugar melts into a smooth amber liquid (6-8 minutes). Remove from heat, immediately add 6 tablespoons butter pieces (mixture will bubble), and whisk until melted. Slowly pour in 1/2 cup heavy cream while whisking constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon cloves (if using), 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Toss to coat. Let sit 5 minutes.
  4. Make the oat crumble: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup rolled oats, 3/4 cup flour, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in 1/2 cup cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or two forks until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces. Fold in nuts if using.
  5. Assemble the crisp: Spread apple mixture evenly in prepared dish. Drizzle about half of the caramel sauce over apples. Sprinkle oat crumble evenly over top, pressing down gently.
  6. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 35-40 minutes until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly. If topping browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil for last 10 minutes.
  7. Let crisp rest on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes. Drizzle remaining caramel sauce over top just before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

For best texture, use cold butter in the crumble and let the crisp rest before serving. Caramel can burn quickly—watch it closely. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats. For dairy-free, use plant-based butter and coconut cream in the caramel. The crisp can be assembled (without caramel drizzle) up to 24 hours ahead and baked straight from the fridge, adding 5-10 minutes to baking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, salted caramel, oat crumble, fall dessert, easy apple dessert, comfort food

Find it online: https://cookdella.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-crisp-with-oat-crumble/