“Warm brown butter apple crisp served in a white bowl topped with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream. The golden oat topping glistens over tender baked apples, with a spoon resting beside and soft autumn leaves in the blurred background, creating a cozy fall dessert scene.

Brown Butter Apple Crisp

ByCassidy

This Brown Butter Apple Crisp is the perfect dessert when the leaves are starting to turn and the air is starting to feel a little cooler. This recipe takes the classic fall dessert and gives it a warm, nutty upgrade. The browned butter adds an irresistible toffee-like flavor that melts into the tender baked apples. Top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, and you’ll get the coziest dessert of the season that everyone will love. 

“Warm brown butter apple crisp served in a white bowl topped with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream. The golden oat topping glistens over tender baked apples, with a spoon resting beside and soft autumn leaves in the blurred background, creating a cozy fall dessert scene.

This apple crisp begins by browning our butter, by melting it in a saucepan until it turns golden brown and nutty, which will infuse the whole dessert with deep caramel flavor. Fresh apples are tossed in cinnamon sugar and a hint of lemon to balance the sweetness, then topped with a delicious crumbly brown sugar oat topping. It bakes up bubbly and golden, the perfect mix of soft, spiced apples and crisp, buttery streusel in every bite. 

Helpful Tips & Variations

  • Use a mix of apples for the best flavor, sweet and tart varieties balance beautifully.
  • Watch your butter closely, it should smell nutty and have brown bits on the bottom, not burn.
  • For extra crunch, add chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping.
  • Salted Caramel Apple Crisp: Drizzle caramel sauce over the apples before adding the topping.
  • Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free oats and a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
  • Brown Butter Pear Crisp: Swap apples for ripe pears for a fun twist.

Recipe: Brown Butter Apple Crisp

Brown Butter Apple Crisp
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Brown Butter Apple Crisp

Recipe by CassidyCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

15

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Calories

320

kcal

A cozy fall apple crisp made extra rich with nutty brown butter and a golden, cinnamon-oat topping.

Ingredients

  • For the Filling

  • 6 medium apples, peeled and sliced (use a mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)

  • ¼ cup brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • For the Brown Butter Topping

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

  • ¾ cup old-fashioned oats

  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  • Pinch of salt

Directions

  • Brown the Butter: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and cook until golden and nutty, swirling occasionally. This takes about 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
  • Prepare the Apples: In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla until evenly coated. Spread into a greased 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish.
  • Make the Crisp Topping: In a separate bowl, stir together oats, flour, sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Pour in the brown butter and mix until crumbly.
  • Assemble & Bake: Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35–40 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly around the edges.
  • Serve: Let cool slightly before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for the ultimate fall dessert.

Notes

  • Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty depth you won’t get from regular melted butter, it’s worth the extra few minutes.
  • Let the crisp cool for at least 15 minutes before serving so the filling thickens slightly.
  • The topping can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen until ready to use.

Storage & Freezer Tips

  • Store covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • Reheat individual servings in the microwave or re-crisp in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes.
  • To freeze, cool completely, then wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat directly from frozen at 350°F until warm and bubbly, about 25–30 minutes.

More Fall Baking Recipes

I hope you and your loved ones enjoy this Brown Butter Apple Crisp as much as I do! If you make them tag @cassandcrumb on Instagram, I’d love to see them. Happy Baking! 

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