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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Old Fashioned Crunchy Apple Bake

    Published: Aug 24, 2022 · Modified: Sep 17, 2023 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 2 Comments

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    Baked Apple Slices with a Crunchy Oatmeal Topping is such a simple and comforting dessert. This recipe for Crunchy Apple Bake is incredibly delicious on its own or topped with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Maybe a drizzle of caramel too! Old fashioned cinnamon baked apples with raisins and pecans is the perfect cool weather treat.

    Crunchy Apple Bake on a small white dessert plate. Baked apple slices and raisins with a crunchy oatmeal and pecan streusel topping.

    Baked cinnamon apple slices and raisins with a crunchy oatmeal and pecan streusel topping. Doesn't that sound amazing?

    This homemade apple bake is packed with fresh, juicy apples that are sweetened just right, and baked until perfectly tender. And don’t even get me started on the crunchy topping! It’s crispy, golden brown, buttery perfection.

    I always seem to need a dessert in a hurry and this crunchy apple bake is one of my go-to recipes, especially during the cool weather months when apples are so plentiful. The basic version of this baked apples dessert has so many different names such as apple crisp to simply baked apples. I grew up calling it a crunchy apple bake. Whatever you want to call it, this baked apple dessert is absolutely delicious.

    Cinnamon baked apple slices with raisins and pecans is a classic fall treat. This old-fashioned recipe includes raisins in the apple mixture, and pecans give the oatmeal topping a nice crunch, adding contrast to the tender baked apples.

    If you are always on the hunt for more great apple dessert recipes, try these recipes for air fryer apple fritters, puff pastry apple tarts, old-fashioned apple turnovers, and smoked apple pie.

    If you grew up eating pork chops and apple sauce, make this baked apple crumble to serve after these easy pan fried pork chops or air fryer bacon wrapped pork tenderloin. What a nostalgic treat!

    Why You Will Love This Recipe

    • Much easier to make than apple pie.
    • Requires few ingredients and comes together quickly!
    • The crunchy oatmeal and pecan topping perfectly compliments the baked tender apples.
    • It is a classic dessert that compliments just about any meal.

    Ingredients for Crunchy Apple Bake

    Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients in this recipe for this crunchy apple bake. You probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already and the prep is minimal.

    Overhead photo of all the ingredients.
    • Apples: Use good baking apples. See variations below for suggestions.
    • Lemon: helps keep the apples from turning brown.
    • Brown Sugar: Add sweetness to the oatmeal streusel topping.
    • Cinnamon: This spice was made for apples!
    • Butter: I always prefer using an unsalted butter when baking to have more control over the sodium in the dish.
    • Flour: All-purpose flour is what I use for this recipe.
    • Quick Cooking Oats: Make sure you are using "quick cook" oats, because this recipe bakes up quickly.
    • Butter or Cooking Spray
    • Walnuts or Pecans: Use whichever you prefer for the crunchy topping.
    • Raisins: I personally love raisins, but you can omit this ingredient if you want.

    How To Make Crunchy Apple Bake

    Here are the step-by-step photos and instructions for making this recipe for baked apples with a crunchy oatmeal pecan topping. For the complete instructions, check the recipe card further down on the page.

    1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

    2. Prepare an 8x8 inch pan greased with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.

    3. In a large bowl toss together apples with the lemon juice to coat all of the slices.

    4. Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

    Apple, brown sugar and cinnamon inside a large glass bowl.
    Closeup photo of a wooden spoonful of apples and raisins coated with brow sugar and cinnamon.

    5. Toss to combine.

    6. Add raisins.

    7. Dump apples and raisins into your prepared pan.

    Apples and raisins placed inside the prepared baking dish.
    Flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon placed inside a large bowl.

    8. Wipe out your large bowl with paper towel.

    9. Combine flour, oats, remaining brown sugar and cinnamon.

    10. Using your fingers combine butter and flour mixture.

    Butter pieces added to the flour mixture inside the large glass bowl.
    Butter and flour mixture mixed well inside a glass bowl.

    11. Add pecans and combine.

    12. Pour topping mixture over top of the apples.

    Pecans added to the flour mixture inside the large glass bowl.
    Flour and pecan mixture placed on top of the apple and raisin mixture inside the baking dish.

    13. Press topping down with your hands or a spatula so it it reasonably flat.

    14. Bake for about 30 minutes.

    Overhead photo of the Crunchy apple bake inside a glass baking dish.

    Apples should be tender and topping lightly browned.

    Wooden spoon dipping into a crunchy apple bake.

    Serve the crunchy apple bake warm with ice cream, whipped cream and caramel sauce.

    A fork dipping in to a plated of baked apples with a crunchy topping.

    Substitutions

    Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this crunchy apple bake recipe.

    • If you don't have cinnamon in the pantry, use some pumpkin pie spice instead.
    • Light brown sugar can be substituted for the dark brown sugar.
    • You could use dried cranberries instead of the raisins.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this baked apples recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing it up.

    • Use a combination of apples. Some of the best baking apples are Granny Smith, Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Gala, Fuji, Jonagold, and Golden Delicious apples.
    • You could forgo the apples altogether and use a different fruit such as pears or peaches.
    • The pecans/walnuts can be omitted. The topping just won't be as crunchy.

    If you love recipes like this, you might also enjoy muffin tin apple pies.

    A forkful of baked apples and raisins with an oatmeal and pecan topping.

    Equipment

    All you need are a handful of basic kitchen tools to bake up these apples.

    • Fruit and vegetable peeler
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Wooden spoon
    • 8x8 or 9x9 inch baking dish

    Storage

    • Refrigerator: Keeping your crunchy topping crispy can be tricky, but if you follow these directions you should be OK. Allow the apple bake to cool completely, then cover it in a paper towel and wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap. Wrapped this way, you can leave it on the kitchen counter at room temperature for up to two days, or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
    • Freezer: Bring to room temperature and place in an airtight container. Cover with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months.
    • Reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator, unwrap, and bake on 350 degrees until it is warm and crisp again.
    Serving of apple crisp on a small white plate. A fork is held next to the plate. An apple and pecans are on the counter in the background.

    Tips

    • Be sure to slice your apples thinly so they become tender. About ¼ inch in thickness is what I aim for.
    • If the topping is starting to get too brown but the apples need a little more time to get tender, place aluminum foil loosely over the top and continue baking.
    • This baked apples dessert is best when served freshly baked and warm.
    • When preparing the crumble topping, you can use a pastry cutter to combine all of the ingredients except the nuts, then stir the nuts in at the end.

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about how to make this crunchy apple bake? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this dessert.

    Do I have to peel the apples to bake them?

    Some like the added color and texture of unpeeled apples. I prefer peeling the apples but it is not necessary, if you want to skip that step. Peeled apples have a softer texture once cooked down, and is a nice contrast to the crunchy topping.

    What should I serve on top of crunchy apple bake?

    Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and caramel are all terrific toppings.

    More Apple Dessert Recipes

    If you're specifically looking for apple desserts, take a look at caramel apple cupcakes and old fashioned apple cake.

    Old Fashioned Crunchy Apple Bake

    Karin and Ken
    Baked apple slices and raisins with a crunchy oatmeal and pecan streusel topping. This recipe for Crunchy Apple Bake is incredibly delicious.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 421 kcal

    Equipment

    • 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch cake pan
    • Fruit and vegetable peeler
    • wooden spoon
    • Large mixing bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 cups apples, peeled, sliced about 4 apples
    • ½ lemon, juice from
    • ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
    • 2 teaspoons cinnamon more or less to taste
    • ½ cup butter, cut into pieces 1 stick
    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • ¾ cup oats, quick cooking
    • butter or cooking spray
    • ¼ cup raisins more or less to taste
    • ¼ cup pecans, chopped more or less to taste
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
    • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
    • Prepare an 8x8 inch pan greased with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl toss together apples with the lemon juice to coat all of the slices.
    • Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Toss to combine.
    • Add raisins.
    • Dump apples and raisins into your prepared pan.
    • Wash or wipe out your large bowl with paper towel.
    • Combine flour, oats, remaining brown sugar and cinnamon.
    • Using your fingers combine butter and flour mixture.
    • Until crumbs.
    • Add pecans and combine.
    • Pour topping mixture over top of the apples. Press topping down with your hands or a spatula so it it reasonably flat.
    • Bake for about 30 minutes. Apples should be tender and topping lightly browned.
    • Serve warm with ice cream, whipped cream and caramel sauce. Enjoy!

    Notes

    Tips:
    • Be sure to slice your apples thinly so they become tender. About ¼ inch in thickness is what I aim for.
    • If the topping is starting to get too brown but the apples need a little more time to get tender, place aluminum foil loosely over the top and continue baking.
    • This apple dessert is best when served fresh baked and warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 421kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 133mgPotassium: 293mgFiber: 5gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 544IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword apple, apple bake, apple crisp, apple dessert, baked apples, pecan topping, streusel topping
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Brian Johnson says

      February 22, 2025 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      Why don't you have the recipe big enough to fit in a 9" x 13" pan?

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        February 22, 2025 at 6:08 pm

        You can easily double the recipe and put it in a 9x13 pan. It will still taste great! Enjoy your day. Karin

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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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