Old Fashioned Crunchy Apple Bake

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.

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.

• 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.

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5. Toss to combine.

6. Add raisins.

7. Dump apples and raisins into your prepared pan.

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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.

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11. Add pecans and combine.

12. Pour topping mixture over top of the apples.

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

14. Bake for about 30 minutes.

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Apples should be tender and topping lightly browned.

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

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.

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.

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.

More Apple Dessert Recipes

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