Print

Lightened Up Brown Butter Apple Crisp – Best Easy Oat Crumble

brown butter apple crisp - featured image
Print Recipe

A lightened-up version of classic apple crisp with nutty brown butter oat crumble topping. Warm, comforting, and full of flavor without being heavy—perfect for fall gatherings or a cozy weeknight dessert.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 2 pounds or 900g) – mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (30ml)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15ml)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5ml)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8g)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113g)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (90g)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
  • ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar (70g)
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (30g) – optional
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Position a rack in the center of the oven.
  2. Brown the butter: Place ½ cup butter in a small skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Melt completely, then continue cooking, swirling occasionally. After 4-5 minutes, when butter foams and turns golden with brown specks and a nutty aroma, remove from heat immediately. Pour into a heatproof bowl to stop cooking. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and slice apples into ¼-inch thick pieces. Place in a large mixing bowl.
  4. Season the apples: Add maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and cornstarch to the apples. Toss until evenly coated. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  5. Make the oat crumble: In a medium bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, chopped nuts (if using), cinnamon, and salt. Pour slightly cooled brown butter over dry ingredients. Mix with a fork or fingers until moistened and clumpy, like wet sand with larger clusters.
  6. Assemble the crisp: Transfer seasoned apples to an 8×8 baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle oat crumble evenly over the top. Do not press down.
  7. Bake: Place dish on a baking sheet. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until filling is bubbly around edges and topping is golden brown. If browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil for last 10 minutes.
  8. Cool and serve: Let crisp cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm, preferably with vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt.

Notes

Watch the brown butter carefully—it can go from perfect to burnt in about 20 seconds. Don’t skip the cornstarch; it thickens the apple juices. Let the crisp rest for 15 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set. For extra crispy topping, broil for the last 1-2 minutes. The crisp tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, brown butter, lightened up, healthy dessert, oat crumble, fall dessert, easy apple crisp

Find it online: https://gleamgulp.com/lightened-up-brown-butter-apple-crisp-best-easy-oat-crumble/