7 Ways to Completely Screw Up an Apple Crisp (2024)

Somehow, most of the over-abundance of apples each fall finds its way in a shallow baking dish with a crispy crumb topping. When it comes to apple crisp, some prefer the nuts and oats while others prefer their traditional crumb topping. But even for the most apple-crazed baker, the seemingly simple apple crisp can stump.

Senior food editor Dawn Perry dishes on the top tips for avoiding mushy, too-crunchy crisp and shares the secrets for this cozy fall favorite. And whatever you do, don’t forget the ice cream.

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">1. Any Type of Apple Will Work</del>

It's always best to use a mix of apples: our test kitchen recommends using a mix of tart and sweet apples. Some blends we recommend: Pink Lady with Granny Smith; Braeburn with Golden Delicious.

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">2. Skin Doesn’t Make a Difference</del>

Apples should always be peeled and cored. Don't skip this step: Leaving the skins on the apples only messes with your crisp’s consistency and texture.

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">3. It’s Done When It’s Golden Brown</del>

Using a paring knife, test the tenderness of your apples. If you meet resistance with the apples but your topping is still brown, cover the crisp with foil so the apples will bake without your topping burning.

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">4. The Filling Doesn’t Need a Thickener</del>

Your topping is crumbly—you don't want your filling to be crumbly, too. Adding cornstarch and flour to the apple mixture will help bring your crisp’s filling together.

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">5. You Can’t Add Too Much Sugar</del>

You want to make sure you have a nice balance of the sweet and tart in your dessert. Taste your apples for sweetness before adding sugar to your filling. Nobody likes a sickeningly sweet crisp!

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">6. Who Cares About the Topping?</del>

Some people prefer a streusel-style topping, and others like a crumbly topping. It's up to you! Seeds and nuts add an awesome unexpected crunch, too. Just make sure you add enough melted butter to coat everything: it brings it all together.

<del datetime="2013-10-04T19:40:45+00:00">7. You Can’t Reheat a Crisp</del>

Your day-old mush will turn back into the warm and crunchy crisp once more if you reheat in the oven at 350°. And for the love of autumn, please do not forget the ice cream. Or the whipped cream. Or the mascarpone…

Get the recipe: Caramel-Apple Crisp

7 Ways to Completely Screw Up an Apple Crisp (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken apple crisp filling? ›

How can I thicken apple crisp filling? One common method is adding a bit of cornstarch or flour to your apple mixture before baking.

How do you make apple crisp not watery? ›

You can add cornstarch or flour. I do this when making an apple pie and the filling is not watery. Add a thickener, I like Arrowroot powder or tapioca powder before cooking.

Why did my apple crisp turn to mush? ›

Picking the wrong apples

Softer apples like Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh break down too much in the heat of the oven, basically turning into applesauce. So avoid those, and opt for a variety that's firm and crisp like Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp.

Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

Add a little extra fresh lemon juice to help prevent the apples from turning super brown. Prepare the entire apple crisp, cover well, and refrigerate the night before baking. Don't wait any longer than overnight before baking, to prevent the apples from browning too much or drying out/spoiling.

Why did my apple crisp come out watery? ›

The best way to prevent a watery apple crisp is to use a thickener in the filling – some recipes use flour, but I've chosen to use cornstarch in this recipe (or arrowroot starch, which can be substituted 1:1 for cornstarch) because I think it provides superior thickening power.

How do you thicken apple filling? ›

When thickening a fruit pie filling, there are several options to consider. Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

How do you keep apples from getting mushy in apple crisp? ›

Don't cut or slice them into very small/fine pieces. Keep them a bit bigger in size, so while baking they get little mushy and remain firm. It is not you, it is the variety of apple. Use Granny Smith Apples, (the green ones).

How do you fix a runny crisp? ›

Add The Right Thickener

Cooking off the liquid is a great first step, but to achieve a cohesive filling, adding a thickener is key. Sprinkling in some flour is standard in most recipes, but we found that it leaves a starchy taste. Instead, reach for cornstarch or tapioca.

Why is my apple crisp always dry? ›

Not enough butter, and your topping will be a dry, floury mess. Too much butter and your topping will become a greasy blob or disappointingly soggy. Some recipes will ask you to cut in cold butter along with your dry ingredients, resulting in pea-size pieces that are sprinkled across the hot fruit filling.

How to tell when apple crisp is done? ›

Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes.

How do you keep the bottom crust of apple pie crisp? ›

Blind Bake the Crust

One of the fool-proof ways to ensure a crisp bottom pie crust is to do what is called blind baking. This simply means that you bake the crust—either fully if you are adding a custard or cream that won't be cooked, or partially if the whole pie needs to bake—before adding the filling.

How to make apple crisp not watery? ›

Not adding a thickener

Fruit is naturally watery, and when it bakes, that liquid cooks out and mixes with your sugar and spices to create a delicious sauce. However, you don't want your apple crisp weeping everywhere. Just toss in a little cornstarch or tapioca starch with your fruit before baking.

Can I substitute vinegar for lemon juice in apple crisp? ›

Vinegar. Vinegar is an excellent substitute for lemon juice in cooking or baking when only a small amount is needed. Much like lemon juice, it's tart and acidic. In these recipes, it can be used as a one-to-one replacement (6).

What kind of apples are best for apple crisp? ›

When it comes to finding the best apple for your crisp, go with a crisp, tart variety that stands up well to baking, like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp. Or, go for it – try mixing the two together if you've got both on hand. Golden Delicious is another great choice for crisp hausarbeit schreiben lassen kosten.

How do you fix runny apple pie filling? ›

The best way to thicken runny apple pie filling before baking it is to add some cornstarch, tapioca starch, or flour to your mix.

What can I use instead of cornstarch to thicken apple pie filling? ›

All-purpose flour is an easy substitute for cornstarch; in fact you may see recipes for thickening pie fillings or soups with either. You'll need 2 tablespoons of flour for every 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a recipe.

How can I thicken my tart filling? ›

To summarize: We recommend using Instant ClearJel or Pie Filling Enhancer, but cornstarch, flour, and quick-cooking tapioca will also work well if you don't have other options available.

How to thicken apple crumble sauce? ›

Adding a few spoons of flour or cornstarch is the traditional way to quickly thicken a sauce, although you need to whisk the ingredients into the sauce, or it turns out lumpy - this method doesn't work if you're gluten-free, though! Tapioca and arrowroot work in a similar way, offering a gluten-free alternative.

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