Easy apple crisp recipe! One apple baked in a touch of sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla underneath a crisp, buttery topping. A wonderful single serving dessert that can be ready in minutes!
An small apple crisp is like an apple pie in a bowl with no crust to mess with. It truly tastes like the inside of an apple pie!
This single serving apple crisp is made with one apple and is topped with a buttery crumb topping. It's an easy dessert that can be ready in minutes.
Why This Recipe Works
- So easy to make!: This single serving crisp is easier to make than pie. Chopped apples are mixed with a little sugar, flour, vanilla, and cinnamon which help to create the sauce from the apples. There isn't a crust to make, instead, chopped apples are topped with a simple oat, flour, sugar, and butter topping which is scattered over the top. As the crisp bakes, the top browns and forms a buttery crust.
- Ready in minutes: You don't have to wait too long for the crisp to cool before you dig in. I think an apple crisp is best when it's warm from the oven. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream to your warm crisp and you'll be in dessert heaven!
- No fancy ingredients needed: This apple dessert is made with pantry staples.
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Apple: Use 1 medium or large apple. Use any variety you enjoy eating.
- Sugars: A small amount of granulated sugar is mixed with the chopped apples which helps to create a sauce from the apples as the crisp bakes. We also use brown sugar in the crisp topping which gives the topping a caramel-like taste. Although I prefer using brown sugar in the topping, you can use regular, granulated sugar in the topping instead. If you don't have brown sugar, you can easily make your own with our brown sugar recipe.
- All-purpose flour: This helps to thicken the filling so it's not too runny. A small amount of flour is also used in the topping.
- Ground cinnamon and vanilla: Adds wonderful flavor!
- Oats: For best results use old-fashioned oats.
- Butter: Softened butter is used to make the topping. Softened butter should still be cool to the touch but when you press your finger into the butter, your finger will leave an indentation.
See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.
How To Make An Apple Crisp For One
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Make the filling: Mix together the chopped apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla in a small bowl.
- Transfer the apples to a 10-ounce ramekin.
- Make the crisp topping: In a small bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut the softened butter into small pieces and add them to the bowl. Blend in the butter using a fork or your fingers and mix until well combined.
- Scatter the topping evenly over the apples. Place the ramekin on a small rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake in a 350°F (177°C) preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Use a ripe apple: Use any variety of apple you love.
- Make a gluten-free apple crisp: Use finely ground almond flour in place of the all-purpose flour or use gluten-free flour.
- Use a baking sheet: I recommend placing the baking dish you use on a rimmed baking sheet before baking to help catch any possible spills.
- Experiment with different kinds of fruit: This easy apple crisp recipe is a wonderful recipe to have in your recipe arsenal. You can use this basic recipe with just about any stone fruit; apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and even cherries.
- Cover, if necessary: If the crisp topping is starting to get too brown but the apples still need more time to cook, simply place some aluminum foil loosely over the top of the baking dish and continue baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Although I usually peel mine, it is not necessary to peel the apple when you make an apple crisp.
Use the type of apple you prefer or the kind have on hand. It is generally best to use a variety of apple that will hold its shape after baking and not turn too mushy. My personal preference is to use Honeycrisp, Gala, or Pink Lady apples.
I use a 10-ounce ramekin. For best results, use a baking dish of similar size. If you would like additional information on the baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
To see examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
Usually a crisp contains oats in the topping and a crumble does not.
An apple cobbler has a biscuit-like topping.
Mix together 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of softened butter in a small bowl and scatter over the top of the chopped apples. Feel free to add ⅛ of a teaspoon of cinnamon to the mix.
Yes! If you'd like to make an apple crisp with two apples, just double the ingredients in this recipe and use either a 4x6-inch baking dish, a 5x5-inch baking dish, or two 10-ounce ramekins.
More Single Serving and Small Batch Apple Recipes
- Apple Muffin For One
- Apple Cinnamon Scones
- Apple Granola
- Apple Galette
- Baked Apples
- Apple Butter
- Small Batch Fried Apples
- Mini Dutch Apple Pie
RELATED: Cooking For One – Simple Tips For Solo Cooking
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this mini apple crisp recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Apples: See the recipes above.
- Cinnamon: Snickerdoodles, Donut Holes, Rice Pudding, Apple Cider Donuts
- Oats: Overnight Oats, Pineapple Oat Cake, Oatmeal Cookies, Gingerbread Granola
If you’ve tried this single serving apple crisp or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Apple Crisp For One
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the filling
- 1 medium apple , peeled, cored and diced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the topping
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons old fashioned oats
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons salted butter , softened
Instructions
Make the filling
- Heat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Mix together the chopped apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and vanilla in a small bowl.
- Transfer the apples to a 10-ounce ramekin.
Make the topping
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut the softened butter into small pieces and add them to the bowl. Blend in the butter using a fork or your fingers and mix until well combined.
- Scatter the topping evenly over the apples. Place the ramekin on a small rimmed baking sheet.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until apples are soft and the topping is golden.
Notes
- Use a ripe apple: Use any variety of apples you love.
- Make a gluten-free apple crisp: Use finely ground almond flour in place of the all-purpose flour or use gluten-free flour.
- Use a baking sheet: I recommend placing the baking dish you use on a rimmed baking sheet before baking to help catch any possible spills.
- Experiment with different kinds of fruit: This easy apple crisp recipe is a wonderful recipe to have in your recipe arsenal. You can use this basic recipe with just about any stone fruit; apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and even cherries.
- Cover, if necessary: If the crisp topping is starting to get too brown but the apples still need more time to cook, simply place some aluminum foil loosely over the top of the baking dish and continue baking.
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Eileen Tarpy says
Sounds real easy and will try
Nickie says
What can I substitute in place of the oats?
Joanie Zisk says
You can make an oat-free topping by mixing together 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of softened butter in a small bowl and scattering it over the top of the chopped apples. Feel free to add ⅛ of a teaspoon of cinnamon to the mix.
carol rosaly carter says
I used the recipe in my 2.qt air Fryer. Covered ramekin with foil and baked at 350 for ten minutes. Checked it and kept going for another 10 minutes. I then uncovered and watched the top brown. It was yummy.
Becky says
Love this recipe. Tried it today but made it in a square glass baking dish and made the recipe 4x bigger. It turned out perfect. My family loved it too.
J. Hegyi says
Great recipe.
Gary says
I wanted something sweet but not overly sweet. This was perfect. Just enough for me. I did not feel stuffed either. Great recipe.