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This single serving Apple Crisp recipe has all the comforting flavors of a classic dessert. Made with just one apple, it’s the ideal way to enjoy a warm, spiced treat in about 30 minutes. Each bite combines tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with a golden, crisp topping—perfect for satisfying a sweet craving without much effort.
Looking for more ways to use a single apple? Try our mini Apple Cake, lightly spiced Apple Cobbler, perfectly caramelized Fried Apples, or our simple, rustic Apple Galette.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Made with one apple and a few pantry staples, this apple crisp is as easy as it is delicious.
- Just the Right Amount: Perfectly portioned to serve one, so you can enjoy a dessert without leftovers.
- Works with Any Apple: Whether you have a tart Granny Smith or a sweet Honeycrisp, any apple variety will work beautifully.
- Warm and Comforting: With tender, spiced apples and a buttery, crumbly topping, it’s the ideal dessert to end any meal.
- No Special Equipment: All you need is a bowl and a baking dish—no mixers or fancy tools required.
Ingredients
- Apple: Choose one medium apple of your favorite variety. If you’ve got extra apples, use them to make a small batch of Morning Glory Muffins.
- Sugars: Granulated sugar is mixed with the apple, helping to create a natural, lightly sweetened sauce as it bakes. Brown sugar in the topping adds a hint of caramel-like richness. If you don’t have brown sugar, you can use granulated sugar as a substitute or make your own using our brown sugar recipe.
- All-purpose flour: We use flour to thicken the apple filling which prevents it from becoming too watery. It’s also a key component in the crisp topping.
- Ground cinnamon and vanilla: These ingredients infuse the apple crisp with delightful flavors.
- Rolled Oats: These contribute to the texture of the crisp topping. Quick oats are an alternative but will result in a softer texture. Use extra oats to make Baked Oatmeal or a small batch of Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.
- Butter: Use softened butter for the topping. The ideal consistency is cool to the touch but soft enough to leave an indentation when pressed.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serve apple crisp recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
Recipe Variations
If you’re loving this individual apple crisp, try switching it up with these easy variations:
- Pear Crisp: Swap the apple for a ripe pear for a different but delicious fruit crisp.
- Berry Crisp: Use a mix of blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a berry-filled version.
- Tropical Crisp: Replace the apple with chopped pineapple and mango for a tropical twist.
- Extra Spiced: Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the apples for a little extra warmth.
- Vegan Apple Crisp: Use coconut oil instead of butter and sweeten with maple syrup for a vegan-friendly option.
How To Make An Apple Crisp For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small apple crisp. 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.
Serving Suggestions
This apple crisp is wonderfully versatile and pairs beautifully with a few simple additions:
- A la Mode: Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The mix of warm, spiced apples and cold, creamy ice cream is hard to beat.
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of whipped cream adds a light, airy touch that balances the warm apple crisp perfectly.
- Caramel Drizzle: For extra sweetness, drizzle some caramel sauce over the top—it adds a rich, caramelized layer of flavor.
- Nut Topping: Sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top for a satisfying crunch.
- Yogurt Parfait: For a breakfast twist, layer your apple crisp with Greek yogurt in a glass—it’s a delicious way to start the day!
Expert Tips
- Pick a Ripe Apple: Use a ripe apple of your favorite variety for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Gluten-Free Swap: To make this gluten-free, simply substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prevent Messy Spills: Place your baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet before baking. This way, any spills are caught, making cleanup easier.
- Try Different Fruits: This recipe works well with other fruits, too! You can swap the apples for apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, or cherries.
- Avoid Over-Browning: If the topping starts to brown too quickly before the apples are fully cooked, cover the dish loosely with foil and keep baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 10-ounce ramekin is perfect for this single serve apple crisp.
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.
For an oat-free topping, mix together 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of softened butter. For extra flavor, you can add 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture over the chopped apples before baking.
Choose an apple variety that retains its shape during baking to avoid a mushy texture. Honeycrisp, Gala, and Pink Lady apples are my top picks for this recipe.
Peeling the apple is optional. While I usually peel my apple, leaving the skin on works just as well for this apple crisp recipe.
Absolutely! To make a larger crisp, simply double the ingredients. You can use either a 4×6-inch or a 5×5-inch baking dish, or divide the mixture between two 10-ounce ramekins.
Best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated.
More Single Serve and Small Batch Apple Recipes
Explore our selection of single serving and small batch apple recipes—perfect for satisfying an apple craving without any leftovers.
RELATED: Cooking For One – Simple Tips For Solo Cooking
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
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!
Easy Apple Crisp For One
Watch How To Make This
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
- Pick a Ripe Apple: Use a ripe apple of your favorite variety for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Gluten-Free Swap: To make this gluten-free, simply substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prevent Messy Spills: Place your baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet before baking. This way, any spills are caught, making cleanup easier.
- Try Different Fruits: This recipe works well with other fruits, too! You can swap the apples for apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, or cherries.
- Avoid Over-Browning: If the topping starts to brown too quickly before the apples are fully cooked, cover the dish loosely with foil and keep baking.
Nutrition
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.
Another winner from this site. Only thing I changed was adding a splash of lemon juice because my apple was a very sweet variety. Perfection!
Thank you! I’m so happy you enjoyed the crisp.
Easy and so delicious. 5 stars
Thank you!
Can u substitute corn starch for flour?
It should work, but I haven’t tested this recipe with cornstarch, so I’m unsure of the exact amount needed compared to flour.
Hi Joanie, unfortunately my husband passed away a few years ago & then you appeared. What a coincidence that I was going nuts trying to scale down my recipes, mostly unsuccessfully, and then YOU came along. I’ve made so many of your recipes, I rarely open my old cookbooks anymore, yours is all I need. Thank you for making my life more enjoyable. I cook meals again and enjoy eating again thanks to you. Bless you!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband, but I’m truly honored that my recipes have been able to bring a little bit of comfort and ease to your life. It means the world to me that you’ve found joy in cooking again, and I’m so grateful to be a part of that. Blessings to you, and thank you for sharing your story with me. Please know I’m always here if you ever have any questions or need more recipes.
Tried the Apple Crisp last night but my apple choice turned out to be to big. Left no room in the ramekin for the topping. A quick transfer to the 5″ dish solved the problem. Delicious.
I really enjoyed how easy and tasty this recipe was. A nice way to use up a tart apple!
It turned out perfect.
Very tasty! Will make again.