This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This single serving apple crisp delivers all the flavors of a classic dessert in just 30 minutes. Made with one apple, it features tender, cinnamon-spiced apples beneath a crisp, buttery topping. It’s a simple and satisfying way to enjoy a warm homemade treat.
Looking for more ways to use a single apple? Try our mini Apple Cake, lightly spiced Apple Cobbler, caramelized Fried Apples, or rustic Apple Galette.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Made with one apple and a few pantry staples for an easy, homemade dessert.
- Perfectly Portioned: Just the right size for one, so there’s no waste or leftovers.
- Versatile: Works with any apple, from tart Granny Smith to sweet Honeycrisp.
- Warm and Comforting: Soft, spiced apples with a crisp, buttery topping make every bite satisfying.
- No Special Equipment Needed: Just a bowl and a baking dish—no mixers or extra tools required.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serve apple crisp recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Apple: Use one medium apple of any variety you like. Extra apples? Try them in Morning Glory Muffins.
- Sugars: Granulated sugar sweetens the apples, creating a light sauce as they bake. Brown sugar in the topping adds a caramel-like depth. If needed, substitute granulated sugar or make your own with our brown sugar recipe.
- All-purpose flour: Helps thicken the apple filling and is essential for the crisp topping.
- Cinnamon and vanilla: Add warmth and flavor to the apple crisp.
- Rolled Oats: Give the topping its crisp texture. Quick oats work but create a softer topping. Leftover oats? Use them in Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies or Baked Oatmeal.
- Butter: Use softened butter for the topping—firm but soft enough to leave an indentation when pressed.
Recipe Variations
- Pear Crisp: Swap the apple for a ripe pear for a delicious twist.
- Berry Crisp: Use blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a fruity variation.
- Tropical Crisp: Replace the apple with chopped pineapple and mango for a tropical flavor.
- Vegan Apple Crisp: Use coconut oil instead of butter and sweeten with maple syrup.
How To Make An Apple Crisp
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.
Expert Tips
- Choose a Ripe Apple: A ripe apple gives the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Make It Gluten-Free: Swap all-purpose flour for almond flour or a gluten-free blend.
- Prevent Spills: Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips.
- Avoid Over-Browning: If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil while baking.
Ways To Serve
Pair your apple crisp with one of these delicious additions for an even more satisfying treat.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: A classic topping that complements the warm, spiced apples.
- Whipped Cream: Light and airy, perfect for a quick finishing touch.
- Caramel Sauce – Drizzle over the crisp for extra sweetness and depth
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
More Single Serve and Small Batch Apple Recipes
Explore our selection of single serving and small batch apple recipes:
- Baked Apples – Warm, spiced apples with a soft, tender texture.
- Mini Dutch Apple Pie – A classic apple pie in a perfectly portioned size.
- Applesauce – Easy homemade applesauce with just a few ingredients.
- Apple Pie Oatmeal – A hearty breakfast with the flavors of apple pie.
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
-
- Choose a Ripe Apple: A ripe apple gives the best flavor and natural sweetness.
-
- Make It Gluten-Free: Swap all-purpose flour for almond flour or a gluten-free blend.
-
- Prevent Spills: Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips.
-
- Avoid Over-Browning: If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil while 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.
I love this recipe but I have to watch my sugar now. Can maple syrup or honey be substituted for the brown sugar? How much would I use?
Yes, you can use maple syrup or honey in place of the brown sugar in the crisp topping. Start by using 1 tablespoon and if you’d like the topping to be sweeter or if the topping needs more moisture to hold it together, add a bit more.
How much coconut oil can be used in lieu of butter?
To substitute coconut oil for butter, you can generally use a 1:1 ratio. This means if the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of butter, you can replace it with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. However, since the original recipe uses softened, but not melted butter, you might want to slightly adjust the coconut oil amount. Softened butter is a bit lighter in texture compared to its solid form, so you may find that using a bit less coconut oil works better, perhaps around 1 and 3/4 tablespoons. This should give you a similar consistency in the topping without altering the texture too much. As with any substitution, a little experimentation may be needed to get the perfect result.
I made 2 apple crisps, one for me and one for hubby, and they were so tasty. I made no changes to the recipe ingredients, but to keep calories down, I made 1 batch of the topping, and spread it over the 2 ramekins, and it was enough to cover the 2 apples/ramekins in a nice, thin, tasty layer.
I only have 8 oz. ramekins, but they worked just as well with this recipe, with nothing spilling over the top.
I am so glad that I found this wonderful site! We are empty nesters now, so I no longer need to make desserts in large quantities. I’m also ‘watching my waistline’, so the idea of no leftovers is a major PLUS!
my go-to recipe! love it so much
Even before reading the notes I had decided this was the only recipe to use for a very large plum that my daughter got for me. It was great even though it could have used a bit more sugar as the plum was very tart.
Wonderful recipe. Super simple. I topped it with cinnamon whipped cream. Just enough for one. Delicious.
I love apple crisp and I love oats but I don’t love them in an apple crisp topping. It’s a texture thing. What else can you do for a topping?
Consider adding a streusel topping as in our coffee cake recipe – https://onedishkitchen.com/pumpkin-coffee-cake-with-streusel-topping/
Made this today and it is delicious, so happy to find this site!
I’m so happy you found us and that you love the apple crisp!
I made this for my husband and he loved it! I used a Rave apple. Because of the size of the apple, I felt it could have been two servings.
I’m so happy to know your husband enjoyed the dessert, thank you!
OMG this was so good. I used a honey crisp apple and because I wanted two servings I added a peach and doubled the recipe. I did cut back on the sugar by 1 tablespoon. One serving would have served two. It will be on my rotation list for dessert.