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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.
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.