Description
This salted caramel apple crisp features tender spiced apples, a layer of homemade salted caramel, and a crunchy oat-pecan topping. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing fall dessert that comes together in about 20 minutes of prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (plus more for finishing)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups (about 6–7 medium apples) peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick (I recommend a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats)
- 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour (or almond flour for a gluten-free option)
- 1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup (60g) chopped pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
Instructions
- Make the salted caramel. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, spread the granulated sugar in an even layer. Let it melt undisturbed for about 2 minutes, then start swirling the pan gently. Do not stir with a spoon—just swirl. The sugar will clump at first, then melt into a smooth, amber liquid. This takes about 6-8 minutes total. Once it reaches a deep amber color, remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in the butter pieces. The mixture will bubble up violently, so be careful. Whis…
- Preheat the oven. Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease your 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- Prepare the apple filling. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and a pinch of salt. Toss everything together with your hands or a spatula until the apples are evenly coated. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes so the apples start releasing their juices. This helps create that beautiful syrupy base.
- Layer in the caramel. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Drizzle about half of the salted caramel over the apples. Use a spatula to gently fold it into the apples a little, but do not overmix. You want pockets of caramel throughout. Reserve the remaining caramel for serving.
- Make the crisp topping. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the melted butter over the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until everything is moistened and clumps start to form. The mixture should look crumbly, not wet. If it looks dry, add another tablespoon of melted butter.
- Assemble and bake. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples. Do not press it down—just let it fall naturally. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling up around the edges. If the topping starts browning too quickly after 30 minutes, tent the dish loosely with foil. Let the crisp cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set up a little so it is not too runny.
- Finish and serve. Warm the reserved salted caramel slightly in the microwave (about 15 seconds) or on the stovetop. Drizzle it over the top of the crisp just before serving. Sprinkle with a little extra flaky sea salt if you like that sweet-salty contrast.
Notes
Do not skip the 15-minute cooling step after baking—it allows the filling to set. For extra crispy topping, toast the oats and pecans in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes before mixing. If the topping browns too quickly, tent with foil after 30 minutes. The caramel can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/8 of re
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 38
- Sodium: 210
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 56
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 4
Keywords: salted caramel apple crisp, apple crisp, fall dessert, easy apple dessert, apple crisp recipe, salted caramel dessert, oat topping, pecan apple crisp