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Best Salted Caramel Apple Crisp: Easy Homemade Dessert

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This best salted caramel apple crisp has that perfect balance of tart apples, buttery oat topping, and ribbons of homemade salted caramel that seep into every single layer. It’s the kind of dessert that makes people close their eyes mid-bite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼-inch thick pieces (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature (for caramel)
  • ½ cup heavy cream, at room temperature (for caramel)
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for finishing (for caramel)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Position a rack in the center of the oven. Lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Make the salted caramel sauce first. In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, spread 1 cup of granulated sugar in an even layer. Heat over medium heat, swirling occasionally, until the sugar melts and turns a deep amber color (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from heat immediately.
  3. Carefully whisk in 6 tablespoons of room-temperature butter until fully incorporated and smooth.
  4. Slowly pour in ½ cup of heavy cream, whisking constantly. Whisk in 1 teaspoon of flaky sea salt and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Set aside to cool slightly.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced apples, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Toss until the apples are evenly coated.
  6. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup oats, ¾ cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt. Add the cold cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or your fingertips to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining.
  7. Spread half of the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle about one-third of the salted caramel sauce over the apples. Add the remaining apples on top. Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over everything.
  8. Place the dish on a baking sheet. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges. If the topping is browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Drizzle the remaining salted caramel sauce over the top. Sprinkle a little extra flaky sea salt if desired. Let it rest for another 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the lemon juice—it keeps apples from browning and balances sweetness. Slice apples evenly (¼-inch thick) for even cooking. Cold butter is essential for a crunchy topping. Watch the caramel carefully; sugar can burn quickly. Let the crisp rest before serving to allow the filling to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: salted caramel apple crisp, apple crisp, easy apple dessert, fall dessert, homemade apple crisp, best apple crisp recipe

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