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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Crisp with Easy Oat Crumble

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp - featured image
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This salted caramel apple crisp features tender cinnamon-spiced apples, a crunchy oat crumble topping, and ribbons of homemade salted caramel. It’s the perfect cozy dessert for cold nights, potlucks, or holiday gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples (about 2 pounds or 900g), peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼-inch thick pieces (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or a mix)
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (15g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • ¾ cup (95g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (115g or 1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 3 tablespoons (45g) unsalted butter, cut into pieces (for caramel)
  • ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream (for caramel)
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (for caramel), plus more for sprinkling
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Make the salted caramel sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, add ½ cup granulated sugar. Cook without stirring for 4-5 minutes until sugar melts around edges. Swirl pan gently until sugar is completely melted and turns deep amber. Remove from heat, whisk in butter pieces (mixture will bubble). Slowly pour in heavy cream while whisking constantly. Stir in flaky sea salt and vanilla. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Prepare apple filling: In a large bowl, combine sliced apples, ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Make oat crumble topping: In another large bowl, whisk together oats, ¾ cup flour, brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add cold cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter, fork, or fingertips, work butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces. Do not overwork.
  5. Assemble crisp: Spread apple mixture evenly in prepared dish. Drizzle about half of the salted caramel sauce over apples. Sprinkle oat crumble topping evenly over apples, covering completely. Do not press down.
  6. Place dish on a baking sheet. Bake for 40-45 minutes until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling around edges. If topping browns too quickly after 30 minutes, loosely tent with foil.
  7. Let crisp cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes. Drizzle remaining salted caramel sauce over top and sprinkle with extra flaky sea salt. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Don’t skip the lemon juice—it prevents browning and balances sweetness. Keep butter cold for the crumble. Watch caramel closely to avoid burning. Let crisp rest 15-20 minutes after baking for best texture. For gluten-free, use 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, use coconut oil or plant-based butter in topping and coconut cream in caramel. Leftovers keep in fridge up to 4 days; reheat in oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Unbaked crisp can be frozen up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, salted caramel, oat crumble, fall dessert, easy apple dessert, comfort food, homemade caramel

Find it online: https://sunnysavory.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-crisp-with-easy-oat-crumble/