We Made the Pioneer Woman Apple Crisp Recipe—and It’s Totally Worth the Hype
Molly Allen
When it comes to dessert, I will happily pour hours of time and plenty of effort into elaborate treats (like this choux au craquelin). But sometimes, the simplest desserts end up being the best. And this Pioneer Woman apple crisp recipe proves that!
Piled high with a layer of juicy, delicious apples and a crunchy topping, this apple crisp won’t last long. There’s plenty of flavor jam-packed in every bite, and the texture is divine. Serve it up warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream.
It’s so good, I guarantee you’ll finish the entire dish!
How to Make Pioneer Woman Apple Crisp
This recipe uses a few simple ingredients to dress up tart Granny Smith apples with sugar and spice. It only requires a few minutes of active prep time, and the rest of the work is left up to the oven.
Ingredients
ingredients for pioneer woman apple crisp laid out on a dishcloth
glass pan of sliced apples for pioneer woman apple crisp recipe
Preheat the oven to 35o°F. Grease a 9-in. by 13-in. baking dish with salted butter or cooking spray.
Place the sliced apples in the baking dish in an even layer. In a small mixing bowl, add the sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Mix to combine, and then sprinkle the mixture over the apples. Pour ½ cup of water over top.
Step 2: Make the topping
topping prep in a white bowl for pioneer woman's apple crisp recipe
Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Mix to combine. Add in the melted butter and stir with a large fork. Mix until clumps begin to form.
Step 3: Sprinkle the topping
apple crisp topping sprinkled over sliced apples in a glass baking dish for pioneer woman apple crisp
Sprinkle the topping over the apple layer. Be sure to evenly cover all of the apples.
Step 4: Time to bake!
pioneer woman apple crisp served in a white bowl with ice cream
Bake the apple crisp at 350° for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crisp. Once baked, remove the apple crisp from the oven and serve warm. Top each serving with vanilla ice cream.
Here’s What I Thought
close up of serving spoon in the apple crisp pan with some pioneer woman apple crisp already served
No matter the season, you can’t go wrong with a fruit crisp. But there’s something that much better about an apple crisp in fall. This Pioneer Woman apple crisp is the ideal comfort dessert, especially served up warm with a scoop of ice cream. And while I have certainly made plenty of fruit crisps before, this recipe took things to a whole new level!
At first glance, it seemed like eight apples was a lot. However, it ended up being the perfect amount to dish up a hearty dessert. I did increase the amount of cinnamon to a full teaspoon, because I love the flavor it adds. Otherwise, this recipe was easy and entirely perfect without any other changes.
Plenty of apple crisp recipes are all about the topping. Who doesn’t love a good, crisp streusel, right? But all too often the apples aren’t as flavorful, and the dessert relies on the textured topping to make it interesting and delicious. But not this one! Every single bite of this apple crisp was incredible, with so much flavor coming from the Granny Smith apples as the perfect base. The crisp topping served as the ultimate complement to the dessert, with a play on texture in every bite. Flavorful soft apples give way to a bit of crunch, with the contrast of warm and cold making it all the more interesting once you add the ice cream. Truly, it’s an experience. And there will even be enough to share that experience with friends and family!
More Vintage Apple Desserts for Fall
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I received this recipe for baked apple dumplings with Mountain Dew from a friend of mine, then tweaked it to suit my family's tastes. The soda is definitely the secret ingredient in this rich apple dessert. —Chris Shields, Monrovia, Indiana
I love making this apple betty for friends during the peak of apple season. I plan a quick soup and bread meal, so we can get right to the dessert! —Elizabeth Godecke, Chicago, Illinois
My father, who was born and raised in Vienna, Austria, would tell us stories about how his mother covered all the kitchen counters with dough whenever she made apple strudel. This recipe is a modern, delicious way to carry on part of my family's heritage. —Sarah Haengel, Bowie, Maryland
A satisfying dessert, pudding cake is a superb treat on a chilly night. It has three separate layers—apples, cake and sauce—and I like to serve it in a bowl. —Ellen Schroeder, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
I remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested, "Maybe a slice of my homemade apple pie will make you feel better." One bite, and Grandma was right. If you want to learn how to make homemade apple pie filling, this is really the only recipe you need. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
You'll quickly warm up to the old-fashioned taste of this cinnamon-apple topping. Spoon it over vanilla ice cream or slices of pound cake. —Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina
My husband and I came to Canada from Holland more than 40 years ago. This traditional Dutch recipe is a family favorite and has frequently gone along with me to potluck suppers and other get-togethers. —Elizabeth Peters, Martintown, Ontario
I make several batches of this simple and delicious homemade apple butter recipe to freeze in jars. Depending on the sweetness of the apples used, you can adjust the sugar to taste. —Betty Ruenholl, Syracuse, Nebraska
This apple cheesecake won the grand prize in an apple recipe contest. With caramel both on the bottom and over the top, every bite is sinfully delicious. —Lisa Morman, Minot, North Dakota
This pie has won eight ribbons at area fairs. People say it looks and tastes like a giant apple-cinnamon bun. I take time off from work around the holidays to fill pie requests from family and friends. The recipe has become everyone's favorite. —Susan Frisch, Germansville, Pennsylvania
There's just something extra special about a homemade applesauce recipe like this one. This simple dish is tart and not too sweet. It makes the perfect side, especially with pork chops or a pork roast. —Deborah Amrine, Grand Haven, Michigan
My grandmother occasionally brought over this wonderful cake warm from the oven. The spicy apple flavor combined with the sweet cream cheese frosting made this recipe one that we treasured. Even though I've lightened it up, it's still a family favorite. —Lauris Conrad, Turlock, California
This warm and comforting apple dumplings recipe is incredible by itself or served with ice cream. You can decorate each dumpling by cutting 1-inch leaves and a 1/2-inch stem from the leftover dough. —Robin Lendon, Cincinnati, Ohio
If you are seeking comfort food on the sweet side, this warm and yummy apple dessert, made with cinnamon and nutmeg, fits the bill. —Megan Maze, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Each bar goes beautifully with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
Many people don't think of using a slow cooker to make dessert, but I like having this hot, scrumptious apple treat waiting to be served when we finish up our dinner. I start it in the morning and don't think about it all day. —Jacki Every, Rotterdam, New York
The neighbor who shared this recipe with me predicted that I'd serve it often, just as she has for more than 30 years. It's easy to put together and is wonderfully fruity. I like to serve it with ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. —Diann Mallehan, Grand Rapids, Michigan
A family friend gave me a simple way to make apple dumplings without lots of steps. I love the sticky cinnamon topping. —Jenny Leighty, West Salem, Ohio
Traditional bread pudding gives way to autumn's influences in this comforting dessert. I add apples and pecans to this slow-cooked version, then top warm servings with ice cream. —Lori Fox, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
This apple dessert isn't very fancy, but it's genuine regional fare. It came from my grandmother. With 13 children plus the men at Grandpa's sawmill, she had to do lots of cooking each day! —Megan Newcombe, Cookstown, Ontario
I like that this gingerbread delight is so deeply flavored and delicious. Served warm from the oven, a nice scoop of vanilla bean ice cream is definitely the icing on this cake. —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario
My husband’s German family calls this Oma’s apfelkuchen, which translates to "Grandma’s apple cake." They’ve been sharing the recipe for more than 150 years. I use Granny Smith apples, but any variety works. —Amy Kirchen, Loveland, Ohio
I like to pile a fresh batch of these muffins on a plate when friends drop in for coffee. Even my grandkids enjoy the cranberry and apple flavor combination. —Millie Westland, Hayward, Minnesota
With its hearty ingredients and quick prep time, this warm apple crisp makes a smart dessert for any fall night. It reminds me of the recipe my grandmother would serve after our big family seafood dinners. It's absolutely wonderful topped with ice cream. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
My family just loves these tender dumplings in the sweet, rich sauce. I love them because they turn out wonderful every time I make them, which is a lot! —Faye Johnson, Connersville, Indiana
Baked in a pretty tube pan and drizzled with icing, this breakfast cake will be a highlight of your holiday menu. I adapted the recipe from one of my grandmother's. —Shaunda Wenger, Nibley, Utah
Cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts add a homey autumn flavor to these stuffed apples, while the slow cooker does most of the work. —Graciela Sandvigen, Rochester, New York
My family always loves it when I make this wonderful dessert. Old-fashioned strudel was too fattening and time-consuming, but this revised classic is just as good. It's best served warm from the oven. —Joanie Fuson, Indianapolis, Indiana
If I had to define the "Betty" of Apple Brown Betty, she'd be a smart and thrifty Southern gal with a knack for creating simple, soul-comforting desserts. In this sweet dish, spiced apples are slow-cooked between layers of cinnamon-raisin bread cubes for a wonderful twist on the traditional oven-baked classic. —Heather Demeritte, Scottsdale, Arizona
This cake is a favorite of mine. I love the smell of the apples and butterscotch as it is baking. It fills the house with a perfect autumn aroma. —Sabrina Haught, Spencer, West Virginia
This yummy fruit salad was a favorite of my great-grandmother’s. My family always enjoys it, and I’m happy knowing it’s good for them, too. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Charoset with apples, walnuts and spices has a special meaning for the Passover holiday. It represents mortar used for brickmaking when the Israelites were in Egypt. The sweetness represents freedom. —Gloria Mezikofsky, Wakefield, Massachusetts
Especially when I'm just serving a dessert, I like to prepare this. I'll usually make it with fresh apples, but I've also sometimes used home-canned ones. —Phyllis Hinck, Lake City, Minnesota
If you’re feeling festive, scoop some vanilla ice cream over a bowl of these cinnamon spiced apples. They’re homey, aromatic and just plain heavenly. —Amie Powell, Knoxville, Tennessee
This is a new take on a pumpkin roll. Her spicy gingerbread cake might make you think back fondly to Christmas at Grandma's! —Debbie White, Williamson, West Virginia
My savvy grandmother whipped up recipes like this homey, cinnamon-scented apple pudding in the Depression years. Many of us still make them today. —Holly Sharp, Warren, Ontario
My husband loves the smell of these stuffed apples while they're baking in the oven. He often tells me it wouldn't be a true holiday celebration without them. — Tre Balchowsky, Sausalito, California
