1-Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and preparing an 8×8 baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. This step ensures even baking and easy cleanup. Once the oven is heating, peel and chop 6 golden delicious apples, aiming for about 6-7 cups to fill your dish nicely.

2-In a bowl, mix the chopped apples with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice. Stir everything well to coat the apples evenly, which helps prevent browning and adds a bright flavor. Transfer this mixture to your prepared baking dish for the base of your cinnamon apple crisp.

3-Now, focus on the crisp topping by combining 1 cup light brown sugar, 3/4 cup old fashioned oats, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of kosher salt, and 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cubes in a separate bowl. Use a pastry cutter, forks, or your hands to blend until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbs, creating that irresistible crunch.

4-Spread this topping evenly over the apples in the dish and gently pat it down. This layering is what gives cinnamon apple crisp its signature texture contrast. If you’re looking for more ways to vary your crisps, try our slow cooker apple crisp recipe for a hands-off approach.

5-Bake the cinnamon apple crisp for 40-50 minutes until the topping turns golden brown and the apples bubble. Keep an eye on it, as oven times can vary. Once done, let it cool for a bit before serving warm, perhaps with vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream for an extra treat.