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Ultimate Salted Caramel Apple Crisp with Perfect Oat Crumble

Salted caramel apple crisp - featured image
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This salted caramel apple crisp features tender, spiced apples, a buttery oat crumble, and homemade salted caramel swirled throughout. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–7 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 6 cups) — a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, freshly grated if possible
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces (for caramel)
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream, room temperature (for caramel)
  • 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt, plus more for finishing (for caramel)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (for caramel)
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (for crumble)
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (for crumble)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed (for crumble)
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for crumble)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for crumble)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (for crumble)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes (for crumble)

Instructions

  1. Make the salted caramel: Place 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small, light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Do not stir; let it melt for 5-7 minutes until deep amber. Remove from heat, whisk in butter pieces until melted. Slowly drizzle in heavy cream while whisking constantly. Stir in vanilla and flaky sea salt. Set aside to cool.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4-inch thick pieces.
  3. In a large bowl, toss apple slices with granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, and salt. Let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Make the oat crumble: In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter cubes using a pastry cutter or fingertips until mixture resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized butter chunks.
  5. Spread apple mixture evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Drizzle about half the caramel over apples and gently toss to distribute.
  6. Sprinkle oat crumble evenly over apples. Drizzle remaining caramel over the top. Finish with an extra pinch of flaky sea salt.
  7. Place dish on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 40-45 minutes, until filling is bubbling and topping is deep golden brown. If browning too quickly, tent with foil after 30 minutes.
  8. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

For gluten-free: use 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats. For dairy-free: use cold coconut oil or plant-based butter in crumble; skip homemade caramel and use store-bought dairy-free caramel with flaky salt. Cold butter is crucial for crumble texture. Watch caramel closely to avoid burning. Let crisp cool 15 minutes before serving to allow filling to set.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://ariaappetite.com/ultimate-salted-caramel-apple-crisp-with-perfect-oat-crumble/