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Cozy Salted Caramel Apple Crisp – Easy Fall Dessert Recipe

Salted Caramel Apple Crisp - featured image
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This salted caramel apple crisp features soft, jammy apples under a crunchy, buttery oat crumble, all tied together with a salty-sweet caramel that seeps into every layer. It’s comfort food that actually comforts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium apples (about 2 lbs or 900g), peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼-inch thick pieces (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp)
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons (16g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for caramel)
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • ¼ cup (60ml) heavy cream, room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (plus more for finishing)
  • 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 (113g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place a rack in the center.
  2. Make the salted caramel sauce first. In a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add the ½ cup of granulated sugar. Watch it carefully—don’t stir it yet. Just let it melt, swirling the pan occasionally when you see the edges starting to turn liquid. This takes about 5-7 minutes. It should turn a deep amber color, like a new penny.
  3. Once the sugar is fully melted and amber, add the 3 tablespoons of butter. It will bubble up and steam—that’s normal. Whisk it in until it’s fully melted and combined. The mixture will look a bit separated, but keep whisking.
  4. Slowly drizzle in the heavy cream while whisking constantly. It will bubble up again, so go slow. Keep whisking until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Remove from heat, then stir in the ½ teaspoon of flaky sea salt and the vanilla. Set it aside to cool slightly while you prep the rest.
  5. Prep the apples. Peel, core, and slice your apples into ¼-inch thick pieces. Toss them in a large bowl with the lemon juice right away to prevent browning.
  6. Add the filling ingredients to the apples. Sprinkle the ¼ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon salt over the apples. Toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated. Let them sit while you make the crumble.
  7. Make the oat crumble topping. In a medium bowl, whisk together the rolled oats, flour, both sugars, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces still visible.
  8. Assemble the crisp. Pour the apple mixture into your greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Drizzle about ¾ of the salted caramel sauce over the apples—reserve the rest for serving. Sprinkle the oat crumble evenly over the top, covering all the apples.
  9. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges. If the topping is browning too fast, tent the dish loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes. The apples should be tender when pierced with a fork.
  10. Let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes. Drizzle the remaining caramel sauce over the top just before serving, and sprinkle with a little extra flaky sea salt.

Notes

Don’t skip the lemon juice—it prevents browning and adds brightness. Watch the caramel carefully; sugar burns quickly. Cold butter is crucial for the crumble. Let the crisp rest for at least 15 minutes after baking to allow the juices to thicken. For a gluten-free version, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats. For a dairy-free version, use vegan butter and full-fat coconut cream.

Nutrition

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

Find it online: https://bitesienna.com/cozy-salted-caramel-apple-crisp-easy-fall-dessert-recipe/