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This warm, comforting and healthy stovetop apple crisp takes a total of only 20 minutes to prepare and does not compromise on flavor. You cook the apples in a skillet and sprinkle them with a buttery and crunchy toasted oat, pecan and sesame seed topping. The recipe works equally well as a delicious dessert or a healthy after-school snack.
This post was originally published on Nov. 25, 2013.
Say hello to a quick, easy and healthy no-bake stovetop apple crisp!
Apple crisps are one of the most delicious ways to eat apples in my opinion but I‘m not always willing to put in the time to bake a crisp. That’s why I love this stovetop recipe, it takes only 20 minutes to prepare, tastes great and you won’t even need to fire up the oven. Here is what you need and how you make it:
Stovetop apple crisp ingredients and measurements:
Topping ingredients and measurements:
How to make stovetop apple crisp:
You start by cooking 4 Gala apples (peeled, cored and cut into chunks) in a skillet in a mix of 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. (That will put you in a good mood because it will make your kitchen smell delicious.)
Once the apples are done, you prepare the topping simply by toasting a mix of 1/4 cup rolled oats, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, 1.5 teaspoons sesame seeds and 1 teaspoon brown sugar in 1/2 tablespoon melted unsalted butter in a non-stick pan. That’s easy and quick to do and the resulting flavors and crunch are wonderful.
How to serve this apple crisp:
To serve, you add the warm cinnamon apples into individual serving bowls and sprinkle them with the toasty oat/nut/sesame mix. You can put a dollop of whipped cream (or ice cream) on top but I find that the crisp already tastes mighty delicious by itself and also makes a great (and healthy) snack.
Stovetop apple crisp recipe tip:
One quick word of caution about the topping: it’s very easy to burn it, so don’t take your eyes off the pan. No texting while cooking for this one!
How many servings does this recipe make?
Literally however many you need. Because you’re not locked into the volume of a baking dish, you can easily scale this recipe up or down to however many servings you like (one of the great advantages of stovetop desserts). The recipe card below is set to four servings but you can use the portion slider and easily adjust the number to your liking.
What apple variety is best for a stovetop apple crisp?
I recommend that you use Gala apples for this stovetop apple crisp recipe. I tested other apple varieties and even though many of them tasted good, they required vastly longer cooking times than Gala apples.
Is this apple crisp gluten free?
Yes, as long as you make sure to use rolled oats that have not been contaminated with gluten-containing ingredients during processing, this apple crisp is gluten-free.
More delicious fruit desserts:
- Raspberry Custard
- Vanilla Cream with Cinnamon-Sugared Cranberries
- Ginger Honey Roasted Pears
- Star Anise-Poached Pears
- Raspberry Apple Crisp
- Stovetop Apple Crisp
- Lemon Cream Puffs
- Lemon Ginger Mousse
- Almond Orange Mousse with Anise
- Apple Tarts with Chai-Spiced Custard Sauce
Stovetop Apple Crisp
Ingredients:
For the apples:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 Gala* apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
For the topping:
- 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1.5 teaspoons sesame seeds
- whipped cream and/or vanilla ice cream (optional)
Instructions:
For the apples:
- Melt the butter in a skillet.
- Add the apples, cinnamon and brown sugar. Stir until well combined.
- Put the lid on and let the apples cook on medium to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until they are soft (about 7 minutes).
For the topping:
- Melt the butter in a non-stick pan.
- Add remaining sugar, oats, pecans and sesame seeds and brown for a few minutes until crunchy. (Do this on relatively low heat and watch closely, it will burn easily).
- Serve apples in a bowl and sprinkle the topping on.
- Top with ice cream or whipped cream (optional).
Notes:
Nutrition
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Nicole, this apple crisp looks so delicious! Love that crispy topping -YUM!
Thank you, Kelly! I love the topping too, I make it all the time (sometimes even without the apples :)).
I substituted nectarines from a friends tree and threw in some fresh blueberries for color. I topped it off with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.Everyone raved about how good this recipe tasted! I will definitely use this recipe again.
That’s so wonderful to hear, Karen! Such a great idea to use nectarines, I’m going to have to try that! :)
Can I use quick oats to make the crisp topping?
Yes, that will work fine.
Needed a healthy snack/dessert for my 2yr old son.tried this recipe he absolutely loved the no bake topping. not only did he love it so did my husband and I.Thx for this one😊
That is so great to hear, Karla! Thank you so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it! :)
Hi! Tried this recipe today and it was really good :) Was in a hurry so replaced the nuts and seeds with museli with nuts. Thanks for this one!
That’s so great to hear, Chandni! Thanks for leaving such a nice comment, I really appreciate it! Such a great idea to substitute muesli, I have to try that. :)
Please do! And you are most welcome Nicole. Please keep more such recipes coming. It’s very motivating for budding home chefs :)
Thanks for this recipe – I’ve used the no bake topping twice for a speedy dessert and my family loves it!
That is SO GREAT to hear, Sian! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave feedback, I really appreciate it. :)
Wow this sounds good because i need to make a desert for a boyscout trip im going on this weekend i think ill try this.
That sounds great, I hope you like it, Adam! It’s my favorite dessert, I have made it countless times and could eat it everyday. :)
Nicole, I love your recipe for a no bake crisp topping. It looks delicious and I will have to try it out!
Glad you are intrigued, Michelle! Let me know how you like it. :)
Yum! saw this on food gawker and now I am pinning! This looks so tasty and comforting!
sounds delish and easy!