My apple crisp with frozen apples recipe is easy and delicious! Made with frozen apple slices, adding brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg gives the filling an old-fashioned, spiced flavor. The crumble topping combines flour, oats, brown sugar, and chopped pecans with butter to create a golden brown, crispy, and crunchy topping. Although this southern-style dessert is sweet, the bit of lemon juice tones down the sweetness and brightens the fruit flavor, tying everything together. Best of all, this old-fashioned apple crisp with frozen apples can be enjoyed any time of the year, without having to peel and slice fresh apples. With its combination of sweet apples, warm spices, buttery pecans, and contrasting soft and crunchy textures, this easy apple crisp is a delicious dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any occasion. If you want to learn how to make apple crisp with frozen apples, follow my step-by-step directions and watch the video below!
Apple Crisp with Frozen Apples
Ingredients
- Apple Layer:
- 16 oz frozen apple slices (454g/1 LB) *I used Golden Delicious apple slices drizzled with 1-2 Tablespoons of lemon juice before freezing to keep them from browning
- 1/3 cup white sugar (70g)
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar (80g)
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch (20g)
- Crumble Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (75g)
- 1/2 cup cup quick-cooking (40g) *I think you could probably use old-fashioned oats, too
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar (120g)
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (60g) *I roasted mine at 350F 3 minutes on the first side, then 2 minutes on the other
- 1 stick butter, unsalted (113g)
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Thaw the frozen apples. While thawing overnight in the refrigerator is best, you can thaw them in the microwave if needed.
- Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with butter, but keep the butter for the crisp topping in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Toast the chopped pecans on an ungreased baking sheet at 350°F for 5 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes, then set them aside to cool. Although toasting the pecans is technically optional, I HIGHLY recommend it.
- Add the thawed apple slices, white sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, and cornstarch to a large mixing bowl. Mix until the apples are evenly coated.
- Pour the apple mixture into the greased 8x8-inch baking dish and spread the apples into an even layer.
- Cut the cold butter into small, pea-sized pieces. Using a sharp knife, cut the butter into thin slices, then strips, and finally small cubes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, and salt. Mix until the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Add some of the dry mixture and some of the cold butter pieces on a large plate or clean work surface. Use your fingers to work the dry ingredients into the butter until the pieces are coated and form small crumbles with a texture similar to wet sand. Repeat with the remaining butter and dry mixture.
- Add the chopped pecans to the crumble mixture and work them in until evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping loosely and evenly over the apples, breaking up any large clumps as needed. Remember to not press the topping down or mix it into the filling as this will make the topping less crispy.
- Bake uncovered at 350°F for about 60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling. Placing the baking dish on pizza pan, cookie sheet, or other baking sheet will make it easier to handle the crisp.
- Allow the apple crisp to cool before serving so the filling has time to thicken. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe Review
I really liked how this apple crisp with frozen apples turned out. The aroma was fantastic, and the combination of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, brown sugar, and lemon juice gave the filling a delicious, old-fashioned flavor. Although the apple flavor wasn’t quite as pronounced as it would be in an apple cobbler or pie, the combination of warm spices and brown sugar created a deep, complex flavor that was absolutely delicious. Additionally, the lemon juice also added a little tanginess that helped balance the sweetness of the filling and the crumble topping.
The texture was another highlight. The crumble topping turned out perfectly golden brown, crispy, and crunchy, while the apples underneath softened into a juicy filling with a delicious syrup. I especially liked the contrast between the crunchy topping and the soft, tender apples. The oats and toasted pecans contributed to the texture without overpowering the other ingredients. I highly recommend taking a few minutes to toast the pecans before adding them to the crumble. They continue to toast in the oven, so you don’t need to brown them too much beforehand.
I also liked how the recipe turned out using frozen apple slices. Being able to make apple crisp without peeling and slicing fresh apples is convenient, and frozen apples make it possible to enjoy this dessert any time of the year. I used Golden Delicious apples, which provided a nice balance of sweetness and apple flavor. Granny Smith apples would also work well if you prefer a more tart filling.
Although the recipe is easy to put together, making the crumble topping does take a little time. Cutting the cold butter into small pieces and working it into the flour, oats, and brown sugar with your fingers requires some patience. However, I think this step is worth the effort because it helps create those small crumbles that bake into such a crispy, crunchy topping. Just make sure to keep the butter cold and sprinkle the crumble loosely over the apples instead of pressing it down.
One thing I particularly liked about this recipe was the balance between the sweet filling and the buttery topping. The brown sugar and warm spices gave the apples plenty of flavor, while the lemon juice kept the dessert from tasting overly sweet. The topping was rich and crunchy, but the apples and their syrup provided a soft, juicy contrast. Although the apple flavor itself wasn’t the star of the show, the combination of flavors and textures worked beautifully together.
Overall, this was a 20/10 success! The aroma, golden-brown crumble, crunchy topping, and soft, juicy apples made this apple crisp absolutely fantastic. It’s a delicious way to use frozen apples, and you don’t have to wait for apple season to make it. Serve it warm or at room temperature, on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or Cool Whip. If you’re looking for an old-fashioned apple crisp with a buttery, crunchy pecan-oat topping and a sweet, warmly spiced filling, I think you’ll really enjoy this recipe!
Apple Crisp with Frozen Apples FAQs
Yes! You can use frozen apples for apple crisp, provided that the apple slices are thawed before use and the juices are thickened. If you follow my recipe, you’ll have a delicious dessert with tender fruit and a crunchy crumble topping.
Making apple crisp with frozen apples is convenient because you don’t have to worry about peeling or slicing the apples. Also, you can make this classic fall dessert at any time of the year—even in the middle of the summer when fresh apples aren’t at their best.
Yes! You have to thaw frozen sliced apples before making the crisp. If you don’t, they might not have time to fully thaw while baking, leaving partially-frozen apple chunks in the middle of the crisp.
The best way to thaw frozen apple slices is to open the bag, pour them into a bowl, and then set them in the refrigerator to thaw overnight (12 to 24 hours). You can also defrost them in the microwave by placing them in a microwave-safe bowl, covered, and then heating them using the defrost setting (about 30% power) for 2-3 minutes, stirring between intervals, until they are fully thawed.
Tart or semi-tart apples, such as Golden Delicious or Granny Smith, are best for apple crisp since their moderate sweetness and high pectin make them perfect for baking. Even though most people bake with Granny Smith apples, I follow professional chef and Serious Eats writer J. Kenji López-Alt’s recommendation to use Golden Delicious apples for baking since they have the perfect balance between flavor, sweetness, and firmness.
Bake the crisp in the oven at 350F, uncovered, for 1 hour. My crisp took 60 minutes, but I’d recommend checking it at the 45 or 50 minute-mark since your oven may be different.
This 8×8 apple crisp makes 8 small servings, maybe 6 if you want each slice to be more substantial—or just one Chef Parnell-sized serving, haha! It’s so good, you’ll want to eat the whole thing!
This apple crisp has a warmed, spiced apple flavor with a good amount of tartness in the background to balance out the sweetness. While the apple flavor itself might be a bit muted from all the butter, spices, oats, and pecans, the combination is amazingly flavorful.
To make the crisp topping, combine flour, quick-cooking oats, brown sugar, and salt, then set it aside. Cut the butter into small pieces—about the size of a pea—then work cold butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers until the mixture forms small crumbles with a texture similar to wet sand before stirring in the pecans.
Freeze apples for use in this recipe by first peeling and slicing them, drizzling with 1-2 Tablespoons of lemon juice to minimize browning, then putting them in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Be sure to use them within 8-12 months for maximum quality.
Other Apple Dessert Recipes
If you liked this easy dessert, be sure to check out some of my other apple favorites:
Apple Cobbler with Pie Crust – With plenty of sweet apples, soft dumplings, and crispy crust, this is a quintessential southern fall dessert.
Apple Cobbler with Cake Mix and Pie Filling – If you like crispy crumble toppings, this 9×13 dump cake is an easy way to make it using canned pie filling.
Applesauce Pie Recipe – Homemade applesauce is the base for this custard-style pie that has plenty of southern-style flavor.
Stovetop Apple Dumplings Recipe – Boiling apple chunks with spoonfuls of dumpling batter is an easy way to make a great dessert.
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