Air Fryer Apple Crisp

Name: Air Fryer Apple Crisp
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 medium granny smith apple (cored and sliced ½ inch thin); 1 tsp lemon juice; ½ tsp cinnamon; 2 tbsp maple syrup; ¼ cup whole wheat flour; 3 tbsp brown sugar (packed); 2 tbsp rolled oats; 2 tbsp unsalted butter (melted); 1 tsp cinnamon; ½ tsp baking powder

Air Fryer Apple Crisp is an easy and delicious fall recipe you won’t be able to get enough of! Made with apples, oatmeal, maple syrup, cinnamon, and more, it’s a small-batch dessert that is low-fuss but big on comforting crunch and apple cinnamon flavor.

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Angled shot of a dish of air fryer apple crisp with a scoop of ice cream.

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Say “hello” to air fryer apple crisp: a classic dessert made even easier thanks to the air fryer. This recipe is as comforting, cinnamon-spiced, buttery, and delicious as the traditional apple crisp you know and love with only a fraction of the time and effort.

Air fryer apple crisp is ready in just 20 minutes and is made in only 4 simple steps, making it a great option any night of the week. Just preheat your air fryer, mix up the apples and crisp topping, and prepare for dreamy apple-cinnamon aromas to waft through your kitchen.

Also known as an apple crumble, the air fryer is the perfect tool for reinventing this beloved autumnal dessert. The consistently circling hot air bakes the apples to tender and juicy perfection while crisping and browning up the crisp topping. The result: dessert so good you’ll wonder why this is the first time you’ve tried your hand at apple desserts in the air fryer!

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Why You Will Love Air Fryer Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Substitutions
How to Make Air Fryer Apple Crisp
Recipe Tips
Storage Directions
Nutritional Info
Dietary Adaptations
Pricing Info
FAQs
More Cozy Dessert Recipes
Recipe

Why You Will Love Air Fryer Apple Crisp

Cozy Fall Flavors – With fresh and juicy apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, and more, this air fryer apple crisp recipe will satisfy your autumn cravings and warm you from the inside out.
Simple & Quick – These air fryer apples with oats are ready in less than 20 minutes, making them a fantastic option when looking for last-minute dessert ideas!
Small Batch – If you are looking for sweet treats that don’t leave you with excess leftovers, this air fryer apple dessert is for you! This recipe makes 2 servings, making it perfect for singles or couples. Though of course, you can also easily double it to serve a small family.

Overhead shot of a small dish of air fryer apple crisp with a small scoop of ice cream.

Ingredients

Granny Smith Apple – These crisp and tart apples are fantastic for baking. Their dimensional flavor and acidic notes are the perfect complement to cinnamon and brown sugar. Choose apples with smooth, deep apple green skin and no blemishes or bruises.
Cinnamon – A quintessential fall warm spice! Always use spices with a good expiration date for the best flavor.
Lemon Juice – Enhances the flavors of the cinnamon and apples. Both fresh and bottled lemon juice work.
Maple Syrup – Naturally sweetens the apple mixture, adding deep maple notes.
Rolled Oats – Also known as old-fashioned oats, rolled oats add texture, flavor, and crunch to the air fryer apple crumble topping! For best results, do not use instant oats as they do not crisp up properly.
Brown Sugar – Packed tightly to measure. Opt for light brown sugar if possible, though you can also choose dark brown for more molasses flavor.
Unsalted Butter – Choose unsalted, as the salt content in salted varieties can differ by brand. Melt the butter on low heat in the microwave or on the stovetop to prevent splattering and burning.
Whole Wheat Flour – Mixes with oats, seasonings, and sugar to help bind the crumb topping and give it an irresistible crisp.
Baking Powder – Gives the crisp topping an extra light and tender finish.

Substitutions

Fruit – Though apples are my favorite pick, you can also make this recipe with pears, blueberries, peaches, cherries, plums, or a combination of any of the above.
Flour – Whole wheat flour adds nutty flavors and additional nutrition, but all-purpose flour can be substituted in a pinch. 1-to-1 gluten-free flour can also be used to make this recipe gluten-free.
Butter – Choose ghee or coconut oil as a substitute for unsalted butter. Coconut oil may alter the texture of the crumble topping just slightly but the flavor will still be delicious.

A close-up overhead shot of a small dish of air fryer small crisp with a fork.

How to Make Air Fryer Apple Crisp

You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to make this apple crisp in the air fryer! Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and grease two small oven-safe ramekins.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine the sliced apples, lemon juice, and ½ tsp cinnamon and gently toss until combined.

Step 3: Divide the apples into the two ramekins. Pour 1 tbsp of maple syrup over the apple mixture in each ramekin and set aside.

Step 4: Make the topping. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, oats, melted butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, and baking powder. Stir with a fork until it forms crumbs. Divide the topping mixture between the two ramekins, covering the apples completely.

Step 5: Air fry the apple crisp. Very carefully place the ramekins in the air fryer basket, and air fry for 15-16 minutes. Remove the apple crisp in the ramekins carefully (they’ll be hot!) with potholders, and allow to cool at room temperature for about 10 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream!

Recipe Tips

Preheat the Air Fryer. The crisp will cook the quickest and most evenly when it is preheated to the full temperature before adding the ramekins. Preheat the air fryer for 2-3 minutes, or until it has reached 375 degrees.
Take Note on the Air Fryer Temperature. Air fryers run at different strengths and some brands have more accurate temperature readings than others. For the most accurate temperature reading, install an oven thermometer in the air fryer before preheating and keep it in the air fryer throughout the cooking time. Adjust the air fryer temperature as needed throughout the cooking time to maintain the 375-degree temperature.
Carefully Remove the Ramekins from the Air Fryer. The dishes will be very hot after air frying and can be somewhat tricky to remove from air fryer baskets. Always remove the ramekins very carefully with potholders, allowing them to cool down for a minute or two if needed before doing so.
Add Extra Spice. For extra cozy notes, mix 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg and a sprinkle of ground cloves in with the cinnamon and maple syrup.
Make it Single Serve. Though this recipe produces a moderate two servings, you can also easily make single-serve apple crisp with it. Divide the ingredients in half and follow the recipe directions as listed.

Storage Directions

Refrigeration: Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Always cool the apple crisp to room temperature before moving it to the refrigerator and cover the ramekin with aluminum foil if desired to save on extra dishes.
Freezing: You can also freeze leftovers. Cool the crisp to room temperature and move to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag before freezing for up to 3 months. Defrost the crisp in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight before reheating.
Reheating: Warm apple crisp in an air fryer preheated to 375 degrees for 4-6 minutes, or until reheated throughout.

A closeup angled shot of a small dish of air fryer apple crisp with a fork.

Nutritional Info

Though this air fryer apple crisp recipe is big on flavor, texture, and heart-warming spices and aromas, it is a nutritionally sound pick that I feel great about feeding to my family.

With a base of apples, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour this healthy apple crisp is rich in fiber, phytochemicals, and vitamin C. Additionally, apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, making this recipe a great source of prebiotic fiber which can help with gut health and inflammation.

Though traditional versions of apple crisp call for ample butter and sugar, this recipe only uses 2 tablespoons of butter, maple syrup, and a small amount of brown sugar. This healthier mixture adds all of the richness and flavor we know and love without excess heft, saturated fat, and processed sugar.

The total nutritional content per serving and without ice cream is:

Calories: 358 calories
Total Fat: 12 grams
Protein: 3 grams
Sodium: 131 mg
Carbohydrates: 61 grams
Fiber: 6 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Dietary Adaptations

Vegan and Dairy-Free: Make this recipe plant-based and dairy-free by substituting vegan butter for unsalted butter.
Gluten-Free: To make gluten-free apple crisp in the air fryer, use certified gluten-free oats and substitute 1-to-1 gluten-free flour for whole wheat flour.

A closeup overhead shot of a small dish of air fryer apple crisp with a scoop of ice cream.

Pricing Info

This is what I personally paid to make this recipe:

1 medium granny smith apple: $1.06
1 tsp lemon juice: $0.02
1 ½ tsp cinnamon: $0.03
2 tbsp maple syrup: $0.39
¼ cup whole wheat flour: $0.04
3 tbsp brown sugar: $0.10
2 tbsp rolled oats: $0.07
2 tbsp unsalted butter: $0.24
½ tsp baking powder: $0.01

The total I paid to make this recipe was about $1.96 or roughly $0.98 per serving!

FAQs

Why is my apple crisp dry?

Your apple crisp will be dry if you did not use enough butter or if you used too much flour in it. You want enough butter to add moisture to the crumb topping without making it greasy and you want enough flour to help the topping cohere without making it sandy and dry. When making the recipe always follow the recipe directions and measure precisely for the best results.

How do you know when apple crisp is cooked?

You know that apple crisp is ready when the apples are fork-tender when pierced and the crumb topping is crisp and golden brown.

What are the best apples to use for apple crisp?

Crisp, tart, and juicy apples are generally the best for apple crisp. For this recipe that calls for only one apple, Granny Smith apples are the best bet because of their balanced flavor and crisp texture. They bake up beautifully and are the perfect complement to the sweet cinnamon topping. If you are making a double batch of this apple dessert in the air fryer, you can a different variety of apple for the second apple if desired. In this case, I recommend Fuji, Cripps, Honey Crisp, and Rave apples.

More Cozy Dessert Recipes

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5 from 4 votes