This freezer apple crisp will change your holiday baking forever. Make one big batch but split it into two smaller desserts -- one to bake now and one to stash in your freezer for later. Perfect quick and easy Thanksgiving dessert.
PREP TIME 15 minutesminutes
COOK TIME 1 hourhour
TOTAL TIME 1 hourhour15 minutesminutes
YIELD 12servings
Ingredients
For the Apple Filling
5poundsapplesI used a half and half mix of McIntosh and Honeycrisp and it was the perfect balance
Grated zest of 1 orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2tbspfresh squeezed orange juice
2tbspfresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2cupgranulated sugar
2tspground cinnamon
1tspground nutmeg
For the Crisp Topping
1 1/2cupsall-purpose flour
3/4cupgranulated sugar
3/4cuplight brown sugarpacked
1/2tspkosher salt
1cupoatmeal
1/2poundcold unsalted butterdiced
Instructions
Prep the Apple Filling
Spread softened butter inside one 9x13-inch baking dish or two 8x8-inch baking pans.
Peel, core, and cut the apples into large wedges. Combine the apples with the zests, juices, sugar, and spices. Pour into the dish.
Make the Crisp Topping
Combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Scatter evenly over the apples.
Baking Instructions
To bake your assembled apple crisp right now, preheat the oven to 350°F. (For freezing instructions, see the Notes at the bottom.)
Place the crisp on a sheet pan and bake for one hour until the top is brown and the apples are bubbly.
Recipe Notes
How to Freeze Apple Crisp:
You can choose to freeze the apple crisp from the prepared & unbaked stage or you can bake it and then freeze it. I prefer to freeze it unbaked so that the topping doesn't get over browned. Once you've assembled the crisp, wrap it in two layers of aluminum foil and mark it with the date you assembled it. Freeze for 3 - 6 months.
To Bake a Frozen Apple Crisp:
Unwrap the foil from the crisp and place the dish on a cookie sheet. Cover the top loosely with a piece of foil and bake as directed. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and continue to bake until the apples are bubbling hot and the crisp is golden brown.