Cast Iron Apple Crisp (Gluten Free)

This Cast Iron Apple Crisp is a cozy gluten free fall dessert! It's made in a skillet with fresh apples and a crispy oat streusel topping.

There's no better way to indulge in fall cravings than to whip up a batch of this Skillet Apple Crisp. It's easy to prepare and packed with seasonal flavors.

It's that time of year when summer gradually fades into fall and we get a few magical weeks when the nights are cool but the days are still warm, the leaves begin to turn, and we slowly incorporate a few autumn items into our wardrobe.

This is the time when those cool weather comfort food cravings kick in and it's time to bake some apple and pumpkin desserts, allowing the scent of fruit and warming spices to fill our homes.

I love apple crisp because it's easy to make and there's no need to roll out any pie crust, but contains all of the homey comfort of desserts like apple pie. This version is made in a cast iron skillet with fresh apples and an oat streusel topping that's baked until hot and bubbly.

This recipe is flavored with lemon juice and lemon zest to bring out the tanginess of the apples and the topping is flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg. It's perfect served with some homemade whipped cream or ice cream.

Jump to:

• What Are The Best Apples For Apple Crisp?
• Should I Peel The Apples Before Baking?
• Ingredients For Cast Iron Apple Crisp
• How To Make Apple Crisp Filling
• How To Make Oatmeal Streusel Topping
• Can I Make This Streusel Without A Mixer?
• How To Make Cast Iron Apple Crisp
• How To Prevent Apple Crisp From Getting Watery
• How To Tell When Apple Crisp Is Done
• Can This Recipe Be Made In A Regular Pan?
• How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream
• What To Serve With Apple Crisp
• How To Store Apple Crisp
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Cast Iron Apple Crisp (Gluten Free)

What Are The Best Apples For Apple Crisp?

When it comes to apple desserts the rule of thumb is to choose a combination of sweet and tart apples. The combo of the two provides a flavor that's the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

My favorite combo (and I use this to make everything from a Classic Apple Pie to an Apple Galette) is Granny Smith paired with a sweeter variety such as Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp.

It's also important to choose a variety of apples that are crisp and not too soft or the dessert may become mushy as it bakes.

Should I Peel The Apples Before Baking?

I recommend peeling the apples before baking them into a crisp.

In general, the skins don't soften when baked as the fruit does and this may result in an unappealing texture.

Ingredients For Cast Iron Apple Crisp

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 3 large Tart Apples (such as Granny Smith) (yields 3-4 cups diced)
• 3-4 Sweet Apples (such as Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp) (yields 3-4 cups diced)
• zest of 1 Lemon
• 2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• 1 ¼ packed cup Light Brown Sugar (split)
• 2 tsp. Cinnamon (split)
• ¼ tsp. Nutmeg
• 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. Gluten Free Flour Blend (split) (or regular AP flour if not gluten free)
• 1 ½ cups Gluten Free Rolled Oats (also known as old fashioned oats) (or regular rolled oats if not gluten free)
• ¼ cup Sugar
• 12 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter (equals 1 ½ sticks)
• ½ tsp. Kosher Salt
• 1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)

How To Make Apple Crisp Filling

I am a huge fan of scratch-made apple pie (or any pie for that matter) but pies are a bit time-consuming.

The great thing about crisps is that you can toss all of the ingredients into a pan, throw it in the oven, and let it do its thing.

There's no rolling of pie crusts, no mess, and no worrying about the crust overcooking. It's a dessert that tastes like it took a lot of effort but in reality is super simple to prepare.

This recipe starts with preparing the apples. To prepare the apples, all that's needed is to peel and dice them. Once the apples are diced, they are placed into a large mixing bowl and tossed with lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, and light brown sugar.

To make sure that the apples cook evenly, it's important to make sure that they are relatively the same size.

1. Start by peeling all of the apples. This recipe calls for 3 large tart apples (such as Granny Smith) and 3-4 sweet apples (such as Gala or Fuji).
2. Once the apples are peeled, dice them into small chunks, making sure that all of the apples are relatively the same size to ensure that they cook evenly (yields 6-8 cups diced apples).
3. Place all of the diced apples into a large bowl. Zest 1 lemon into the apples using a Microplane or small zester. Once the lemon is zested, cut it in half and add 2 Tbsp. of lemon juice to the apples (careful to remove any seeds).
4. Add ¾ packed cup of light brown sugar along with ½ tsp. cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp. gluten free flour blend (or regular AP flour if not gluten free). Stir all of these ingredients until completely combined.

This provides the base or the 'fruit filling' for the Cast Iron Apple Crisp. The filling is then topped with a layer of streusel before baking in the oven.

How To Make Oatmeal Streusel Topping

Apples are delicious and all but when it comes to crisps it's ALL about that streusel topping.

I would eat just about anything if it came with a layer of streusel topping (like this Blueberry Buckle).

Streusel can be made with a variety of ingredients but in my book it's best when made with oats. The oats give homemade streusel a great texture and flavor.

The streusel topping becomes crunchy as it bakes and gives the apple crisp an unbeatable sweet and salty bite.

Here are a few tips for optimal taste and texture:

• Use rolled oats (also known as old fashioned oats) instead of steel cut oats or instant oats.
• Use light brown sugar instead of dark brown sugar. Dark brown sugar is not sweet enough to balance out the tartness of the apples.
• Make sure that the butter is cold before adding it to the streusel. This ensures that the butter is incorporated into the streusel and creates a texture of coarse crumbs.
• It's best to use the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. A pastry cutter may be used in place of a stand mixer, but the texture might be affected slightly.
• Add kosher salt to the streusel in order to balance out the sweetness.

1. To make the streusel, add 1 ½ cups of gluten free rolled oats (or regular rolled oats if not gluten free), 1 cup of gluten free flour blend (or regular AP flour if not gluten free), 1 ½ tsp. cinnamon, ¼ tsp. nutmeg, ½ packed cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar, and ½ tsp. kosher salt to the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Cut 12 Tbsp. of cold unsalted butter (equals 1 ½ sticks) into cubes and add them to the bowl.
3. Using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer combine all of the ingredients together on medium-low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Can I Make This Streusel Without A Mixer?

Yes! To make the streusel without a mixer simply add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and combine them using a pastry cutter.

Keep in mind that the texture of the streusel may vary slightly if using a pastry cutter.

How To Make Cast Iron Apple Crisp

Once the apples and streusel are ready it's time to add the ingredients to a cast iron skillet and bake in the oven.

The great thing about cast iron is that it distributes heat perfectly so anything that's prepared in it cooks evenly. The apples are evenly cooked until tender, but not mushy, the topping becomes golden brown, but does not burn, and it's an overall balanced dessert.

It's important to use a cast iron skillet that's oven safe and at least 12 inches in size. I love to use an enameled 12 inch cast iron skillet when making this apple crisp.

1. Start by heating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Generously grease a 12 inch oven safe cast iron skillet with butter. The butter will help to prevent the apples from sticking to the bottom as it bakes.
3. Pour the diced apples (and juices) into the skillet and spread them evenly across the bottom.
4. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the top of the apples.
5. Place the skillet into the oven and loosely place a piece of foil over the top (this will prevent the streusel from burning).
6. Bake the apple crisp for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes (60 minutes total).
7. Remove the apple crisp from the oven and allow to cool before serving.

How To Prevent Apple Crisp From Getting Watery

I find watery apple crisp (or any watery apple desserts) super unappealing so I do my best to avoid it.

Adding flour to the apple mixture helps to create a thick, caramel-like sauce as the apple crisp bakes. The flour thickens the liquid and the sugars from the apples and prevents it from becoming watery.

Using cold butter when preparing the streusel topping helps to keep it crunchy and prevents the whole thing from turning to mush as it bakes.

How To Tell When Apple Crisp Is Done

The Apple Crisp is done when the apples are easily pierced with a knife or fork. It's important that they are soft but not mushy.

Baking times may vary slightly. In general, I have found that 1 hour of baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect, but this may vary depending on the oven and skillet used.

Can This Recipe Be Made In A Regular Pan?

I have never tested this recipe in a regular pan but it should be fine to do so.

You could try an 11x7 inch or 9x13 inch to see which works better for this amount of filling.

Remember to grease the pan before adding the filling. Bake loosely covered with tinfoil at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until the apples are soft, but not mushy and the topping is golden brown.

Cooking times may vary depending on the type of pan used.

Love apple desserts? Check out these recipes!

• Gluten Free Apple Pie
• Apple Galette
• Buttermilk Apple Cake
• Apple Streusel Muffins

How To Make Homemade Whipped Cream

This step is optional, but a delicious addition to homemade apple crisp.

Making your own whipped cream only takes a few minutes and it totally worth the effort. The whipped cream may be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or prepared while the apple crisp is baking in the oven.

All that's needed to make it is 2 cups of cold heavy whipping cream and the whisk attachment of a stand mixer or a handheld electric mixer.

Feel free to add 2 Tbsp. of sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave syrup, or sweetener of choice if you'd like to sweeten the whipped cream a bit.

1. To make the whipped cream, pour 1 pint (equals 2 cups) of cold heavy whipping cream into the bowl of a stand mixer (feel free to add 2 Tbsp. of sugar or sweetener of choice for sweeter whipped cream).
2. Using the whisk attachment, mix the whipped cream on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until it forms stiff peaks (alternately, you can use an electric hand mixer).
3. Store the whipped cream in the refrigerator until needed.

What To Serve With Apple Crisp

Once the apple crisp is cooled slightly, it's time to serve.

This Cast Iron Apple Crisp may be served on its own, or topped with some homemade whipped cream, crème anglaise, or ice cream.

A drizzle of caramel sauce, maple syrup, honey, sorghum, or any other sweetener would be a tasty addition.

Warm apple desserts are perfect with a cup of coffee or hot tea.

How To Store Apple Crisp

This apple crisp should last 2-3 days at room temperature. Be sure to cover the pan with a dish towel or foil to keep it free from fruit flies or anything of the sort.

If you feel more comfortable storing in the fridge it should last 3-4 days stored in an airtight container. The streusel may lose some of its crunchiness if stored in the fridge but that's totally fine.

Any leftover whipped cream may be stored for 1-2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Can It Be Frozen?

Apple crisp can definitely be frozen but it's best to freeze in tinfoil or some kind of freezer-friendly container as you probably don't want your cast iron skillet tied up in the freezer for 3 months.

How To Freeze

1. Prepare according to recipe directions. Allow the apple crisp to cool completely.
2. Transfer to a freezer-friendly storage container, cover or wrap tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and store up to 3 months in the freezer.

How To Thaw

1. Thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours before serving.
2. Once thawed, bake at 35o degrees for 20 minutes or so or until warmed through.

Love apple crisp? Check out this Gluten Free Apple Crisp!

Love fall desserts? Check out these recipes!

• Pumpkin Bread Pudding
• Crustless Pumpkin Cheesecake
• Pumpkin Panna Cotta
• Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake
• Baklava Tartlets
• Maple Glazed Pumpkin Scones
• Gluten Free Pumpkin Waffles
• Buttermilk Bread Pudding

Looking For More Apple Desserts? Don't Miss These!

Apple Cider Donut Cake

Gluten Free Apple Fritters

Chewy Apple Oatmeal Bars