Easy Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

You are here:Home Recipe Index Recipes

Mary

5 from 4 votes

Oct 12, 2015, Updated Mar 09, 2023

Jump to Recipe

This Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe is a fantastic dessert smoked directly on your grill. Take a traditional apple pie filling and add an easy crisp topping of oats and you have the perfect fall apple dessert.

We also have a grilled apple crisp recipe that was also featured on AM Northwest, the Portland, OR local TV morning show if looking for a hot and fast version.

Table of Contents

  • Apple Crisp Ingredients
  • Tools
  • Preparation
  • Smoking Apple Crisp
  • Other Apple Recipes
  • Other Desserts On the Grill
  • Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe

Apple Crisp Ingredients

Inspired by Ina Garten’s Old Fashioned Apple Crisp we wanted to replicate the citrus and cinnamon flavors with the smoked influence. The ingredients will be for the apple filling and the crumble topping. Portions are in the recipe card.

  • Apples – An important process is to pick apples that aren’t too sweet so you have more depth of flavor. There are so many varieties of apples but select tart apples like Fuji apples or Golden Delicious. Smoked apples will soften and if they are too sweet they get mushy (like Red Delicious).
  • Apple Filling – Zest of orange and lemon really bring out the flavor in addition to the fresh juice. Can sugar and classic apple pie flavors with nutmeg and cinnamon are good choices for traditional flavor. You can add bourbon or whiskey as well for a little more flavor.
  • Topping – Adding a topping gives it the classic apple crisp flavor. The topping will crisp up as it slowly smokes and absorb the smoke flavor. Butter is the binder that brings the dry ingredients together. In addition to the butter use all-purpose flour, rolled oats, cane sugar, dark brown sugar, and a touch of salt.

Have a good cast-iron pan that can handle the smoker. We like 10-inch cast iron pans for six to eight servings or in this case a smaller cast-iron dish that serves four. Use the slider in the recipe card to increase the portions.

If your smoker doesn’t have a thermometer that reads the internal temperature then be sure to get a good one like the Thermoworks Smoke Unit.

Preparation

  • For the Topping:Dice butter into small cubes then place in freezer while other ingredients are being prepared. The butter and topping needs to be cold for best results.
  • In a large bowl, mix together all of the topping ingredients (except butter). When butter is very cold add it to the mix and cut the butter into the mix using a fork (could also use a food processor or stand mixer for this). Mix together until the mix is crumbly and the butter resembles the size of peas.
  • Transfer the topping mix to the freezer until ready to pour over the apple filling.
  • For the Filling:In another large bowl, mix together all filling ingredients. Place apple filling in the cast iron skillet (we used a smaller dish. 10x5x2 inch oval cast iron).
  • Add the oat and butter mixture over the top of the apples and cover with foil.

If making this ahead, do not mix the topping over the apple mix until you are ready to smoke it.

Smoking Apple Crisp

  1. Preheat smoker and target 275 degrees F. We like oak or apple wood for this smoked apple crisp recipe. It is sweeter than using mesquite or hickory.
  2. Place cast iron pan over indirect heat for 30 minutes. Remove foil, and then continue smoking an additional 15 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and topping is golden brown.
  3. Serve warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Using a Gas Grill – All you need is some wood chips and smoker box. Follow our guide on how to smoke on a gas grill to adapt.

Using a Charcoal Grill – We use wood chunks over the lump charcoal using two-zone grilling method the indirect grilling is where we leave the pan.

Other Apple Recipes

  • Apple Cider Mimosas
  • Grilled Apple Crisp
  • Bourbon Spiked Hot Apple Cider

Other Desserts On the Grill

You can see our full roundup of desserts on the grill or from some of our favorites.

  • Add smoked whipped cream as a topping to this smoked apple crisp.
  • A skillet brownie is another great grilled dish on any 10-inch cast-iron pan.
  • Grilled Pecan Pie with Maple Bourbon sauce is an awesome recipe.

This recipe was originally created in October 2015 and updated in September 2022 with new recipe steps and details on ingredients.

Tried this recipe? Give us a star rating and we would love to see! Mention@vindulgeor use the hashtag#vindulge on all the social media handles. And consider subscribing to our newsletter where we drop all our favorite ideas and inspirations every week.

Easy Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe (7)

Now on 2nd edition

Fire + Wine Cookbook

“This book is a one-stop guide for anyone truly interested in elevating their BBQ experience into a culinary work of art.”
5 out of 5 Stars
San Francisco Book Review

Easy Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe (8)

5 from 4 votes

Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe

By Mary Cressler | Vindulge

Smoked Apple Crisp is a simple and delicious fall dessert cooked on a grill. Apple crisp ingredients adapted from Ina Garten's Old Fashioned Apple Crisp.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 45 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Save RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

For the Topping:

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut up into small cubes
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ cup rolled oats, + 2 tablespoons
  • ¼ cup cane sugar
  • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

For the Filling:

  • 4 medium-sized apples, We used Fuji cut into wedges.
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon orange zest
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

For Filling and Topping

  • For the Topping:Dice butter into small cubes then place in freezer while other ingredients are being prepared. The butter and topping needs to be cold for best results.

  • Mix: In a large bowl, mix together all of the topping ingredients (except butter). When butter is very cold add it to the mix and cut the butter into the mix using a fork (could also use a food processor or stand mixer for this). Mix together until the mix is crumbly and the butter resembles the size of peas.

  • Hold: Transfer the topping mix to the freezer until ready to pour over the apple filling.

  • For the Filling:In another large bowl, mix together all filling ingredients. Place apple filling in the cast iron skillet (we used a smaller dish. 10x5x2 inch oval cast iron). Add the oat and butter mixture over the top of the apples and cover with foil.

Smoking

  • Preheat smoker and target 275 degrees F. We like oak or apple wood for this smoked apple crisp recipe.

  • Smoke: Place cast iron pan over indirect heat for 30 minutes. Remove foil, and then continue smoking an additional 15 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and topping is golden brown.

  • Serve warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

Using a Gas Grill– All you need is some wood chips and smoker box. Follow our guide onhow to smoke on a gas grillto adapt.

Using a Charcoal Grill– We use wood chunks over the lump charcoal usingtwo-zone grilling methodthe indirect grilling is where we leave the pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 636IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, grilled

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 470

Keyword: smoked apple crisp, smoked apple crisp recipe

Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

Categorized as:

Desserts, Food, Recipes,

Easy Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe (9)

Vindulge

About Mary

I'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, founder of Vindulge, and author of Fire + Wine cookbook. Thanks for stopping by!

About Me

You May Also Like:

Breakfast & Brunch

Easy Crispy Oven Baked Breakfast Potatoes

Pizza

Mortadella and Pistachio Pizza

Side Dishes

Easy Parsnip Purée – Creamy + Rich

Food

29 Recipes for Valentine’s Day On Your Smoker or Grill

Easy Smoked Apple Crisp Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the best apples for apple crisp? ›

What Makes A Good Apple For Apple Crisp? The best apples for baking keep their structure under heat, which prevents the chunks of fruit from turning into mush after baking. The firm and crisp Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties are popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps.

How do you keep apple crisp from getting soggy? ›

Add cornstarch to the fruit to prevent sogginess

One of the easiest ways to avoid wet apple crisp is to use a thickener to bind the apple juices together. The most common thickener is a cornstarch slurry, mixed with the apples before being added to a baking dish.

How do you make apple crisp not watery? ›

Lemon juice and vanilla extract – both of these are for complexity of flavor in your apple filling. You could leave them out if you don't have them, but they make a noticeable difference in the final product. Cornstarch or arrowroot starch – this is how we get a thick and not watery apple crisp!

What's the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp? ›

Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

How many apples is 4 cups? ›

Generally speaking, one pound of roughly chopped apples yields four cups.

How many apples for 6 cups? ›

If the recipe calls for 6 cups of sliced apples, you'll likely need about 8 medium-sized apples, or about 2 pounds of medium-sized apples. Now go fill your home with the scents of the season and bake the day away.

Why didn't my apple crisp get crispy? ›

How can I make my apple crisp crispy? If your butter to flour to sugar ratio is off, it will result in a less crispy topping. You want to be careful not to add too much flour or too little. Also, we love adding old fashioned rolled oats to our crumble because it really gives it a nice crunch.

Can I cut apples the night before for apple crisp? ›

Don't wait any longer than overnight before baking, to prevent the apples from browning too much or drying out/spoiling. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time to account for the cold fruit.

How many apples is 10 cups? ›

According to this equivalent list, 10 cups of sliced apples requires 10 medium apples. To be on the safe side, buy one additional apple. You don't want to run short—after all, it's always better to have too many ingredients than too few!

How do I know when apple crisp is done? ›

Bake the apple crisp until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes. Serve the crisps warm with vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream, if desired.

Why do you put lemon juice over the apples when making an apple crisp? ›

The lemon juice will keep the apples from turning brown. Set your prepared apple crisp aside on the counter until ready to bake. Put the apple crisp in the oven to bake just as you are serving dinner. And by the time dinner is over, this warm syrupy dessert will be ready.

How do you thicken apple crisp filling? ›

Adding cornstarch and flour to the apple mixture will help bring your crisp's filling together. You want to make sure you have a nice balance of the sweet and tart in your dessert.

Why is it called Brown Betty? ›

This has led some historians to believe that Betty was the name of the cook and creator of the recipe and that brown was in reference to her skin color.

Is Apple Brown Betty the same as apple crisp? ›

Both are very similar apple desserts, but the difference mainly comes down to the crumble topping: Instead of the flour and oat mixture used in an apple crisp, an apple brown betty uses breadcrumbs for its crumbly, delicious topping.

Why is it called a buckle? ›

Though crumbles, crisps, and cobblers are more akin to pie, a buckle is a lot like cake. In fact, they look nearly identical to fruit-filled coffee cakes. As the batter rises in the oven, the weight of the fruit causes it to “buckle.”

What are the three best apples for apple pie? ›

The best apples for making apple pie
  • Braeburn. This apple is a descendant of Granny Smith, but slightly sweeter. ...
  • Cortland. ...
  • Crispin (Mutsu). ...
  • Golden Delicious. ...
  • Granny Smith. ...
  • Honeycrisp. ...
  • Jonagold or Jonathan. ...
  • Northern Spy.
Oct 8, 2021

Are Gala apples good for baking apple crisp? ›

Gala apples are my favorite variety for this recipe – I like their sweet/tart flavor and firm texture. But if you have a favorite baking apple, feel free to use it here. Granny smith apples, Honeycrisps, Jonagolds, or a mix would all be excellent.

Which apples are Crispier Fuji or Gala? ›

Texture & Use in Recipes: In terms of texture, Fuji apples are also a lot crisper, and less dense than Gala apples. So, they result in a firm bite with juicy flesh while Galas are softer and creamier. Their texture also means that Fujis are better for baking as they hold their shape better than Galas when cooked!

Are Honeycrisp apples good for baking? ›

Honeycrisp. One of the sweetest apples around, this Midwestern favorite is good for anything—including baking. It boasts a distinctive juicy crispness and is firm enough that it won't cook down much. It complements just about any other apple variety to make a stellar pie.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Virgilio Hermann JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6289

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Virgilio Hermann JD

Birthday: 1997-12-21

Address: 6946 Schoen Cove, Sipesshire, MO 55944

Phone: +3763365785260

Job: Accounting Engineer

Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio

Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.