Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. This is an essential step to ensure your Apple Crisp bakes evenly. While the oven is heating, prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan by greasing it with nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent your crisp from sticking and make cleanup easier.
Next, let’s prepare the topping. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, old fashioned oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and kosher salt. Stir these ingredients together until fully combined. The mixture should be dry and crumbly at this point.
Now, add in the cold unsalted butter cut into tablespoon pieces. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, mix it into the dry ingredients until large clumps form. This is where the magic happens! You want the mixture to resemble coarse crumbs. If your kitchen is warm, you can place this topping in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
In a large bowl, gather your sliced and peeled Granny Smith apples. Toss them with fresh lemon juice, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, corn starch, and vanilla extract. Mix well to coat the apple slices evenly. This step is crucial as it ensures each slice is flavored beautifully.
Pour the apple mixture evenly into your greased baking pan. Make sure to distribute the apples so they bake evenly. This layer of tart apple goodness is what makes your Apple Crisp so special.
Next, generously sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples. Don’t be shy here! The more topping, the better. It should cover the apples completely, creating a deliciously crispy layer on top.
Place your baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes. Keep an eye on it, as you want the topping to turn golden brown and the apples to be soft and bubbling around the edges. You might notice your kitchen filling with an irresistible aroma during this time!
Once it’s done, remove the Apple Crisp from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes. This waiting period helps the juices settle. Serve it warm, ideally topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you like!
