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Easy Salted Caramel Apple Crisp: Best 30-Minute Dessert

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This easy salted caramel apple crisp is a quick, one-skillet dessert that turns skeptics into believers. With a deep, buttery caramel, tender apples, and a crunchy oat topping, it’s ready in 30 minutes using simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 medium apples (about 600g or 1.3 lbs), preferably Honeycrisp or Fuji
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15ml)
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (113g or 1 stick)
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar (150g)
  • ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt (plus more for sprinkling)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (90g)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar (100g)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (85g), cut into small cubes

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Position the rack in the middle. Wash and slice apples into ½-inch thick slices (about 4-5 cups). Leave skins on.
  2. In a large bowl, toss apple slices with 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Let sit while making caramel.
  3. Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet or medium saucepan over medium heat. Add ½ cup butter and melt completely. Add ¾ cup packed brown sugar and stir constantly until mixture bubbles and starts to separate, about 2-3 minutes. Let cook one more minute until deep amber and nutty. Stir in ½ teaspoon flaky sea salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Remove from heat.
  4. If using the same skillet, arrange apple slices over the hot caramel in an even layer. If using a separate pan, pour caramel into a 9×9 baking dish first, then arrange apples on top. Do not stir.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup rolled oats, ½ cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir with a fork. Add cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or fingers to work butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces.
  6. Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over apples. Do not press down; some apples should peek through.
  7. Place skillet or baking dish on a baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 minutes until topping is golden brown and caramel bubbles around edges. Apples should be tender but hold their shape.
  8. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with additional flaky sea salt right before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the resting time after baking—it lets the caramel thicken. Watch the caramel closely; cooking too long will turn it into hard candy. Use cold butter for the topping to ensure a crumbly texture. Slice apples uniformly for even cooking. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend and use certified gluten-free oats. For dairy-free, use vegan butter sticks.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, salted caramel, easy dessert, 30-minute dessert, fall dessert, apple dessert, cast iron skillet dessert

Find it online: https://noshbelle.com/easy-salted-caramel-apple-crisp-best-30-minute-dessert/