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Our Slow Cooker Apple Crisp recipe is an irresistible fix and forget dessert with tender cinnamon sugar apples with melt in your mouth oat topping. It’s perfect for busy days and oven-free cooking.

There’s nothing quite as heartwarming as a classic apple crisp, especially our family’s favorite recipe that has roots in Amish baking.

Whether your oven is occupied, or you’re simply looking for a hassle-free treat, our revamped Slow Cooker Apple Crisp is the answer. It’s perfect for families on the go, or those evenings when you crave a spoonful of nostalgia.

This Amish recipe ensures each bite is bursting with tender apples, a hint of cinnamon, and a sweet oat topping that’s to die for. And the best part? Your slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting!

apple crisp in a slow cooker with two spoons

About this Slow Cooker Apple Crisp Recipe:

Flavor: Cinnamon, apples, sweet. Everything flavor you know and love in an apple crisp. Homemade vanilla gives it a special warm flavor.
Texture: The apples are perfectly tender and the sauce they simmer in almost has a caramel-y flavor. The oat streusel on top is a hearty layer that is reminiscent of baked oatmeal.
Method: This crock pot apple crisp recipe was developed for the slow cooker, but it is very similar to my oven apple crisp. This takes about 20 minutes to prep and 4 hours to cook on low heat.

Why make apple crisp in the slow cooker?

Flavors meld and develop over time during the cooking and baking process, and that’s precisely the beauty of a slow cooker. It’s amazing for soups and casseroles, but also desserts like our apple crisp:

Depth of Flavor: Slow cooking allows the apples to tenderize, soaking in the rich cinnamon and vanilla flavors (ahem…have you tried our slow cooker apple butter?). The sugar juices from the apples end up with a hint of caramel flavor that you’ll love.
Ease & Convenience: Once you’ve prepped your ingredients, the crockpot does all the hard work. It’s the perfect solution for the days when the oven is busy or your schedule is packed. My slow cookers work on overtime, especially on Sundays when we host dinners for families and friends.

Choosing the Right Apples

For a dish as classic as apple crisp, your choice of apples can make all the difference. After all, the apple is the star of this dish. You want to choose the best apples.

Apple Variety: While almost any apple will do, some stand out for this recipe. Look for firm, tart apples like Granny Smith apples or Honeycrisp. Their natural acidity contrasts beautifully with the sweet topping.
Prepping the Apples: Peel, core, and slice your apples to ensure even cooking. Aim for slices no more than 1/4-inch thick. Not too thin (to prevent mushiness) and not too thick (for even cooking). Just make sure all of the apples are about the same size so that

Ingredients

How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

Apple mixture. In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well. Spread the apples evenly in a 6-quart crock pot (or a 9×13” casserole slow cooker).

sliced apples tossed with cinnamon and sugar in a bowl

Streusel topping. Using the same bowl that you mixed the apples in, whisk together the oats, brown sugar, flour, soda and baking powder. Using a pastry blender, cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the buttery oat crumbs on top of the apple mixture.

a bowl of sugar, oats and flour mixed up

pastry cutter cutting butter into an oat sugar mixture

Slow cook. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours until the apples are tender.

uncooked apple crisp in a slow cooker with a lid on it

Make A Crispier Topping

The one thing I sometimes miss when I make apple crisp in the slow cooker rather than the oven is the firmer topping. If you’d like the top to crisp up slightly, choose one of these options:

Take the lid off the slow cooker for the last half hour.
Take a long section of paper towels and double it so that it fully fits over the slow cooker, underneath the lid. Place the paper towels down over the slow cooker, then place the lid on top. Pull the paper towels taut. The condensation will absorb into the paper towels rather than dropping back down onto the food. This will help the apple crisp stay firmer.
Place the slow cooker liner (no lid) in the oven for about 7-10 minutes at 350ºF.

slow cooker apple crisp with oat topping

Serving Ideas

Nothing complements the warmth of apple crisp like a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s a match made in dessert heaven!

You can also top with homemade whipped cream or even a vanilla Greek yogurt for added protein.

Recipe Variations

If you’re wanting to add a personal touch to your apple crisp, here are some tweaks to make this recipe your own:

Add fruit: Mix in some blueberries or raspberries with the apples for a berry delightful variation. They add a tangy twist to the dish’s sweetness.
Add nuts: Add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the topping for an extra layer of texture and nutty flavor.
Add spices: Nutmeg, ginger, cloves…any are great options for adding your own twist of flavor.
Gluten-free. If you need a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free.

Storage Instructions

Enjoyed every bite but have some left? No worries. Cool your apple crisp to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready for more, a quick reheat brings it back to life.

You can also store leftovers in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw, then reheat in the microwave.

If you love this, try our apple pandowdy.

apple crisp with ice cream on a plate with a spoon

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

5 from 2 votes

Our Slow Cooker Apple Crisp recipe is an irresistible fix and forget dessert with tender cinnamon sugar apples with melt in your mouth oat topping. It's perfect for busy days and oven-free cooking.

Servings 15

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 20

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Ingredients

For the apples:

8 cups apples peeled, cored and sliced (3-4 pounds whole apples)
1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
¼ cup all-purpose flour 33 grams
1/2 teaspoon salt 3 grams
2 teaspoons cinnamon 4 grams
1 tablespoon vanilla extract 13 grams

For the topping:

1 cup old-fashioned oats 103 grams
1 cup brown sugar 200 grams
1 cup all-purpose flour 130 grams
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 2 grams
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 grams
1/2 cup cold salted butter 4 ounces

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the apple slices, sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and vanilla. Mix well.
Spread the apples evenly in a 6-quart slow cooker (or a 9×13” casserole slow cooker).
Using the same bowl that you mixed the apples in, whisk together the oats, brown sugar, flour, soda and baking powder.
Using a pastry blender, cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly.
Sprinkle the buttery oat crumbs on top of the apple mixture.
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours until the apples are tender.
Optional: If you’d like the top to crisp up slightly, take the lid off the slow cooker for the last half hour. You can also put the slow cooker liner in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350ºF.
Serve warm with ice cream.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It is excellent the next day warmed up in the microwave.

Video

Notes

Use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples.

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the crisp being split into 15 servings, with 1 serving being 1/15 of the apple crisp. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**