Growing up, the official start of fall was not the calendar or the weather. It was the knock on our door from our neighbor carrying a freshly baked apple crisp. She made them every single year without fail and the smell that would fill our kitchen after her delivery is one of those sensory memories I can still access instantly. Warm cinnamon, bubbling apple filling, that golden buttery crumble. It meant fall was here and everything good that comes with it was right around the corner.
Making apple crisp at the beginning of fall has become one of my favorite traditions to carry forward, and this single serve version is my twist on the classic that started it all. Baked right in individual ramekins so everyone gets their own perfectly portioned little crisp with a thick golden crumble pressed generously on top. If you are hosting a dinner party this fall and looking for a dessert that makes people feel taken care of, this is the one. Individual portions feel intentional and special in a way that serving slices from a pan just does not, and they are somehow even more impressive because of it.
The recipe itself is straightforward and comes together quickly which means you can spend more time enjoying the season and less time stressing in the kitchen. Green apples tossed in brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until fully coated, piled high in the ramekins, and topped with a thick buttery oat crumble that bakes into the most satisfying golden crust in twenty to twenty five minutes. Press the crumble in firmly before it goes in the oven so you get a proper thick layer on top rather than a thin sprinkle that disappears into the filling.
Serve them immediately with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream melting right into that warm crispy topping and you have a dessert that people will be talking about all season long. This is the recipe that started everything for me and I think it is going to become a fall tradition in your house too.
Single Serve Apple Crisp
Ingredients
For the Crisp:
- 5 Tbs butter melted
- ¼ cup + 1 Tbs rolled oats
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbs flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbs sugar
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
For the Apples:
- 2 honey crisp apples
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F.
- To make the crumble, in a medium bowl combine melted butter, oats, flour, both sugars and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Core and chop apples and toss them in a medium bowl with the sugar and spices until they are fully coated.
- Divide the apples into 2 ramekins. They should be full.
- Divide your crumble mixture between the two ramekins and place a generous amount on top of the apples. Press the crumble into the apples, making a thick layer on top.
- Place ramekins on a baking sheet for easy transfer and bake for 20-25 min or until the tops are golden brown.
- Top with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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