Applesauce Oatmeal Crisp

What is better than a warm and fragrant apple crisp on a cold autumn day? I hardly believe anything can beat it and this one will become your favorite. 

The apple crisp has a long history.

Apples as a fruit have long inspired many cooks, amateur and professional to turn it into something delicious and satisfying. Apple pairs wonderfully with a variety of ingredients and can be found not only in sweet but also savory meals. 

I am a sucker for the apple crisp and if I had to make a list of my all-time favorite desserts, an apple crisp would be high up there.

The filling of the apple crisp is just like the apple pie, yet it takes less than half the time and work you would put into the apple pie.

Also, making the crust for an apple pie can be tricky, and sometimes regardless of the effort, you may fail. With an apple crisp, you avoid any unwanted mistakes. 

The apple crisp also has an amazing topping – it truly resembles the streusel topping, just a bit crunchier. How good does that sound?

Plus, with this applesauce substitution, this delicious treat just got easier and creamier!

This classic cold-weather dessert wins among them all because it is easier to assemble one than the pie or any other dessert. 

So keep reading for the best applesauce oatmeal crisp of your life!

Why Apple Sauce Instead of Apples?

While you can always treat this recipe like a classic apple crisp and use chopped, baked apples, if I had to choose between the two, I would choose the apple sauce every time.

Using applesauce makes the process so easy. You will see that I have added some chopped apples just because I wanted some of the apple texture, but if you find a chunky apple sauce, that works well, too – and is even easier.

How is this recipe easier than a classic crisp with apples?

When you prepare a classic apple crisp, the apples have to be cooked once before the final bake for the crisp as a whole. The apples are cooked in the butter-cinnamon mixture and this gives them a special flavor.

With apple sauce, you can bypass this step. You only have to add some cinnamon or an apple pie spice with your applesauce.

You can skip those extra time-consuming steps like chopping up all of your apples and baking them. Applesauce makes this recipe a breeze.

It can also be tricky to choose the right apples.

As you already know not all apples are the same. Some cook to perfection, others will fall apart, and some varieties are best eaten fresh, completely losing their perfect flavor and texture once baked.

Making the Filling

This apple crisp so seriously easy to make. We can skip past the time-consuming part of peeling and chopping the apples.

You’ll notice below that I personally added a few chopped apple pieces just for fun, but you can skip it with no trouble.

The topping is made by combining the ingredients in a bowl. And that’s it.

Divide the apple sauce between the ramekins and top with the oats topping. I have also added chopped pecans, because what is an apple crisp without the pecans?

If you have any other nuts by your hand you can use them. Almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts – it really does not matter.

Just be careful if you are using sliced almonds. They are thin, so they can burn easily. It may be best to leave them out or cover the topping with aluminum foil while baking.

Making the Crispy Topping

The classic topping for the apple crisp is made with butter, sugar, and flour, but as I am trying to bring healthier and easier recipes, I created the topping with oats.

This is far crispier than the classic flour crumbly topping and much healthier. 

Good to know: Oats are among the healthiest grains in the world. Oats are naturally gluten-free and a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

Studies show that oats have many health benefits, including weight loss and lower blood sugar, and may also reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 

Recipe Varieties

As with any recipe, you can modify this one to meet your needs. It’s well suited to additional flavors so you can make your apple crisp even more interesting.

Apples pair amazingly well with a variety of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, or cardamom.

They also pair perfectly with citrus fruits. So don’t be afraid to add some orange or lemon zest or top your crisp with chopped pieces of candied orange or lemon. 

How To Make Applesauce Oatmeal Crisp

Step 1

Gather your ingredients and preheat oven to 350F.

Divide the apple sauce between two ramekins.

Step 2

If using the apples add them on top of the apple sauce.

Make the topping. Beat butter and sugar until combined. Add oats and stir to combine.

Step 3

Place the topping over the apple sauce and sprinkle with pecans.

Bake the apple sauce crumble for 20-22 minutes. 

Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or simple whipped cream.

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