Air fryer apple crisp is a quick, comforting dessert designed for two. Tender cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a golden, crunchy oat streusel deliver all the flavors of classic apple pie without the fuss of making a crust. Even better, the air fryer finishes this dessert in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for an easy weeknight treat or a small-batch indulgence.
The air fryer acts like a compact convection oven, so it’s perfectly suited for baking sweets as well as savory dishes. If you enjoy small-batch desserts from the air fryer, try other simple recipes that bake beautifully in the unit.
Fruit crisps are among the easiest desserts to prepare, and they’re endlessly adaptable. Use whatever fruit is in season: apples are perfect in fall, but you can swap berries or rhubarb when they’re ripe. This air fryer apple crisp is a great way to enjoy freshly picked apples without baking a whole pie.
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Is it a crisp, a crumble, or a cobbler?
“Crisp” and “crumble” both describe fruit desserts topped with a crumbly mixture. The difference is small: a crisp typically includes oats or nuts in the topping, while a crumble uses a streusel-style topping without oats. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. A cobbler differs more noticeably — it’s fruit baked under a batter or biscuit topping rather than a crumbly streusel.
Why you’ll love apple crisp in the air fryer
- Quick and easy: Ready in less than 30 minutes, this recipe is a fast solution for dessert cravings.
- Minimal ingredients: Fresh apples and a few pantry staples make a simple, flavorful dessert.
- Perfect small batch: The recipe yields two servings, ideal for couples or for making a sensible portion without leftover worry.
Ingredient notes
Full measurements and step-by-step instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
Apple filling
- Apples: Use apples that stay firm when cooked. Pink Lady, Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, and Granny Smith are all great choices depending on your sweetness preference.
- Lemon juice: Adds brightness and balances the sweetness of the fruit.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar works well in the filling. If your apples are very sweet, you can reduce the sugar or try a small amount of maple syrup for a different flavor.
- Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is a natural companion to apples and enhances the warm, comforting flavor.
Crisp topping
- Oats: Rolled (old-fashioned) oats create a pleasant chew and crispness. Avoid quick oats or steel-cut oats for this topping.
- Flour: All-purpose flour ties the topping together; use a gluten-free all-purpose blend if needed.
- Butter: Melted butter binds the topping and browns nicely. For a vegan version, substitute coconut oil or vegan butter.
How to make it
- Butter or grease two small oven-safe baking dishes (about 5-inch each) or use ramekins.
- In a medium bowl, combine peeled and diced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
- Divide the apple mixture evenly between the prepared dishes and cover each with aluminum foil.
- Air fry covered at 400°F for 10 minutes, until the apples are fork-tender.
- In a small bowl, mix rolled oats, flour, brown sugar and melted butter until the mixture is crumbly.
- Remove the foil from the baking dishes once the apples are tender and spread the oat topping evenly over the apples.
- Return the dishes to the air fryer and cook at 350°F for about 5 minutes, until the topping is golden and crisp.
- Remove from the air fryer, let cool for 5 minutes, and serve warm. Top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel for an extra-special finish.
Helpful tips
- Baking dishes: Any oven-safe dishes that fit in your air fryer work. Shallow pans or small cast-iron skillets give a nicely browned topping. Deeper ramekins may need an extra 2–3 minutes of covered cooking time for the apples to become tender before adding the topping.
- Uniform pieces: Dice apples into similar-sized pieces (about ½ inch) so they cook evenly. Larger pieces may require slightly longer cooking time.
- Vegan option: Replace butter with coconut oil or a vegan butter substitute to make the crisp vegan.
- Toppings: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sauce, or a drizzle of chocolate for variety.
- Storage: Cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes to revive the crispness.
- Freezing: Wrap dishes tightly with foil and place in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer.
FAQs
Yes. Mixing varieties can add depth of flavor and texture. Aim to include at least one variety that holds its shape well during baking, such as Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp.
Peeling is optional. Leaving the skins on saves time and provides extra texture and fiber, but peeling gives a smoother bite and a more uniform texture in the finished crisp.
More apple recipes
- Braised Red Cabbage with Apples
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples
- Apple and Blackberry Crumble
- Apple Ricotta Cake (Gluten-Free)
- Apple Walnut Spice Cake
- Roasted Beet and Apple Salad
If you try this recipe, please leave a rating and a comment to share how it turned out and any changes you made. Your feedback is appreciated — thank you for visiting The Food Blog!
Recipe
Air Fryer Apple Crisp
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Ramekins or small oven-safe dishes
Ingredients
- 3 medium apples peeled and diced (about 2 cups)
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoon rolled oats
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour (gluten-free blend if needed)
- 3 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Butter or grease two 5″ oven-safe baking dishes.
- In a medium bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Divide the apple mixture between the prepared baking dishes and cover with aluminum foil.
- Air fry covered at 400°F for 10 minutes, until apples are fork-tender.
- Mix rolled oats, flour, brown sugar and melted butter in a small bowl until crumbly.
- Remove foil, spread the oat topping over the apples, and return to the air fryer.
- Air fry at 350°F for about 5 minutes, until the topping is golden.
- Let cool 5 minutes, then serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Baking dishes: Any oven-safe dish that fits in your air fryer will do. Shallow dishes brown faster; deep ramekins may need an extra 2–3 minutes of covered cooking time for the apples to soften.
- Chopped apples: Cut apples into uniform pieces (about ½ inch) for even cooking.
- Vegan: Swap butter for coconut oil or vegan butter to make this vegan-friendly.
- Toppings: Serve with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel, or chocolate sauce for added indulgence.
- Storage: Cool to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes.
- Freezing: Wrap dishes tightly and freeze up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer.
Nutrition
Calories: 395kcal