Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

This heavenly slow cooker apple crisp is the perfect balance of comfort and convenience. Cozy spiced apples are paired with a crunchy, buttery topping for the quintessential fall dessert!

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When apples are in season, there’s no shortage of desserts to make. You can’t go wrong with Apple Pie or Fried Apples, and an Apple Galette is always a hit, too. But don’t pass up the opportunity to make this rustic slow cooker apple crisp. It may look like a humble dessert, but it tastes like a treat from your favorite restaurant. (Especially if you add a scoop of ice cream on top!)

You can harness the power of your trusty slow cooker to create a dessert that’s both effortless and irresistibly delicious. This crockpot apple crisp is easy enough to whip up for a weeknight, but it makes enough to serve a crowd—or enough for you to enjoy leftovers for a few days!

top down image of two servings of slow cooker apple crisp sitting in sage green bowls.

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp Recipe

Making apple crisp in the slow cooker allows the flavors to meld together and intensify, creating a luscious apple filling and perfectly crisp topping. I do have to warn you that the incredible aroma of the cooking apples will fill your home—your house will smell like fall, but the downside is that you’ll be hungry all day waiting for your slow cooker apple crisp to be done!

Crockpot apple crisp is ridiculously easy to make. Make the apple filling by tossing sliced apples with lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar, and spices. The filling goes into the bowl of the slow cooker, then the oat topping is sprinkled over the top. I like to put a paper towel across the top of the slow cooker to absorb some of the moisture from the apples and keep the crisp topping crunchy.

Once everything is in the slow cooker, just set the timer and come back a few hours later to a perfect, warm apple crisp. Serve the crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or enjoy it on its own. This is the perfect easy dessert to make during apple season, so grab those Granny Smith apples, get out your crock pot, and get ready to bake something amazing.

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp Ingredients

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Apples – I like to use Granny Smith apples, which are tart and crunchy. Honeycrisp apples are also great for baking as they hold their shape even after cooking for hours.
Lemon
Vanilla extract – Or switch things up and use almond extract.
Brown sugar – I like to use dark brown sugar, which has the richest flavor.
Cinnamon
Nutmeg – If you can use freshly ground, that’s best!
Salt
All-purpose flour
Rolled oats – Be sure to use classic rolled oats and not Irish oats, which are too crunchy and hard. Look for certified gluten-free oats if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
Butter – Unsalted butter is best for this recipe, as there is salt added to both the apple filling and the crisp topping already.

Variations

Here are a few easy ways to switch up this recipe and really make it your own.

Add ½ cup sliced almonds to the apple crisp topping to give it even more crunch and nutty flavor.
Skip the brown sugar in the apple filling to make the slow cooker apple crisp a little less sweet.
Use a variety of apples. Honeycrisp, Gala, and Granny Smith are my favorite baking apples. They all keep their shape when cooked and won’t turn to mush. Using a few different types of apples also gives the slow cooker crisp a more complex flavor.
Skip the nonstick spray and grease the inside of the crockpot with coconut oil. This will give the crisp a subtle tropical flavor and add more complexity.

seasoned sliced apples in a slow cooker.

seasoned sliced apples topped with streusel topping in a slow cooker.

How to Make Crockpot Apple Crisp

Prepare the bowl: Spray the crockpot bowl with cooking spray. This will help prevent the slow cooker apple crisp from sticking to the bowl.
Make the filling: Add the sliced apples and all the other filling ingredients into the bowl of the slow cooker. Toss all of the ingredients together with your hands, and spread the apple mixture into the bottom of the bowl.
Make the streusel topping: In a separate large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the oat topping, mixing them with your hands. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients so it looks like coarse sand. Sprinkle the oat topping over the crockpot apples.
Line the lid: Place a paper towel or clean dish towel over the bowl of the slow cooker. Don’t let the towel touch the crisp. It should be tight across the top of the bowl, held in place by the lid on top. This is the best way to keep the topping crisp.
Cover and cook: Place the lid on the slow cooker. Then, set the timer for 7-8 hours. The crisp is done cooking when it is bubbling around the edges and the top is crispy.
Enjoy: Scoop the apple crisp right out of the crock pot and enjoy hot. I like to add a scoop of ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce on top of the apples to make it even more incredible.

slow cooker apple crisp and a serving in a bowl on the side.

Quick Tip

When storing the apple crisp, try to keep the oat topping on top as you move the crisp from the slow cooker to the airtight container. You don’t want to mix the crispy oat topping into the apple filling or it will get soggy. If you’re worried about mixing the topping and filling too much, simply refrigerate leftovers in the slow cooker insert.

How to Store Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

If you have leftover apple crisp, move it to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week. Reheat the slow cooker crisp in the microwave or toaster oven until the apples are hot again.

You can freeze the cooked apple crisp for up to three months. This is a great way to capture the flavors of fresh apples and have a perfect fall dessert anytime the mood strikes! Thaw the frozen crisp by placing it in the fridge overnight. You can also warm this easy fall dessert in the microwave.

FAQs

How do you keep apple crisp topping crunchy?

Placing a towel over the top of the slow cooker will help absorb some of the moisture from the crisp as it cooks. This will make the oat topping crunchy and not soggy. When you reheat leftover apple crisp, warm it up in a toaster oven or oven set to 350ºF for 10 minutes. This will help re-crisp the topping.

What kind of apples are best for apple crisp?

Firm apples are best for apple crisp and apple pie filling. Use Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, gala, fuji or Braeburn apples. Avoid McIntosh apples, which are very soft and fall apart as they bake.

What is the difference between apple crisp and apple cobbler?

Apple crisp is made with a crunchy, streusel-like oat topping, while apple cobbler has a soft, biscuit topping. The filling for both apple crisp and apple cobbler is the same, it is just the toppings that are different.