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The Sweet Occasion » Recipes » Pies, Tarts & Crisps

Easy Strawberry Apple Crisp

Published: Jun 13, 2023 · Modified: Jul 13, 2023 by Maria Pagiotas · 2 Comments

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This no-fuss strawberry apple crisp is made with fresh strawberries and diced apples topped with a simple one-bowl brown sugar crumble topping! Serve this crowd-pleasing dessert with a scoop of ice cream for an easy sweet treat!

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As a busy mom of three, I love making easy desserts that feed a crowd and are simple to serve. This strawberry apple crisp meets all the criteria. It has all the delicious flavors of an apple pie mixed with strawberries but with a simple crumble topping.

Fresh sweet strawberries add a pop of flavor and a roasted-like flavor that complements the apples. Come late spring, my kids love strawberry picking, which means we’re making this easy strawberry crisp, strawberry cookies, and strawberry cinnamon rolls.

In just 1 hour, you can make the brown sugar crisp topping, mix the filling and bake the crisp. It’s a win-win dessert.

Let’s get baking!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Quick Prep: This easy strawberry apple dessert takes only 15 minutes to prepare using one bowl for the filling and a food processor for the topping (easy cleanup!).
  • Crowd-friendly dessert: This foolproof crisp is great for entertaining. It’s baked into a large baking pan and spooned into dishes for serving.
  • Versatile: The best part about making crisp (besides the delicious crumbly topping) is its versatility. You can mix and match fruits and flavors without worrying about exact measurements for the filling (just like strawberry peach crisp)!

Ingredients You'll Need

Topping ingredients.
Filling ingredients.
  • All-purpose flour. The key ingredient in the crisp topping. It helps holds everything together and gives crisp its crumbly texture.
  • Light brown sugar. Adds sweetness to the topping. Because of its higher moisture content than granulated sugar, brown sugar helps prevent the topping from drying out. The molasses in the brown sugar also helps with the browning of the crisp topping.
  • Oats. Add a slightly chewy texture and a nutty flavor to the crisp topping. Use old-fashioned oats for the ideal texture. Using quick oats will produce a softer texture.
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg. Adds flavor to the crisp topping. Feel free to add more or less according to your preferences.
  • Butter. Adds moisture and a delicious rich flavor to the topping. When mixed with the rest of the ingredients, butter brings everything together. Cold butter slows the melting process during baking, which helps keep a crumbly crisp texture while the filling cooks.
  • Apples. Use your favorite baking apple. Use a combination of tart and sweet apples for a delicious flavor.
  • Strawberries. Fresh seasonal strawberries work best for this recipe. Ensure they are not overripe or mushy, or they can create a soggy crisp. If fresh strawberries are unavailable, use frozen ones that are completely thawed and strained from excess liquid.
  • Granulated sugar. Adds sweetness to the fruit filling and helps to draw out the moisture from the strawberries and apples for a delicious syrup-like consistency.
  • Cornstarch. Acts as a thickening agent for the fruit filling. I prefer cornstarch to flour because it produces a clear filling compared to flour, which can become cloudy. Ensure your filling is bubbling for the cornstarch to thicken the filling properly.
  • Lemon zest and juice. Add flavor to the fruit filling and balances out the sweetness.

The Best Apples For Baking Crisp

The are many apples to choose from, but some work better for baking than others. Selecting an apple that holds its structure and doesn’t become mush is ideal for pies and crisps. Here’s a list of apples that work well for strawberry apple crisp.

Fuji. A juicy and crispy apple with a honey-sweet flavor. 

Braeburn. A crunchy and juicy apple with a mix of tart and sweet flavors.

Honeycrisp. A versatile apple and favorite for desserts. It has a sweet flavor with a hint of honey.

Jonagold. This fall apple has the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavor with a crunchy texture.
Granny Smith. A tart apple that pairs well with any of the above apples but is also delicious on its own.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Butter a 3-quart baking dish (8x11-inch deep pan) and preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C.

Pulse dry ingredients. Pulse the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a food process 2-3 times to combine.

Add butter. Add butter and pulse until a course meal.

Combine apples and flavorings. Mix the apples, sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl.

Add strawberries. Gently mix the strawberries into the apple mixture.

Pour filling into pan. Spread the filling into an even layer in the prepared pan.

Sprinkle the topping and bake. Evenly sprinkle the topping over the filling and bake until the topping is browned.

Note: Place the crisp topping into the refrigerator or freezer while preparing the filling to keep the butter cold! The colder the butter, the better for a crispy topping!

Recipe Tips & Tricks

As a trained pastry chef, I’ve learned that these essential tips set you up for success in baking crisps.

  • Select seasonal fruit. Fresh, seasonal strawberries yield the best flavor. Select berries that are bright red, firm, and fresh green stems.
  • Freeze crisp topping. Once the topping is mixed, place it in the freezer (or refrigerate) while you prepare the filling to keep the butter cold!
  • Taste the filling. Before adding the filling to the baking dish, taste for sweetness and adjust according to your preferences. During winter, strawberries are less sweet than seasonal strawberries and may need additional sugar.
  • Evenly distribute the filling. Spread the strawberry apple filling into an even layer to ensure even baking.
  • Completely cool before storing. Allow this easy crisp to come to room temperature before covering it to prevent it from becoming soggy.

Recipe Variations

  • Incorporate nuts into the topping. Add up to ½ cup of your favorite chopped nuts to the topping. Place into the food processor with the dry ingredients.
  • Make it gluten-free. Replace the crisp topping with a gluten-free option from this rhubarb pear crisp.
  • Serve with ice cream. Add a scoop of vanilla or strawberry ice cream to each serving. For the perfect combination, serve the strawberry apple crisp warmed.

Recipe Substitutions

Because crisp is so versatile, you can easily make substitutions without worrying about affecting the overall outcome of the dessert. Here are some ideas:

  • Alternate fruit options. Use your favorite berries or a combination of your favorite berries for the strawberries. You can also omit the strawberries and replace them with an equal amount of apples. During the summer, cherries would make a delicious combination with apples, similar to my peach cherry crisp.
  • Replace the oats. Substitute the oats with ¾ cup oat-free granola or toasted coconut flakes. Not only will these options add additional flavor, but they will add a crispy texture.
  • Use fresh orange. Orange zest and fresh squeezed orange juice work well in place of the lemon zest and juice.

Storage Tips

This apple and strawberry crumble is best enjoyed fresh from the oven while the fruit is warm and the topping is crispy. The topping will soften over time, but here’s how to store this crisp:

  • In the refrigerator. Store leftover crisp covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • In the freezer. Place the leftover fruit dessert into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
  • Make ahead. Make the crisp topping ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or store in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Add the topping to the filling and bake without thawing.

Reheat: Re-warm strawberry apple crisp in a preheated 350°F/177°C oven to warm it evenly and ensure the topping is crispy and not soggy. Bake until the filling is warmed through and bubbly.

FAQ

Do I need to peel the apples for crisp?

You don’t have to peel the apples. It’s a personal preference. You can opt to leave the skin on or peel it.

Do I need to pre-cook the strawberries and apples before assembling the crisp?

No, the fresh fruit gets mixed with the rest of the filling ingredients and added directly to the baking pan.

How do you keep strawberry apple crisp from getting soggy?

Use fresh strawberries that are not overripe and too juicy. Also, use a large enough baking pan (3 quarts) to ensure the fruit isn’t overcrowded so the steam can escape during baking easily.

Should the crisp be covered while baking?

You do not have to cover the crisp while baking. If the topping begins to brown too quickly, you can cover with aluminum foil to prevent overcooking.

Can I make strawberry apple crisp ahead of time?

Yes, you can prep the crisp topping up to 3 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. Mix the fruit filling just before baking.

Please leave a starred rating and comment below if you make this Strawberry Apple Crisp. I love reading your feedback! And if you’d like to make this recipe later, don’t forget to pin it on Pinterest! Happy Baking!

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Strawberry Apple Crisp


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Maria Pagiotas
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8 1x
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Description

This no-fuss strawberry apple crisp is made with fresh strawberries and diced apples topped with a simple one-bowl brown sugar crumble! Serve this crowd-pleasing dessert with a scoop of ice cream for an easy sweet treat!


Ingredients

Scale

Topping

  • 140 g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
  • 110 g (½ cup) light brown sugar
  • 90 g (¾ cup) old-fashioned oats
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 165 g (¾ cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

Filling

  • 624 g (5 cups) peeled and chopped apples, about 5 large apples
  • 55g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 450 g (3 cups) quartered fresh strawberries

Instructions

  1. Butter a 3-quart baking dish (8x11-inch) and set aside.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F/177°C.

Topping

  1. Add the flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to a food processor. Pulse 2-3 times to combine.
  2. Add the butter and pulse 6-8 times or until the mixture resembles a course meal. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.

Filling

  1. Place the apples in a large mixing bowl and combine with the sugar, cornstarch, zest, and lemon juice.
  2. Add the strawberries and gently mix to combine.
  3. Pour the filling into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Evenly sprinkle the topping over the filling.
  4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is browned.
  5. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Notes

  • Storage: Store leftover crisp covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Freeze: Place the leftover crisp into a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
  • Make ahead: Make the crisp topping ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or store in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Add the topping to the filling and bake without thawing.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Category: Pies & Crisps
  • Method: Baking

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  1. Joanna says

    June 21, 2023 at 9:41 am

    Loved this flavor combination! The strawberries become so sweet and delicious. Definitely we will be making this recipe again!

    Reply
    • Maria Pagiotas says

      June 24, 2023 at 1:59 am

      Hi Joanna! I'm happy you loved this recipe. Strawberries make everything delicious 🙂

      Reply

Hello! I'm Maria, a professionally trained pastry chef, blogger, and photographer. Here at The Sweet Occasion, you'll find easy and impressive baking recipes for everyday occasions that save you time. My goal is to inspire home bakers to bake from scratch.

More about me →

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