If you’re searching for the ultimate cozy dessert to impress your friends or simply treat yourself, the Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe is here to steal the show. This dessert is all about marrying tender, fragrant apples with a crunchy, buttery oat topping, then finishing it off with luscious caramel and creamy vanilla ice cream. The magic happens in a cast iron skillet that crisps beautifully, offering a warm, bubbly delight that’s both rustic and elegant. Each bite brings a perfect harmony of sweet and tart, crunchy and soft, that’s downright irresistible.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are simple staples you might already have in your kitchen, yet each plays a vital role in crafting the perfect balance of textures and flavors in this crisp. The apples bring freshness and a slight tartness, while the topping offers a golden, crumbly contrast.
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour: Provides the base structure for the crisp topping, helping it hold together beautifully.
- 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar: Adds rich sweetness with a hint of molasses for depth.
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats: Gives a hearty, rustic crunch that is signature to any apple crisp.
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon: Infuses warm spice that complements the apples perfectly.
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- 3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) room temperature unsalted butter: Binds the topping ingredients and creates a golden, buttery crust.
- 3 large honeycrisp apples: For a sweet and juicy base, peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick.
- 2 large granny smith apples: Adds a tart bite to balance the honeycrisp’s sweetness, also peeled, cored, and sliced.
- Caramel topping: Drizzled over the finished crisp to add luscious, gooey decadence.
- Vanilla ice cream: A creamy, cold contrast that melts into the warm crisp, creating pure comfort.
How to Make Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Skillet
Start by heating your oven to 350°F, a perfect temperature to gently cook apples until tender without burning the topping. Don’t forget to grease your 12-inch cast iron skillet with leftover butter wrappers or a little oil to prevent sticking and help that crisp get a gorgeous golden edge.
Step 2: Mix Your Crisp Topping
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and salt. This mixture has all the sweet and spiced notes that will contrast beautifully with the tangy apples. Adding the cold, room temperature butter in chunks and working it into the dry mix with your hands until pea-sized clumps form is the key here — this chunky texture is what makes the topping wonderfully crumbly.
Step 3: Arrange the Apples
Alternate the honeycrisp and granny smith apple slices in your skillet. This layering not only looks stunning but ensures each bite has a balanced blend of sweet and tart apples. The apples will soften and release their natural juices as they bake, mingling with the topping for incredible flavor.
Step 4: Add the Topping and Bake
Generously sprinkle the oat and brown sugar topping evenly over the apples. Pop the skillet into your preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is nicely browned and the apples are tender when pierced with a fork. The aroma that will fill your kitchen is pure autumn magic.
Step 5: Serve with Caramel and Ice Cream
Once out of the oven, drizzle the warm crisp generously with caramel topping, letting it pool in all those nooks and crannies. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side or atop the crisp brings everything together in a creamy, dreamy finish.
How to Serve Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate your Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe, add a sprinkle of chopped toasted pecans or walnuts for extra crunch. A light dusting of powdered cinnamon sugar can also create a charming finishing touch, perfect for when guests arrive.
Side Dishes
This apple crisp plays wonderfully as a dessert following a cozy dinner or alongside a hot cup of cinnamon-spiced tea or coffee. For holiday meals, pairing it with a platter of roasted vegetables or savory roasted meats balances sweet and savory beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
Try serving individual portions in mini cast iron skillets or ramekins for personal flair. Another fun way is to layer the assembled crisp with whipped cream and caramel sauce in clear glass parfait cups, turning it into a layered dessert parfait that looks impressive and tastes divine.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have leftover crisp (and we wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t), cover the skillet tightly with foil or transfer the crisp to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days. The flavors even marry more upon resting.
Freezing
The Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe freezes beautifully. Cool the crisp completely, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil or place portions in freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating
To bring your crisp back to warm, melty perfection, reheat it in the oven at 325°F for about 15-20 minutes until heated through and the topping is crispy again. Avoid microwaving if possible—your topping deserves to stay crunchy!
FAQs
Can I use other types of apples?
Absolutely! While honeycrisp and granny smith apples balance sweetness and tartness perfectly, you can mix in varieties like Fuji, Gala, or Braeburn to suit your taste preferences or what’s in season.
Do I have to use a cast iron skillet?
A cast iron skillet is ideal because it distributes heat evenly and produces a wonderful crisp crust, but if you don’t have one, a regular oven-safe baking dish will work just fine.
Is it necessary to peel the apples?
Peeling the apples helps create a more tender crisp with fewer chewy bits, but you can leave the skins on if you prefer more texture and extra nutrients.
Can I make this gluten-free?
You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free. This way, you can enjoy the same delicious crisp without gluten.
How do I make homemade caramel topping?
For a rich homemade caramel, melt sugar slowly until amber in color, then whisk in butter and cream off heat until smooth. Let cool slightly before drizzling over your apple crisp for that perfect sweet finish.
Final Thoughts
The Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe isn’t just a dessert; it’s a comforting hug on a plate, perfect for gatherings or quiet nights in. It’s so easy to make, yet so full of flavor and texture that it will quickly become a treasured favorite in your recipe collection. Trust me, once you try this combination of warm apples, crunchy topping, and luscious caramel, you’ll be reaching for it again and again.
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Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp with Caramel Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
A comforting and delicious Cast Iron Skillet Apple Crisp made with a blend of sweet and tart apples, topped with a buttery oat crumble, baked to golden perfection, and served with luscious caramel sauce and creamy vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
For the Apple Crisp
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1 tablespoon chunks
- 3 large honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 3 1/2 cups)
- 2 large granny smith apples, peeled, cored, sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 3 cups)
- Caramel topping, for serving
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the apple crisp.
- Prepare the topping: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, oats, ground cinnamon, and salt. Add the room temperature butter pieces, then using clean hands, gently press and rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms pea-sized clumps or smaller, creating a crumbly texture.
- Grease the skillet: Use the leftover butter wrappers to grease a 12-inch cast iron skillet thoroughly to prevent sticking and add flavor.
- Layer the apples: Alternate the sliced honeycrisp and granny smith apples evenly at the bottom of the greased skillet to provide the fruit base for the crisp.
- Add the topping: Evenly sprinkle the prepared oat and sugar topping over the layered apples, covering the fruit completely.
- Bake the crisp: Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and fork-soft.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve warm with a generous drizzle of caramel topping and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on the side for a perfect dessert experience.
Notes
- Room temperature butter is essential for achieving a crumbly texture in the topping.
- Using a mix of sweet and tart apples adds a balanced flavor profile to the crisp.
- Greasing the cast iron skillet with butter wrappers enhances flavor and prevents sticking.
- Serve immediately after baking for the best texture and warmth.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator and gently reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
