Ingredients
The Apple Part
- 1 medium apple (about ¾ to 1 cup diced) – sweet or tart, up to you
- 1 to 1½ teaspoons maple syrup or packed brown sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A tiny pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice (or a light squeeze)
- 1 teaspoon water
Any apple works here. Fuji, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Gala… even one of those half-bruised ones in the back of your fridge.
Want a more intense flavor? Mix sweet and tart apples. Want it sweeter? Use a naturally sugary apple like Ambrosia or Pink Lady.
The Crisp Topping
- 2 tablespoons rolled oats (or quick oats)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (or almond/oat flour for GF version)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or maple sugar)
- ½ tablespoon cold butter (or coconut oil, chilled — about 1½ teaspoons)
- A small pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
If you’re making a single serve apple crisp no oats, just leave them out and sub in extra flour or crushed nuts.
Want it vegan? Use coconut oil. Watching calories? Dial back the butter and sugar a bit.
This topping is easy to tweak depending on what you’ve got in your pantry—and your mood.
Instructions
Step one – Prepping the Apple
Peel the apple if you want. Some folks like the texture with skin on, others prefer it soft and smooth.
Chop it up into small cubes. Smaller pieces cook faster and soften better in the microwave.
Toss the apple into a small microwave-safe bowl or ramekin. Add your cinnamon, maple syrup or sugar, nutmeg, lemon juice, and a splash of water.
Mix it up so everything’s evenly coated. That warm apple pie aroma? It starts right here.
Now microwave the apple mix by itself for about one minute. This softens it a little and gets the juices moving before you add the topping.
Step two – Making The Crisp Topping
You want something that adds crunch, a lil sweetness, and that golden finish that makes apple crisp… well, crisp.
In a small bowl, combine your:
- oats
- flour
- brown sugar
- a pinch of salt
- and butter or coconut oil
Use your fingers or a fork to mix it up. You’re looking for crumbly bits, not a paste. The butter should coat the dry stuff without melting in. Cold butter is the trick here.
Add a few chopped walnuts or pecans for extra texture. Or toss in a sprinkle of cinnamon to match the filling.
Step three– Assemble & Microwave
Spoon your oat mixture right on top of those warm cinnamon apples. Don’t stir it in—this is a topping, not a mix. Just press it gently so it settles a little over the apple layer.
Microwave the whole thing for about 1 minute 30 seconds. Stop and check. Is the fruit bubbling? Is the top kind of golden and set?
If it still looks pale or soft, give it another 15 to 30 seconds. Just don’t overdo it or the topping goes soggy.
Once it’s done, let it sit for a minute. It’ll be lava hot straight out of the microwave. Letting it cool slightly also helps the crisp firm up a bit more.