Name: How To Make Apple Crisp In The Slow Cooker
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 255 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 pounds apples (peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick); 1/4 cup cornstarch or tapioca flour; 14 oz sweetened condensed milk; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup oats; 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (can be gluten-free or almond flour for lower carb); 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg; 2 teaspoons vanilla; 8 tablespoons butter

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Apple crisp in the slow cooker is a homey, hands-off dessert that’s perfect for holiday meals or a summertime treat. With options to customize for dietary needs, this is a wonderful dessert to serve for everyone. Enjoy warm apple filling, brown sugar topping, and of course, a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

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Apple Crisp vs. Apple Crumble

Apple “crisp” and apple “crumble” are often interchangeable dessert terms, and both refer to a cooked apple dessert with a sweet, crumbly topping. Traditionally, crisps contain oats, and crumbles do not. Instead, crumbles have more of a streusel topping.

Since this recipe includes oats, it is more of a true crisp.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

If you’ve ever hosted a meal and had to juggle oven times and temperatures for dinner and dessert, you’ll understand how the slow cooker can be so helpful! Instead of adding another dish to your oven prep, it’s so simple to make this dessert in the slow cooker and stay hands-free.
In this recipe, I have used a mix of apples each time, and it has turned out so delicious! This is a great way to use up that fruit on your countertop with just a few other ingredients for a simple dessert.
The warm spices and rich flavor of this apple crisp are excellent for any season. Serve it with a dollop of whipped cream as a cozy dessert in cold-weather months, or relish summertime with a warm bowl of apple crisp and a scoop of ice cream.
An added bonus to this recipe is how it makes the house smell amazing while it cooks! Nothing homier and more authentic than apples, cinnamon, and sweetness cooking away!
This is an ideal holiday or weekend dessert – easy to prep and transport, and uses a simple ingredient list. Plus, if you have dietary restrictions, this one can be easily modified – I’ve tested this recipe both with dairy and non-dairy ingredients with perfect results each time.

Ingredients Needed

Apple Filling

Apples – Peel and thinly slice 2 1/2 pounds of apples. Slices should be about 1/4 inch thick for even cooking. Use a combination of apple varieties or just one (I recommend avoiding apples that are super tart since you do want a sweeter dessert).
Cornstarch or tapioca flour – Use a ¼ cup of cornstarch or tapioca flour to add some texture and thickener to the apple filling.
Sweetened condensed milk – A can of sweetened condensed milk adds thickness and a slight syrupy element to the apple slices, making it just the right amount of sweet and gooey! Feel free to use the regular version or dairy-free condensed coconut milk.

Topping

Brown sugar, oats, and all-purpose flour – These ingredients form the base of the crumbly mixture that becomes the crisp topping. Oats add texture and a toasty flavor, and you can switch out regular flour for almond flour or gluten-free flour.
Cinnamon and nutmeg – These spices create warmth and depth, and make your kitchen smell simply amazing!
Vanilla – Vanilla extract adds another hint of sweetness and a nice complementary flavor to the sweet and sour apple slices.
Butter – Use a whole stick of butter for this recipe! Be sure the butter is still cool when mixing so that it forms a crumbly mixture.

basket of apples, butter, flour, cream, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in containers

How To Make Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

Apple Filling

Grease the liner of a 3 to 5-quart oval slow cooker.
Peel and slice apples thinly and add to the slow cooker.
Toss apple slices with cornstarch or tapioca flour until evenly coated.

sliced apples mixed with flour in slow cooker

Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk over the slices and mix with a spoon.

sliced apples in a slow cooker pouring cream over

Apple Crisp Topping

In a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients and mix until crumbly with a fork.

The oatmeal is mixed with the other ingredients

Sprinkle over the top of the apple mixture.

Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Pro Tips

I used a combination of sweet and sour apples that I had on my counter, but usually any kind you like will work (as long as they aren’t all sour varieties). Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Braeburn are all delicious varieties with a nice balance of sweetness, tartness, and firmer texture that softens nicely.
I recommend avoiding Red Delicious or McIntosh apples since they can become too mushy.
Use a tool to help cut apples easily, such as a peeler, corer, or slicer.
For a crisp topping, I suggest cracking the lid during the last 30-60 minutes or laying a clean towel under the lid to catch excess moisture.
If you are prepping ahead, note that the topping should be stored separately and added just before cooking.
If the crisp is a bit watery, turn off the slow cooker and let it cool for around 30-60 minutes before serving.
Be sure to peel your apples so that your dessert doesn’t end up chewy.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Want to try a new fruit crisp in the slow cooker? Peeled pear slices are another delicious option with a slightly different flavor. Use either all pears or all apple slices, depending on seasonal availability or the flavor you prefer!
Enhance your slow cooker crisp with add-ins like chopped pecans, walnuts, dried cranberries, or raisins. These add bursts of flavor and texture to the crisp.
Maple syrup or coconut sugar can be used in place of brown sugar.
Prep a gluten-free slow cooker crisp option by using gluten-free oats and almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend.
To make this a dairy-free treat, use coconut sweetened condensed milk and vegan butter.
Canned or jarred apple pie filling could work in a pinch, but fresh is going to produce the best, most flavorful results!

How To Serve Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

If you serve up a bowl of warm apple crisp… You already know you’ll need something creamy and delicious to top it off! Homestyle vanilla ice cream is a classic choice, or add a scoop of fresh whipped cream, a spoonful of Greek yogurt, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.

If needed, look for a dairy-free whipped cream or ice cream option to accommodate dietary needs and feed a yummy dessert to everyone!

This would be the most delicious dessert following a homemade family dinner of Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork or a classic Roast Beef and potatoes meal.

Apple crisp in a slow cooker being scooped on wooden spoon

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover apple crisp in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat a dish of leftover apple crisp in the microwave in short intervals, or warm it up in an oven-safe dish at 350 ℉ for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.