Browned Butter Bourbon Apple Crisp
Bourbon Apple Crisp features a spiced apple filling flavored with bourbon and browned butter, plus an oat-gingersnap topping. Love apple desserts for Thanksgiving?
I’ve partnered with EVITE® to bring you this Thanksgiving apple dessert recipe.
This Thanksgiving classic dessert is elevated with a hint of bourbon and gingersnap oatmeal streusel topping. Served with a scoop of ice cream, this is the perfect dessert for using up those fall apples!
Tools Needed to Make Bourbon Apple Crisp
You’ll need a few kitchen tools to prepare this delicious dessert recipe. Here’s what I recommend having on hand before getting started:
- Measuring Cups and Spoons – to measure the recipe ingredients
- Medium Bowl – to make the gingersnap oatmeal streusel topping.
- Pastry Cutter – to cut the butter into the topping mixture. Alternatively, you can use a food processor if you prefer.
- Cast Iron Skillet – first, you’ll use the skillet to brown the butter. After that, you’ll add the filling ingredients and cook together.
- Wooden Spoon – to stir the apples.
- Wire Whisk – to whisk cornstarch into the filling mixture.
- Casserole Dish – to bake the pecan bourbon apple crisp in. Alternatively, it can also be baked in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet, individual cast iron skillets, or individual dessert ramekins.
Bourbon Apple Crisp Ingredients
For an added touch of fall flavor, I made this bourbon apple crisp with an instant oatmeal and gingersnap cookie topping. It takes just a few extra moments to prepare, but it’s worth the effort!
Here’s what you’ll need to add to your shopping list for the oatmeal topping and the apple filling:
For the Crispy Oat Crumble with Pecans
- Gingersnap Cookie Crumbs
- Brown Sugar
- All Purpose Flour
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Unsalted Butter
- Oats
- Pecans
For the Apple Mixture
- Unsalted Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Bourbon
- Vanilla Extract (this homemade bourbon vanilla extract would be amazing!)
- Sliced Apples
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
- Cornstarch
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this easy apple crisp, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Bourbon Apple Crisp
This apple bourbon crisp is as easy as making the topping and filling, assembling the crisp in a baking dish or skillet, and baking it!
- Make the topping: Whisk together the dry ingredients, then use a fork or pastry cutter to cut in the butter. Set aside crumble mixture until ready to bake.
- Make the filling: Place a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add the butter to the hot skillet and cook until light brown specks form at the bottom of the pan. The butter is done “browning” when it has a nutty smell. If you’ve never made browned butter before, check out this tutorial on how to brown butter.
- Add and Cook: Add the brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the butter. Cook, stirring to combine all of the ingredients and whisk the cornstarch in, cooking until sauce thickens.
- Assemble the Apple Crisp: in the prepared baking dish, placing the apple crisp topping on top of the apples.
- Bake: Bake until the crunchy topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
The above is simply a quick summary of this brown butter bourbon apple crisp recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Make Ahead Instructions
The individual components (the filling and the crumble) can easily be made in advance and kept separate; either the day before or earlier in the day. The rest of the crisp can be assembled just before baking.
- Topping: can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in a zip top bag in the refrigerator.
- Filling: The bourbon apple crisp filling can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before baking.
Bourbon Apple Crisp FAQs
Got questions about how to make this homemade apple crisp with bourbon? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
What are the best apples to use for apple crisp?
When I make this recipe I prefer to use a mix of several different kind of apples: Honeycrisp apples and jonagold, pink lady apples, gala, or granny smith. Any mix of baking apples will do, but I generally use 2 apple varieties.
What’s the best bourbon for apple crisp?
Since this bourbon apple crisp only uses 1/4 cup of bourbon, you don’t have to buy the most expensive option – just choose something that is a middle of the road price point or use whatever you keep on hand for your favorite cocktails.
Specific brands of bourbon that we like include:
- Bulleit Bourbon
- Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey
- Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
- Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon
These all have tasting notes of caramel and vanilla – perfect for this brown butter bourbon apple crisp!
What can I substitute for pecans?
For this recipe, I recommend walnuts or hazelnuts in place of pecans.
Can I leave out the pecans?
Yes, if you don’t have any pecans or someone you are serving this to has a nut allergy, then you can. leave the pecans out.
What size dish should I bake apple crisp in?
For a full sized dessert, you can bake this bourbon apple crisp in a 10-inch cast iron skillet, a 9×13 pan, or a ceramic baking casserole dish, such as a 1 1/2 quart gratin pan.
How to Serve Bourbon Apple Crisp
This Thanksgiving apple dessert is delicious all on its own, but it tastes even better served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, some whipped cream, and/or a drizzle of bourbon caramel sauce.
Tip: leftovers is really good with Greek yogurt for breakfast!
Storage Instructions
Since the apple filling is cooked, it’s safe to leave the crisp at room temperature for up to two days. Cover it loosely with a towel or foil.
Does apple crisp need to be refrigerated?
Not if you eat it within two days of making it! Otherwise it’ll need to be refrigerated.
Can apple crisp be frozen?
Yes – in an airtight container! Let it come to room temperature before freezing up to three months.
Note that you can freeze the entire apple crisp (in a freezer- and oven-safe baking dish) or your can freeze individual portions. If you freeze the entire crisp in an oven-safe dish, you can reheat it from frozen.
You can also freeze the components individually before baking. Then, thaw / assemble / bake at a later date.
How to Reheat Leftovers
To warm leftover bourbon apple crisp, bake for 10 to 15 minutes in a 250ºF oven just before serving. You can reheat individual servings or the entire baking pan.
Alternatively, you can warm the fruit crisp in the microwave in 15 second intervals until your desired temp is reached.
Try this Bourbon Apple Crisp!
Next time you’re looking for apple desserts for Thanksgiving, give this Bourbon Apple Crisp recipe a try!
Did you think it was the perfect way to enjoy warm apples? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this baked apple dessert.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of baked bourbon apple crisp!
What Readers Say About this Recipe
★★★★★
5 Star Review –
“Two of my favorite recipes of yours for Thanksgiving are this brown butter bourbon apple crisp recipe and your cranberry orange relish!” – Laura
More Thanksgiving Apple Desserts:
Apple Cranberry Crisp is the perfect addition to your holiday table. It features a sweet apple and tangy cranberry filling topped with a crunchy oatmeal crisp topping.
This Apple Crisp with Oatmeal Crumble Topping is an elevated take on the classic dessert. Serve as is or enjoy with a scoop of ice cream!
This Deep Dish Apple Cranberry Pie is the kind of pie you convince yourself is perfectly okay to eat for breakfast once Thanksgiving is over.
Made with a homemade crust and filled with fresh cranberries and apples, this Apple Cranberry Galette would be perfect for Thanksgiving!
This Cinnamon Applesauce Bread with Walnuts is perfect for fall and features some of fall’s best flavors, such as cinnamon, apples, and walnuts. For an extra wow, try serving it with Instant Pot Apple Butter!
Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.
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Do you like bourbon apple desserts?
Browned Butter Bourbon Apple Crisp
Browned Butter Bourbon Apple Crisp is a delicious, easy dessert recipe for Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
For the Topping
- 1/3 cup gingersnap cookie crumbs
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 5 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes
- 1/3 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/4 cup chopped pecan pieces
For the Filling
- 4 tablespoons butter, sliced
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 cup Bourbon
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (try homemade bourbon vanilla extract)
- 2 pounds peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples - I prefer a mix of Jonagold or Honeycrisp and Gala
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- pinch salt
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
For the topping:
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the gingersnap cookie crumbs, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Add the butter to the bowl and cut into the flour mixture, using a pastry blender or two knives, until the flour mixture is a coarse meal.
- Stir in the oats and pecans, using your hands to squeeze the topping mixture into larger clumps.
- Store in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble and bake the crisp.
For the Filling:
- To brown the butter: Place a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat.
- Add the butter to the hot skillet and melt, whisking frequently.
- As the butter cooks, it will foam up a bit.
- Continue cooking and light browned specks will form at the bottom of the pan.
- The butter is done "browning" when it has a nutty smell.
- Add the brown sugar, bourbon, vanilla, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to the butter.
- Cook, stirring to combine all of the ingredients, until the apples release their juices and begin to soften, about 10 minutes.
- Whisk the cornstarch in and cook just until the sauce thickens, about a minute more.
- Remove from heat.
To assemble and bake:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Grease a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with butter.
- Pour the apple filling in the prepared pan.
- Remove the crisp topping from the refrigerator and crumble over top of the apples.
- Place the casserole on a rimmed baking dish.
- Bake at 375 degrees F until bubbling and golden, approximately 30 - 45 minutes.
- Tent loosely with foil if the topping begins to brown too much.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
To prepare the gingersnap cookie crumbs, place store-bought (the crunchy variety) gingersnap cookies in a food processor and pulse until they are a fine crumb.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 315Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 170mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 3gSugar: 22gProtein: 2g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
This post is brought to you by EVITE. I have been compensated for my time, but all opinions are my own.
Laura says
I showed this to Nik (who never eats dessert on thanksgiving) and he said he’d eat this for sure! Thanks for posting this just in time for the holidays!
Sandy @ RE says
Great tips and such a yummy recipe. For sure delegating is my #1 tip so I don’t have to do it all! Happy TG month, Katie!
Katie Goodman says
Thanks for stopping by, Sandy! I agree, being able to delegate is so important this time of year.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
This is one gorgeous crisp! I was going to host Thanksgiving but plans literally just changed this year and I’m no longer doing it at my house, can’t say I’m too upset about that, it’s a TON of work!
Katie Goodman says
I know what you mean! I hosted several years in a row. It is both fun and exhausting, so sometimes it is a relief to just be a guest. Enjoy that this year 🙂
Susan says
I’ve used Evite for years, love that site! This crisp looks incredible! I just want to dig in and that topping is just perfect!
Lauren @ Healthy Delicious says
I feel so lucky that I don’t have to host any holidays….I have a family full of people (not me!) who love entertaining. These are great tips though and I LOVE that apple crisp!
Katie Goodman says
That is so awesome. It is really nice to sometimes just get to be a guest at the home of someone who is really happy to do all of the hard work of entertaining.
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
I always love it when people use evite so it’s easy to add to my calendar. Apple crisp is always a hit at our house.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
That looks like a skillet of hapiness, and great tips too!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
I am definitely into practicing for Thanksgiving. I’m making my turkey today
Carolyn says
Browned Butter. Bourbon. Apples…you’ve hit all the right notes here, for this recipe and for your tips!
Sally says
Wow that looks delicious! Can’t wait to try the recipe myself. Love the evite invitation too, I didn’t know they had holiday options.