Fluffy Instant Pot Apple Crisp

Fall desserts hold a special place in my heart, and nothing beats the smell of apples and cinnamon filling up the kitchen. But some days, I just don’t have the patience to wait around while a traditional apple crisp bakes in the oven. That’s exactly why I fell in love with making it in my Instant Pot.

I discovered this shortcut version last autumn when my kids were begging for their favorite dessert, but I was short on time before our family movie night. Now it’s my go-to recipe when I want something warm and comforting without the long wait. I’ll often prep the topping while I’m making dinner, so when it’s time for dessert, I just need to core the apples and let the Instant Pot work its magic.

Want the taste of grandma’s apple crisp but only have 30 minutes? This recipe has you covered. Craving something sweet for a weeknight treat? Same here. Trust me, once you try making apple crisp in your Instant Pot, you might never go back to the oven method.

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

For apple crisp, you’ll want to choose apples that hold their shape when cooked and offer a good balance of sweet and tart flavors. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Pink Lady apples are all excellent choices, and you can even mix two or three varieties for more complex flavor. When picking your apples, look for firm fruits without any soft spots or bruising – these will give you the best texture in your finished dessert. For this Instant Pot recipe specifically, try to slice your apples into even-sized pieces (about 1/4 inch thick) so they cook uniformly under pressure.

Options for Substitutions

This apple crisp recipe is pretty flexible and can work with several substitutions:

• Apples: Any baking apple works here! Try Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Pink Lady. Mix and match different varieties for more complex flavors. Just avoid Red Delicious as they tend to get mushy.
• Liquid base: The recipe gives you options of apple juice, cider, or water. You can also use white grape juice or pear juice. Each will add its own subtle flavor notes.
• Old-fashioned oats: Quick oats can work in a pinch, but they’ll give you a less crispy topping. Steel-cut oats won’t work here as they need longer cooking times.
• All-purpose flour: Feel free to use whole wheat flour, oat flour, or a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. Almond flour works too, but use only 1/3 cup as it’s more dense.
• Brown sugar: You can swap this with coconut sugar, maple sugar, or even regular white sugar plus 1 tablespoon of molasses. For a sugar-free version, try monk fruit sweetener designed for baking.
• Spices: No nutmeg or cloves? Apple pie spice works great as a replacement for all the spices. Or just stick with cinnamon – it’ll still taste good!

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making Instant Pot apple crisp is ending up with a soggy topping instead of the crispy, crunchy texture we all love – to avoid this, make sure to pat your topping mixture firmly onto the apples and use the air fryer lid or broiler for 3-5 minutes after pressure cooking. Another common mistake is cutting your apple slices too thin, which can turn them into mush during pressure cooking – aim for 1/2 inch thick slices to maintain some texture while ensuring they cook through. If your filling turns out too watery, remember to mix your cornstarch with a bit of cold liquid first before adding it to the hot apple mixture, as adding it directly can create lumps. For the best flavor balance, try using a mix of tart and sweet apples (like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), and don’t skip the resting time of 5-10 minutes after cooking to allow the filling to thicken properly.

What to Serve With Apple Crisp?

This warm and cozy apple crisp practically begs for a scoop of vanilla ice cream right on top – the way the cold, creamy ice cream melts into the warm apples is just perfect! If you’re feeling fancy, you could drizzle some caramel sauce over everything, or add a dollop of fresh whipped cream instead. For breakfast or brunch, I love serving it with a spoonful of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of honey, which makes it feel a little more wholesome. You could also pair it with a hot cup of coffee or spiced chai tea to really bring out those wonderful fall spices.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This apple crisp stays good in the fridge for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container. The topping might lose some of its crunch over time, but it’s still super tasty! I actually think the flavors get even better after a day or two as everything melds together.

Freeze: You can freeze your apple crisp for up to 3 months! Just wrap it well in plastic wrap and foil, or store it in a freezer-safe container. Keep in mind that the topping might not be as crispy after freezing, but the flavor will still be there.

Warm Up: To enjoy your apple crisp again, warm it up in the oven at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes until heated through. If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works too – just heat individual portions for 30-45 seconds. Pro tip: add a fresh sprinkle of cinnamon before serving to bring back that fresh-baked aroma!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	10-15 minutes
Total Time	25-35 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2800-3200
• Protein: 30-40 g
• Fat: 150-180 g
• Carbohydrates: 400-450 g

Ingredients

• 9 cups sliced apples
• 1 cup of your choice: apple juice, cider, or water
• 2 additional tablespoons water (helps with steaming and pressure cooking)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
• 2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar (up to 3/4 cup if desired)
• 3/4 cup melted butter (opt for grass-fed or coconut oil for a healthier choice)
• 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg (up to 1/4 teaspoon if preferred)
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (use only with unsalted butter)

Step 1: Prepare the Instant Pot and Apples

Spray or grease the liner of the Instant Pot using an olive oil spray or avocado oil spray to prevent sticking.

Core and slice the apples, and peel them if desired.

For the best consistency, consider peeling half of the apples.

Place the sliced apples into the greased Instant Pot.

Step 2: Season the Apples

Add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of salt to the apples.

In a separate measuring cup or bowl, combine your apple juice, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract.

Pour half of this juice mixture over the apples, and add an additional 2 tablespoons of water.

Set aside the remaining liquid.

Step 3: Thicken the Apple Mixture

In a small bowl or cup, mix arrowroot flour or cornstarch with about 2 tablespoons of water.

Add this thickening mixture to the apples and stir until the apples are well coated and the cinnamon is evenly distributed throughout.

Step 4: Prepare the Oat Topping

In a large bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, the remaining cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt (only if you’re using unsalted butter).

Add melted butter to the mixture and stir until all ingredients are well combined.

Step 5: Assemble the Apple Crisp

Pour the oat topping over the apples in the Instant Pot.

Smooth out the oat mixture to ensure all apples are covered.

Gently pour the reserved apple juice mixture over the oat topping, being careful not to disturb the topping.

Step 6: Cook and Serve

Close the Instant Pot and set the valve to sealing.

Press the Manual button and set a cooking time of 1 minute.

The Instant Pot will take between 7 to 10 minutes to reach pressure before the countdown begins.

Once the cooking time is finished, perform a quick steam release.

Transfer the crisp to another baking dish and let it cool for ten minutes before serving.

Alternatively, if you prefer a crisper topping, transfer the apple crisp to an oven-safe dish and broil it in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes to brown the topping.

Serve warm as is, or with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, or whipped cream.

A delightful option is serving it with vanilla frozen Greek yogurt.

Enjoy!