Break out your skillet for this Bourbon Apple Crisp with boozy apple slices and an oat pecan topping that makes breakfast tastes like dessert. Get all the fall feels with this warm, cozy treat that’s full of harvest flavors and hearty texture.

You can kill someone six ways to Sunday with a cast iron skillet. Not that I’m counting. (I have to mention that so words like “premeditation” and “malice aforethought” don’t get thrown around in a courthouse one day.)

All I’m saying is that I like what a cast iron skillet offers as a cooking utensil and a potential weapon. It’s a versatile pan. In the kitchen it offers even heating, an easy to clean surface and iron fortifying properties for food.

Plus, nothing beats the sound of a frying pan to the face. Don’t just take my word for it, Anthony Bourdain said that a proper saute pan should cause serious head injury if brought down hard against someone’s skull. I’d go a step further and suggest a preheated skillet for head denting purposes.

Today I’m using my skillet to kill people with kindness. Nothing is nicer than a Bourbon Apple Crisp containing bourbon-splashed apples and sweet cinnamon sugar with a buttery, oat pecan topping. Nothing, that is, except serving the crisp warm with a melty scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

You’ll get all the fall feels from this cozy treat that’s packed with harvest flavors and hearty texture. This no-fail recipe has just the right amount of bourbon to balance out the brown sugar and spices. Try it with some freshly picked apples for a delicious taste of the season.

Baking Tips and Tricks

Before sharing the recipe for Bourbon Apple Crisp, here are a few tips to help you out:

Ingredient Tips

The best bourbon for baking is whatever brand you have on hand. There’s no need to bake with an expensive bourbon, Jim Beam will get the job done.

Dark brown sugar can be substituted for light brown if you want to amp up the caramel flavor.

Choose tart-sweet apples for baking this crisp. Honeycrisp are my favorite baking apples, but feel free to substitute Granny Smith or use a combination of both varieties.

Preparation Tips

For even baking, core, peel and cut apples into 1/4 inch slices.

Nothing says fall like a fruit crisp baking in cast iron, but if you don’t have an iron skillet don’t worry. You can still make this delicious crisp by using a large pie dish.

Storage and Freezing Tips for Bourbon Apple Crisp

After baking and cooling, this apple crisp can be stored covered in the freezer up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, remove covering and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until warmed throughout.

Unbaked fruit crisps can be covered and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the crisp overnight in the refrigerator and then bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

After baking, allow crisp to cool completely then cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

I hope you enjoy this skillet dessert recipe. Please leave a comment and rating at the bottom of this blog when you try it for yourself. And, while you’re at it, sign up for my weekly Recipe Newsletter so you never miss a tempting recipe.

Finally, if you love baking with apples check out these Jumbo Muffin Tin Apple Pies. Featuring fresh, crisp apples coated with dulce de leche, these petit pies are perfect for fall.

Bourbon Apple Crisp

Heather Wolf

Bourbon splashed apple slices and sweet cinnamon sugar bake in a cast iron skillet with an oat pecan crisp for a breakfast that tastes like dessert. Get all the fall feels with this warm and cozy treat that's full of harvest flavors and hearty texture.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Crisps and Crumbles

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Equipment

• 10-inch Cast Iron Skillet

Ingredients

  

Apple Filling

• 5 large Honeycrisp apples peeled and sliced
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
• 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour unbleached
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp sea salt fine
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice fresh
• 3 Tbsp bourbon

Crisp

• 1 cup all-purpose flour unbleached
• 2/3 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp sea salt fine
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter cut into cubes

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Add all apple filling ingredients in a large bowl and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Transfer apple filling to a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
• To make the topping, place flour, oats, brown sugar, spices, salt and pecans in a food processor. Pulse until nuts are chopped.
• Add cubed butter to food processor and pulse until mixture resembles wet sand.
• Using your fingers, sprinkle crumble mixture over apple filling until evenly covered.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until topping is browned and apple juices are bubbling.
• Cool slightly on a wire rack before serving. Serve plain or top with vanilla bean ice cream and/or salted caramel sauce.
• Cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keyword apple, bourbon, cast iron, crisp, crumble, skillet