If you love the cozy, comforting flavors of apple crisp but want to switch things up a bit, you’re going to adore this Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe. Trust me, this treat hits that perfect sweet spot between dessert and snack, with a crisp crust, tender apples, and that irresistible, crumbly topping. I absolutely love how it comes together quickly and makes for such a fun twist on traditional apple desserts — you’ll want to make it again and again!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together with simple ingredients and minimal prep, perfect when you want homemade without the fuss.
- Fun Twist: Combining apple crisp flavors on a pizza crust makes dessert feel playful and unexpected.
- Perfect for Sharing: Cut into slices, it’s ideal for serving at gatherings or family nights.
- All-Around Delicious: The warm apples, cinnamon, oatmeal crumble, and caramel drizzle create a mouthwatering combo every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe lies in using simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that work so well together. The key is to pick apples that hold their shape but soften nicely, and don’t be shy about using good-quality butter and real caramel for that extra touch.
- Pie crust: I like making my own when I have time, but store-bought pie crust works great and saves time.
- White sugar: Sweetens the apples just right without overpowering.
- All-purpose flour: Helps thicken the apple filling and is part of the crumble topping.
- Ground cinnamon: Essential for that cozy apple spice flavor.
- Apples: Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, or Empire are my favorites—they’re sweet and stay firm when baked.
- Brown sugar: Adds depth and moisture to the crumble topping.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: For texture and a hearty crumble — avoid instant oats here.
- Salted butter: Using salted butter in the topping balances the sweetness perfectly; if you use unsalted, sprinkle a bit of salt on top.
- Caramel topping: Drizzling this warm after baking takes the pizza from good to swoon-worthy.
Variations
One of the things I love about this Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe is how easy it is to customize. Feel free to make it your own depending on what you have handy or your family’s tastes.
- Try different apples: I once swapped in Granny Smith for a tarter bite, and it gave the pizza a lovely contrast to the sweet topping.
- Make it gluten-free: Use a gluten-free pie crust and gluten-free oats to accommodate dietary needs without losing texture.
- Add nuts: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts into the topping for an extra crunch that my family goes crazy for.
- Spice it up: Add a touch of nutmeg or ginger to the cinnamon mix—trust me, it wakes up the flavor beautifully.
How to Make Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Crust and Apple Filling
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Roll out your pie crust to fit a 12-inch pizza pan, folding the edges under gently to create a raised rim that holds all those delicious apples. In a medium bowl, combine white sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Toss in the peeled, diced apples—about 4 cups of them—and mix until well coated. Spread those apples out in an even, single layer across your pie crust, making sure every bit is covered.
Step 2: Mix and Add the Topping
For the topping, combine flour, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and softened salted butter in a bowl. I like to get my hands in there and squeeze everything together until it feels like wet sand—that texture means it will crumble perfectly in the oven. Sprinkle this crumbly topping evenly all over the apples, covering every inch. This part is where that crisp magic really happens!
Step 3: Bake and Drizzle
Bake your Apple Crisp Pizza at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the apples are tender and bubbling, and the topping is golden brown and crisp. Right after you pull it out of the oven, drizzle half a cup of caramel topping all over the warm crisp. This warm, sticky drizzle is what takes this dessert over the top. Let it cool just enough to slice, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream if you want to spoil yourself a little.
Pro Tips for Making Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe
- Use Fresh Apples: I’ve found that fresher apples hold up better and taste brighter, so always pick firm, crisp apples for the best texture.
- Don’t Overmix the Topping: Mix just until crumbly. Overworking the butter can melt it and make your topping dense instead of crisp.
- Watch Baking Time: Ovens differ, so check your pizza at 35 minutes to avoid overbaking, which can dry it out.
- Salted Butter Magic: Using salted butter in the topping gave me such a balanced sweetness the first time—I never go back to unsalted without adding extra salt now.
How to Serve Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep it simple with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream right on top—this melts into the warm apple crisp pizza and creates a dreamy combo. Sometimes a sprinkle of chopped toasted nuts adds a nice crunch and a bit of color, which makes it look extra inviting.
Side Dishes
This pizza is sweet and satisfying enough on its own, but I love pairing it with a hot cup of spiced chai tea or even a glass of cold milk for the kids. For brunch or a festive occasion, a simple green salad with tangy vinaigrette balances the sweetness nicely.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, I cut this Apple Crisp Pizza into small, bite-sized squares and arrange them on a pretty board with fruit and cheese — such an unexpected crowd-pleaser! Layering with caramel drizzle just before serving really thrills guests who get that first sticky, sweet bite.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover slices keep well covered at room temperature for a day or two, but I prefer refrigerating them—especially if you’ve topped with caramel. I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to keep the topping crisp as much as possible.
Freezing
I’ve frozen leftover Apple Crisp Pizza slices wrapped tightly in foil and then placed in a freezer bag. When I’m ready to enjoy, I thaw them overnight in the fridge and then reheat gently. The crumble topping stays nicely textured, and the apples don’t turn mushy.
Reheating
I reheat slices in a 325°F oven for about 10 minutes to warm through without drying out the crust or topping. If you’re in a hurry, a quick zap in the microwave works but can soften the crisp topping—oven reheating is my go-to for best results.
FAQs
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Can I use a store-bought pie crust for this Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe?
Absolutely! Store-bought pie crust works perfectly and saves time. Just make sure to roll it out to fit your pizza pan and fold the edges under to hold the filling and topping well.
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What kind of apples are best for this recipe?
I recommend using medium-firm apples like Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, or Empire. They hold their shape while baking and have a nice balance of sweetness and tartness.
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Can I make this Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe ahead of time?
You can assemble it ahead and keep it covered in the fridge for a few hours before baking. Baked leftovers are also great and store well refrigerated or frozen for later enjoyment.
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Do I have to use caramel topping?
The caramel drizzle is the cherry on top that really elevates this dessert, but if you want to skip it or try something different, a powdered sugar dusting or a simple maple syrup drizzle also works well.
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How do I get the crumble topping crisp and not soggy?
Use old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant), mix the topping until it feels like wet sand, and avoid overmixing to keep it crumbly. Also, bake until golden and let it cool slightly to set.
Final Thoughts
This Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe has become one of my favorite go-to desserts when I want something that feels special but isn’t complicated. It’s perfect for those moments when you want to impress family or friends with minimal effort, and I love how versatile it is. Give it a try—you’ll find it brings a little cozy happiness to the kitchen that’s pretty hard to beat.
Print
Apple Crisp Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Apple Crisp Pizza combines the comforting flavors of a classic apple crisp dessert with the fun and shareable format of a pizza. Featuring a flaky pie crust base, a cinnamon-sugar apple filling, a crunchy oat topping, and a luscious caramel drizzle, it’s the perfect warm dessert to serve with ice cream for a crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 1 (9 inch) homemade pie crust (or store bought)
Apple Filling
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cups peeled and diced apples (such as Gala, Fiji, Braeburn, Empire; diced into 1/4 inch pieces – about 4 apples)
Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup salted butter, softened (see Notes)
Drizzle
- 1/2 cup caramel topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the apple crisp pizza.
- Prepare crust: Roll out the pie crust to fit a 12-inch pizza pan. Fold under the edges slightly to create a raised crust that will hold the filling.
- Make apple filling: In a medium bowl, combine white sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add the peeled and diced apples and toss well to coat evenly in the mixture.
- Assemble apple layer: Spread the apple mixture in a single, even layer over the prepared pie crust, covering the surface completely.
- Prepare topping: In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, cinnamon, and softened butter. Use your hands to mix and mush the ingredients together until the texture resembles wet sand.
- Add topping: Sprinkle the prepared oat topping evenly over the layer of apples on the crust.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.
- Drizzle caramel: Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle the caramel topping evenly over the warm apple crisp pizza.
- Serve: Cut the apple crisp pizza into slices, serve warm, and optionally pair with ice cream for an extra indulgent dessert.
Notes
- Using salted butter in the topping helps balance the sweetness of the dessert. If you opt for unsalted butter, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the crisp topping before baking to enhance the flavors.
- This dessert is best served warm and pairs beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- You can use any variety of apples suitable for baking; a mix of tart and sweet apples adds complexity to the flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12th of pizza)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg