Microwave Apple Crisp — 🍎🍏🍁 It’s hard to believe something SO GOOD can be made in the microwave – and in just 5 minutes but it’s true! This microwave apple crisp comes together in just 5 minutes and generously serves one person, or very shareable for two. Top it with a scoop or ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce for the ultimate FAST and EASY treat!
Table of Contents
Quick Microwave Apple Crisp
This microwave apple crisp is the best and easiest thing to make with all those apples you bought because they were on sale. You don’t need to turn on your oven and it’s ready in 5 minutes.
I’m a big fan of crumbles, crisps, and anything with a crumbly or streusel topping. Those buttery, brown sugary nuggets with texture from oats get me every time.
But while I like baking crumbles, usually I don’t need or want a whole pan. It’s the type of dessert that’s really best served warm, with a big dollop of whipped cream or ice cream on top, and after the first, warm juicy piece, the leftovers just don’t measure up.
This quick apple crisp serves one generously, or two more modestly if you feel like sharing.
The apple base layer, comprised of apples, tossed with butter, cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, and a pinch of cornstarch cooks in just a couple minutes after adding the topping mixture. The cinnamon, brown sugar, and oatmeal topping is tossed together in a minute.
You get all the scent benefits that waft through the house as if you’d baked a traditional apple crisp, except you don’t have to heat up your house and it’s ready in 5 minutes.
Breakfast, snack, dessert, a midnight snack for one. So many ways to go with this microwave baked apples dessert.
Ingredients for Microwave Apple Crisp
To make this single serving apple crisp, you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Old-fashioned oats
- All-purpose flour
- Spices
- Salt
- Apple
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Microwave Apple Crisp
Making apple crisp in microwave is fast, easy, and delicious! Here are the basic steps:
- Make the apple crisp topping by stirring the ingredients together until they resemble the texture of fine sand.
- Lay the diced apple in a microwave-safe bowl and top with butter. Microwave 1 minute to soften the apples.
- Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir in the remaining apple crisp ingredients.
- Sprinkle the crisp topping over the apple mixture.
- Return to the microwave for another 2 minutes and cook until done. (Done means juicy, bubbly, rich, and caramely.)
Recipe Tip
Make sure to use a microwave-safe bowl or baking dish that’s got enough room for expansion. The apples release a fair amount of juice, the butter melts, and the whole thing puffs and rises as it cooks. Take that into account so you don’t have an overflow situation.
Recipe FAQs
You can use really any apple variety you’d like for this microwave apple crisp recipe. I used a Fuji apple, but Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Jonagold would all work too.
No, this quick apple dessert won’t turn out right if you skip the cornstarch.
I’ve only made this recipe with old-fashioned rolled oats before, so I’m not sure if quick oats will work here. They’re not as chewy as rolled oats and might make the apple crisp topping too dry.
I’m not sure! I’ve only ever made this microwave apple crisp with fresh apples. You may be able to substitute fresh pears, but I can’t say for certain.
I used a fair amount of both cinnamon (2 teaspoons) and nutmeg (1 teaspoon) because I’m fond them, and like things more boldly spiced. If you don’t like as much pop from cinnamon or are more sensitive to nutmeg, dial down the spices, to taste. You could also work in pinches of pumpkin pie spice, ginger, cloves, allspice, or other warming spices you enjoy.
This is a question that I get frequently for this particular recipe and I only make it as it’s written. It’s a sweet treat and to keep it as such, I use the sugar quantities as indicated in the recipe. You could perhaps reduce 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar (in whichever section you’d like, base layer or apple layer) but I personally would not do more. Not only does sugar provide flavor, it adds structure and stability to desserts, too.
Storage Instructions
In the fridge or at room temp: Crumble is best warm and fresh, but leftover portion will keep airtight for up to 3-4 days.
In the freezer: Let cool to room temp, then seal inside an airtight freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months.
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5-Minute Microwave Apple Crisp for One
Ingredients
Crisp Topping
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (or vegan butter substitute)
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons old-fashioned whole rolled oats, use Certified Gluten Free Whole Rolled Oats if necessary
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or Certified All-Purpose Gluten-Free Baking Blend
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch salt, optional and to taste
Apple Base Layer
- 1 medium apple, diced in about 1/4-inch cubes (I did not peel mine, peel if you wish; I used Fuji, use any variety you like)
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter, or vegan butter substitute
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- optionally add pinches ground ginger, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, allspice based on taste preference
Instructions
- Make the Crumble Topping
- In a small bowl, combine all crumble topping ingredients and stir together with a fork until small pebbles and sandy crumbs form; set aside.
- Make the Apple Base Layer
- In a small to medium-sized microwave-safe bowl or baking dish, add apples and top with butter. Don’t use an overly shallow dish because the apples will release juices, the butter melts, and it will rise and puff in the microwave, and it will overflow if bowl is too shallow.
- Cook for 1 minute on high power to soften apples.
- Remove bowl from micro and add the sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, optional salt, optional other spices, and stir to combine and coat evenly.
- Evenly sprinkle with the crumble topping.
- Cook for about 2 minutes on high power, until juicy, bubbly, and topping is set. Due to variance in microwaves, climate, apples and their variable moisture content, cooking times could range from 1 1/2 minutes to slightly over 2 minutes. Start watching it carefully at 1 1/2 minutes and stop cooking when done; don’t overcook.
- Serve immediately. Optionally serve with whipped cream or ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Caramel Apple Crumble Foil Packs – EASY, zero cleanup, made on the grill (or oven) in record time, and tastes amazing!
Cinnamon Roll Apple Crisp – A layer of cinnamon rolls topped with apples and a crunchy oatmeal crumble makes this the ULTIMATE apple crisp!
Carrot Apple Cream Cheese Tunnel Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – If you like carrot cake, you’re going to LOVE this version that includes apples and a tunnel of cream cheese that runs through the center!
Sugar Cookie Apple Crumble Cheesecake Pie – A buttery sugar cookie crust, tangy cream cheese filling, tender juicy apples, and a crumble topping make this pie a total SHOWSTOPPER!! EASY and THE BEST apple pie!
Apple Fritter Bread — The bread tastes as decadent as the apple fritters of my childhood, no deep frying required and it’s more like cake disguised as bread.
Originally published September 12, 2013 and republished with updated text August 14, 2020.
This is THE DESSERT you want to have after a breakup. Super sweet and delicious.
This is THE DESSERT you want to have after a breakup. Super sweet and delicious.
Thanks for the 5 star review and very sorry to hear about your breakup :( But glad you had this at least.
One THOUSAND calories?? I feel like that may be overestimated but I’m not sure… and over a hundred grams of sugar. It seems like this is listed as a dessert which I suppose makes that less shocking, but I’m here because this recipe was on a “healthy” breakfasts list and I was very excited at first. After reading and stuff I don’t think it really qualifies haha
Also I did the calculations myself and the computer generated “1000” calories is not that far off…
Im sure it tastes absolutely delicious and I think this is a great 5 minute dessert, so don’t get me wrong on that. I would probably split it though if at all possible lol
I removed the optional ice cream and the calories just jumped down to 894. I still believe this is very high for what it is but I personally don’t have the time to calculate it.
As the disclaimer says, it’s computer generated AND it makes a very generous serving for one. I personally couldn’t eat it all and share it, at which point you’re looking in the 400 cal range, which is what the average Starbucks drink is.
And as with anything, it’s a dessert and you don’t have to make it if it doesn’t suit your needs.
Too much nutmeg!
Too much nutmeg!
As with any spices or seasonings, adjust to your personal tastes.
Actually turned out great. Used quick oats instead of normal ones, trippled the oats and flour(everything else same), used coconut oil instead of butter and cooked everything for about 2 minutes extra both for the apple and also for the whole thing as needed extra due to adding the extra ingredients and finished it up in the oven for about 2 min on 190. C.
Actually turned out great. Used quick oats instead of normal ones, trippled the oats and flour(everything else same), used coconut oil instead of butter and cooked everything for about 2 minutes extra both for the apple and also for the whole thing as needed extra due to adding the extra ingredients and finished it up in the oven for about 2 min on 190. C.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad it turned out great for you!
I love to add stevia in every recipe I cook because Stevia contains zero calories and can be up to 350 times sweeter than traditional sugar, so you can use much less in recipes.
Yo… It’s over 1000 calories what the- Please tell me that’s a typo?! And 2 TABLEspoons of butter?? A tablespoon of butter is 100 calories just FYI… ummm… yikes…
Yo… It’s over 1000 calories what the- Please tell me that’s a typo?! And 2 TABLEspoons of butter?? A tablespoon of butter is 100 calories just FYI… ummm… yikes…
The nutrition stats are provided as a courtesy by way of computer-generated info and may not be as accurate as if you manually calculate the info.
If this recipe doesn’t work for your needs, you can always skip it and make something else.
This was simple to make but I found it impossibly sweet… my 7 year old loved it though. I think I would need to halve the sugar. Besides that great easy dish :)
Some apples are sweeter than others, and also everyone has different levels of sugar sensitivity, so just adjust to taste of course next time. Glad your 7 year old loved it though!
I just made this , I think it’s really delicious. There is A LOT of sugar in this, I think I would halve the amount of sugar. I would also double the amount of crumble, mine ended up completely juicy/bubbly/gooey right up to the top. Also I made 2 of these for my partner and myself, but this could definitely feed a family of 4. Only one is needed for 2 people. But something I will definitely make again just with these small adjustments!
Glad you will make it again.
I made this as a study snack and I LOVE THIS RECIPE! It is soooo easy and even more delicious. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad you love it!
Just tried this with gluten free flour – turned out great, and perfectly satisfied the craving! Had to sneak around the house so my siblings couldn’t follow their noses and try to steal some! ;)
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad the gluten-free flour worked out great!
I made this today but multiplied the ingredients by 3 and baked it in the oven at 375°F for 30 min. Turned out delicious! My two boys and I loved it. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that tripling the recipe worked great!
Angelica – I think I would like to try to make this in the oven too! What size pan did you use?
This is one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. Life changing
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad this is life changing and one of the most delicious things you’ve ever made!