Cardamom Spiced Apple Crisp (Printable)

Tender apples spiced with cardamom and topped with a buttery oat-almond crumble, baked to golden perfection.

# Ingredient List:

→ Apple Filling

01 - 6 medium apples (about 2 lbs), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Crumble Topping

09 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
10 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
12 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, combine sliced apples with lemon juice, sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, and salt. Toss until all apple slices are evenly coated with the spice mixture.
03 - Spread the seasoned apple mixture in an even layer across the prepared baking dish.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together oats, flour, brown sugar, almonds, cardamom, and salt. Add cold butter cubes and use your fingers or a pastry blender to work the mixture until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
05 - Distribute the crumble mixture evenly over the apple filling, covering the surface completely.
06 - Bake for 40 minutes until the topping turns golden brown and the apple filling begins to bubble around the edges.
07 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Cardamom transforms ordinary apples into something unexpectedly elegant and aromatic.
  • The crumble topping is crunchy, buttery, and hits that perfect texture balance every single time.
  • It fills your entire house with warmth while baking, and tastes just as good the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip the lemon juice, even though it seems like a small detail. It prevents the apples from browning and makes the cardamom taste brighter instead of dull.
  • Keep your butter cold until the very moment you mix it with the dry ingredients, otherwise your crumble becomes dense instead of crunchy.
03 -
  • Toast your almonds lightly in a dry skillet for two minutes before chopping them, which makes them taste nuttier and more vibrant in the final crisp.
  • If your apples are very large, cut them into slightly smaller pieces so they cook through evenly by the time the crumble is golden.
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