The Best Easy Apple Crisp to Make with a Child

By Grandma Sandy | February 8, 2023

On Friday, I was looking for an after-school cooking project for N, now in first grade. So, we made Easy Apple Crisp.

This simple recipe was a huge success–both as a learning activity and as a yummy dessert for our Friday night family dinner, which was this week, a pre-Valentine’s Day celebration.

Child stirs topping ingredients to make Easy Apple Crisp. — **N stirs together the topping ingredients.**

The trouble with being a second child is that we continue to think of them as little, even though they’re growing up. While Miss T and I had done a fair amount of baking together by this age, N and I had not.

In fact as an extremely picky eater, I reasoned that getting hands-on involved with cooking and baking might give N a greater appreciation of food. We can only hope.

Easy Apple Crisp, made by a six-year-old, is served with vanilla ice cream. — **N’s Apple Crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.**

Advance Prep

How much preparation you do in advance will depend on the child’s capabilities.

If the child is young or doesn’t have a good attention span, gather all the ingredients and the mixing and measuring tools.
Prepare what you can in advance so the child isn’t waiting between steps. For example, I peeled, halved, and cored the apples, then wrapped them tightly in plastic wrap. I also chopped and pre-measured the nuts.
An older child could have fun gathering the ingredients and equipment, as a kind of treasure hunt. They could also prep the apples and nuts.

About the Recipe

This recipe is laid out so it’s easy for a child to follow. The ingredients are separated by the steps in which they will be used. So, it you need 3/4 cup sugar, divided (some for the topping and some for the filling), the recipe pre-divides the sugar in two separate ingredient sections.

1.) Copy and paste the recipe into a Word document. Enlarge the type so it’s easy for a child to see.

2.) Print the recipe.

3.) Review the recipe in advance of the project.

Prep ingredients and equipment in advance so the child can get right to work and doesn't have to wait around. — **Peel and core apples; then wrap tightly in plastic wrap to retard browning.**

The Child’s Role

1.) Read the recipe with the child so they are clear on the steps. If the child can read, have them read the recipe aloud.

2.) Have the child measure the ingredients, following the recipe.

3.) Have the child cube the apples with a table knife. It doesn’t matter if the cubes aren’t even. They’ll all meld together.

Easy Apple Crisp

Equipment Needed:

Medium mixing bowl
Large mixing bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Table knife for cutting apples
Cutting board
Plastic or waxed paper for greasing
8-inch square baking pan
Pot holders

For the Topping:

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
4 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into pieces

For the Filling:

1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
About 4 large apples, peeled and cored (the child will cube the apples to make 4 cups)

To Assemble:

Butter for greasing pan

Method:

Heat oven to 375° F.

To make the topping: In a medium bowl put oats, sugar, flour, and nuts; stir to mix well. Add butter and squish it into the dry ingredients with fingers, until the butter is incorporated into the dry ingredients and forms small crumbles.

Child uses hands to mix butter into dry ingredients for the topping. — **Squish the butter into the dry ingredients to form crumbles.**

To make the filling: In a large bowl, put the sugar, flour, and cinnamon; stir to mix well.

Using a table knife, cut the apples into 3/4-inch cubes to make 4 cups. Add apples to sugar mixture and toss apples with hands to coat.

Child uses a table knife to cut apples for Easy Apple Crisp. — **N cuts cored apples into cubes with a table knife.**

To assemble: Grease an 8-inch-square baking pan with butter. Pour apples into pan, leveling surface. Sprinkle with topping, spreading evenly.

Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until topping is golden, apples are tender, and juices are bubbling.

Makes 6 servings.

Child puts 4 cups of apple cubes into mixing bowl to toss with other ingredients. — **N adds the apples to the mixing bowl.**

Baking Tips:

Apples suitable for baking, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Cortland or Braeburn, will give you best results. Here’s a guide.
Dress up this dessert if you like, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
About 4 large apples will make 4 cups of 3/4-inch cubed apples.

Easy Apple Crisp is designed for kids to make. — **Easy** **Apple Crisp is a recipe designed for kids**.

Grandma Tip:

While this is a single, self-contained cooking activity, you can include this recipe in a more comprehensive summer vacation activity program for the grandkids.

What Kids Learn

Kids will take great pride in having baked a dessert to share with the family. N proclaimed himself the Apple Master!

They learn to:

Develop confidence and pride in achievement
Follow instructions
Enhance motor skills
Practice measuring and basic math
Appreciate a deferred reward as they wait for the dessert to bake

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