Meg's Award-Winning Apple Crisp Recipe

October 05, 2026 Becca Lemmon

Apple orchards have always felt like home to me. The rows of trees, the cool fall air, the smell of something sweet and earthy ripening on the branch. When I decided to plant my own, I had no idea how much patience it would require, or how much I would learn from waiting. Orchards don't rush for anyone. Neither does a good apple crisp.

This apple crisp has won awards from Grit Magazine and people are constantly asking for the recipe, so I thought it was about time to share it with the world!

Meg's 'Grit Magazine' Apple Crisp

For the Apples:

6 large apples — peeled, sliced, and chopped into ½ inch pieces
2 tbsp honey — plus extra for drizzle
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 fresh lemon, juiced

For the Topping:

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup old fashioned oats
¾ cup flour (or GF flour)
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
½ cup cold butter cut into small cubes
3 tsp vanilla extract — yes, that much

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8x8 baking dish and set aside.
In a mixing bowl combine chopped apples, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Stir to combine then pour into prepared baking dish.
In a separate bowl combine topping ingredients — brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, salt, cold butter, and vanilla. Using a pastry cutter or fork work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles pea size crumbs.
Spread topping evenly over the apples and gently pat down. Drizzle honey over the top. Bake 40-45 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Serve warm. Best enjoyed with good company and a crisp fall evening.

Apple Benefits for Skin & Body

You've heard the phrase "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Here's why that's true:

Apples feed your gut microbiome: Pectin fiber acts as a prebiotic, feeding the good bacteria in your gut and on your skin.
Antioxidants fight aging from the inside out: Quercetin and vitamin C neutralize free radicals that cause dullness, fine lines, and uneven tone.
Applied topically, apples brighten and balance: Alpha hydroxy acids gently exfoliate dead skin cells and fade dark spots without irritation.
Apple cider vinegar restores your skin's natural pH: Naturally antibacterial and balancing, apple cider vinegar cleanses deeply without stripping moisture.

Apple Skincare for Apple Lovers

Apple Butter Salt Bar: Sea salt acts like a miniature water softener for your skin. Cocoa butter restores velvety softness, and the smell of crisp, buttery apples, make every wash feel like fall in your hands.

Fall Orchard Soap: In this soap, apple cider vinegar cleanses and balances, while tallow and beeswax seal in moisture. Smells of fragrant apple peels, mulling spices, and orchard air.

Golden Hour Body Wash: Avocado oil, coconut oil, and silk protein nourish the skin without stripping it. This fresh spiced apple body wash will remind you of sunny fall days and apple picking.

Forbidden Harvest Candle: This one isn't skincare, but it smells amazing and fits the theme. This candle smells of crisp apples and cool orchard air. It's clean burning organic soy wax fills your space with the nostalgic scent of a fall afternoon in the orchard.