Instant Pot Apple Crisp is loaded with apples for a sweet dessert (or breakfast) any time of the year.
Done in about 20 minutes, Instant Pot Apple Crisp is the easiest apple crumble you will ever make!
Note: This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase, this site may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
Can you feel the chill in the air? Warm up with a bowl of sugary, sweet, steaming apple crisp made in your Instant Pot.
As soon as the weather starts to turn cooler, I begin to crave all things apple. I like to grab a bag of fresh local apples (or we often go pick our own!) and make Instant Pot applesauce or a savory bowl of Instant Pot butternut squash and apple soup.
It’s the perfect addition to a crisp fall day.
But my favorite things to make are sweetly spiced Instant Pot apple treats like Instant Pot cinnamon apples and Instant Pot apple butter. The smell that fills the house is comforting and cozy any time of the year.
There is nothing better than seeing the look of joy on my family’s faces when they walk into the house and instantly recognize that a slice of warm Instant Pot apple cake is soon headed their way.
This year, I wanted to make something really special. Instant Pot Apple Crisp is so easy to make but tastes like a million bucks. Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ll be in apple heaven in no time!
More Instant Pot Desserts:
- Decadent Instant Pot Pecan Pie
- Instant Pot Lemon Cheesecake
- Instant Pot Red Velvet Bundt Cake
- Instant Pot Applesauce Cake
Instant Pot Apple Crumble
The best thing about making Instant Pot apple recipes is that they are so easy to make. My Instant Pot apple butter bundt cake and easy Instant Pot apple dump cake are super easy, but both require you to cook in a separate dish inside the instant pot.
Many of my recipes are dump and start – like this Instant Pot Apple Crisp. Just pour in the ingredients and let the Instant Pot do its magic.
This apple crisp can be cooked directly in the insert pot, and it’s so easy to make the topping extra crispy by using the Instant Pot air fryer lid.
You really can’t go wrong with any of my Instant Pot apple desserts, but I know that this Instant Pot Apple Crisp will be an instant hit!
How to Make Apple Crisp In The Instant Pot
It’s really easy to make Instant Pot Apple Crisp.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Filling:
- Water or apple cider
- Granny Smith apples
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Apple cider vinegar (the kind with “the mother,” not distilled) or lemon juice
- Butter
- Cornstarch + water
For the Crisp Topping:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- All-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour of choice)
- Brown sugar, packed
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
How to Make It:
(Full printable recipe is available below)
Add Water. First, you’ll add water (or apple cider) to the base of the Instant Pot insert. This will prevent the apples from burning, and I promise the final result won’t be too watery.
Make the apple mixture. Next, in a separate bowl, you’ll combine the apples with brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and butter. Stir well to coat the apples completely.
Add the apples and cook. Next, you’ll add the apples to the instant pot (don’t stir them into the water–just add them in!) and cook at high pressure for 0 minutes.
Make the apple crumble. Next, you’ll combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Blend in grated butter with a pastry blender until well combined.
Add the apple crisp topping. Then, you’ll do a quick release of pressure and add the cornstarch slurry, stirring to combine.
Sprinkle the apples with the crumb topping. Gently press the topping into the liquid with a spatula and cook using the saute function for 1-2 minutes. This will cook the topping, but it won’t be crispy that way.
Alternately (and my favorite way), you can crisp the topping with the Instant Pot air fryer lid at 400F for 4-5 minutes or you can scoop the mixture into an oven-safe dish, then top it with the crumble and pop it in a hot oven to crisp.
Serve. Last, you’ll scoop generous portions into individual serving bowls. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a really decadent treat!
Notes and Adaptations:
- Yes, the cook time of 0 minutes is correct. The apples will cook as the pot comes to pressure. If your pressure cooker does not have the option to go down to 0 minutes cook time, simply select a 1 minute cook time. When your Instant Pot beeps, indicating that the pot has achieved pressure and the cook time has begun, simply press cancel and perform the quick release of pressure.
- Even with a 0 minute cook time, the apples will be soft. Unless your apple slices are much thicker, I don’t suggest a higher cook time, as this will result in very mushy apples (and likely a pot of applesauce!).
- I prefer to use Granny Smith apples in this recipe because they hold together better than some softer varieties. I leave the peel on to help them keep their shape a bit better as they soften.
- If you are using apple cider instead of water, or if you are using a sweeter variety of apples, you may want to cut back on the brown sugar in the apple filling.
- If you need this to be gluten-free, simply substitute your favorite gluten-free flour or baking mix for the all-purpose flour, and make sure your oats are gluten-free as well.
Recommended Equipment:
- Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker – the Instant Pot Duo Crisp comes with an air fryer lid
- Air fryer lid for other models of the Instant Pot – I have the Mealthy CrispLid but the Instant Pot company makes one as well
Instant Pot Apple Crisp
Instant Pot apple crisp is the perfect way to warm up on a fall day, while making use of autumn's bounty!
Ingredients
- For the Filling:
- 1 cup water or apple cider
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples (approx 2 lbs), unpeeled and sliced to about 1/4"-1/2" thickness
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar (the kind with "the mother," not distilled) or lemon juice
- 2 TBSP butter, melted
- 1 TBSP cornstarch + 1 TBSP water
- For the Crisp Topping:
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour of choice)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 6 TBSP cold unsalted butter, grated
Instructions
- Pour water or apple cider into the insert pot of the Instant Pot.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, and butter. Stir to coat the apples.
- Add apples to the water in the insert pot. Do not stir. Close lid and set vent to the sealed position. Select a cook time of 0 minutes (see note below if your Instant Pot doesn't have this option).
- While the Instant Pot is coming to pressure, prepare the crisp topping by combining oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut in the grated butter.
- Once the cook time is complete, perform a quick release of pressure. Carefully remove lid once the pressure has released and the valve has dropped.
- Gently stir in the cornstarch slurry.
- Sprinkle the crisp topping across the top of the apples. You can gently press the topping down into the bubbling liquid and use the Saute function for 1-2 minutes while the mixture cooks (this will result in a soft crumble topping), OR my favorite option is to use an air fryer Instant Pot lid to crisp up the crumble topping at 400F for about 4-5 minutes. Alternatively, you can transfer the apple filling to an oven-safe dish, top with the crumble topping, and pop it in the oven to crisp up for a few minutes.
- Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.
Notes
- Yes, the cook time of 0 minutes is correct. The apples will cook as the pot comes to pressure. If your pressure cooker does not have the option to go down to 0 minutes cook time, simply select a 1 minute cook time. When your Instant Pot beeps, indicating that the pot has achieved pressure and the cook time has begun, simply press cancel and perform the quick release of pressure.
- Even with a 0 minute cook time, the apples will be soft. Unless your apple slices are much thicker, I don't suggest a higher cook time, as this will result in very mushy apples (and likely a pot of applesauce!).
- I prefer to use Granny Smith apples in this recipe because they hold together better than some softer varieties. I leave the peel on to help them keep their shape a bit better as they soften.
- If you are using apple cider instead of water, or if you are using a sweeter variety of apples, you may want to cut back on the brown sugar in the apple filling.
- If you need this to be gluten-free, simply substitute your favorite gluten-free flour or baking mix for the all-purpose flour, and make sure your oats are gluten-free as well.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 413Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 164mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 4gSugar: 45gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.
Danielle says
My apples were way too soft. I have a high and low setting for pressure cooking on my instant pot. Would setting it to low help?
Chrysti Benner says
Hi Danielle! You could try that–I prefer the apples to be soft, but you could also try low pressure to see if that gets them more to your liking. Let us know how it turns out if you try it that way! 🙂