Apple Crisp on the Grill
By America's Test KitchenPublished on July 3, 2025
Time
1½ hours
Yield
Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
Topping
¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour ¾ cup pecans, chopped fine¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats ½ cup packed (3½ ounces) light brown sugar ¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon table salt 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, meltedFilling
2½ pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, halved, and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ cup apple cider 2 teaspoons lemon juiceBefore You Begin
We like Golden Delicious apples here, but you can use any sweet, crisp apples, including Honeycrisps or Braeburns (don't use Granny Smiths). Rolled oats make the best-textured topping, but quick-cooking oats can be used. You will need a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
Instructions
- Combine ¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour, ¾ cup finely chopped pecans, ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup packed (3½ ounces) light brown sugar, ¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon table salt in medium bowl. Stir in 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter until mixture is thoroughly moistened and crumbly.
- Toss 2½ pounds Golden Delicious apples (peeled, cored, halved, and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges), ¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon together in bowl; set aside.
- FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter mounded with charcoal briquettes (7 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour into steeply banked pile against 1 side of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s). (Adjust primary burner as needed to maintain grill temperature between 425 and 450 degrees; if using 3-burner grill, adjust primary burner and second burner.)
- Place 10-inch cast-iron skillet on hotter side of grill and melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add apple mixture and cook (covered if using gas), stirring occasionally, until just tender and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer skillet to cooler side of grill and gently stir in ½ cup apple cider and 2 teaspoons lemon juice until apples are coated.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit, breaking up any large chunks. Cover and bake until fruit is tender and topping is golden brown, 20 to 40 minutes, rotating skillet halfway through baking. Transfer skillet to wire rack and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve.
for the topping
for the filling
Time
1½ hoursYield
Serves 6 to 8Ingredients
Topping
¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
¾ cup pecans, chopped fine
¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup packed (3½ ounces) light brown sugar
¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling
2½ pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, halved, and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges
¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup apple cider
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Ingredients
Topping
¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
¾ cup pecans, chopped fine
¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup packed (3½ ounces) light brown sugar
¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling
2½ pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, halved, and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges
¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup apple cider
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Ingredients
Topping
¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour
¾ cup pecans, chopped fine
¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup packed (3½ ounces) light brown sugar
¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon table salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Filling
2½ pounds Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, halved, and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges
¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup apple cider
2 teaspoons lemon juice
Why This Recipe Works
A cast-iron skillet is the key to producing perfectly tender deep-dish apple crisp outdoors. You'll use the skillet to precook the apples, driving off excess juice while adding caramelized flavor. Apple cider, lemon juice, and cinnamon enrich the filling, which you'll cover with a buttery oat-and-pecan blanket before grill-baking the whole thing until golden and fragrant.
Before You Begin
We like Golden Delicious apples here, but you can use any sweet, crisp apples, including Honeycrisps or Braeburns (don't use Granny Smiths). Rolled oats make the best-textured topping, but quick-cooking oats can be used. You will need a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
Instructions
- Combine ¾ cup (3¾ ounces) all-purpose flour, ¾ cup finely chopped pecans, ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats, ½ cup packed (3½ ounces) light brown sugar, ¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon table salt in medium bowl. Stir in 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter until mixture is thoroughly moistened and crumbly.
- Toss 2½ pounds Golden Delicious apples (peeled, cored, halved, and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges), ¼ cup (1¾ ounces) granulated sugar, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon together in bowl; set aside.
- FOR A CHARCOAL GRILL: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter mounded with charcoal briquettes (7 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour into steeply banked pile against 1 side of grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.FOR A GAS GRILL: Turn all burners to high; cover; and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s). (Adjust primary burner as needed to maintain grill temperature between 425 and 450 degrees; if using 3-burner grill, adjust primary burner and second burner.)
- Place 10-inch cast-iron skillet on hotter side of grill and melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet. Add apple mixture and cook (covered if using gas), stirring occasionally, until just tender and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer skillet to cooler side of grill and gently stir in ½ cup apple cider and 2 teaspoons lemon juice until apples are coated.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over fruit, breaking up any large chunks. Cover and bake until fruit is tender and topping is golden brown, 20 to 40 minutes, rotating skillet halfway through baking. Transfer skillet to wire rack and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve.
for the topping
for the filling
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