Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking powder until well blended. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender or two forks until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
In another bowl, toss the apple slices with the melted butter, water, lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and flour until evenly coated.
Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading into an even layer. Top evenly with the oat crumble mixture.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is lightly browned and apples are bubbling around the edges.
Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Tips for Making the Best Apple Crisp:
Use firm, sweet apples that hold their shape well during baking. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp are great choices.
Toss the apples with lemon juice to help prevent browning while you prepare the other ingredients.
When cutting the cold butter into the flour, work quickly so the butter doesn’t melt into the flour. Keep butter chilled for best results.
For a crunchy topping, don’t pack down the crumble mixture before baking. Keep it light and fluffy.
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