Chef John’s New Apple Dessert Is So Lazy It’s Genius

If there’s one chef I trust above the rest, it’s probably Chef John. It seems every recipe he puts his mind to comes out better than I expect, so I find myself returning to him often. 

Not only do his recipes teach the basics of cooking, but there are so many tips and tricks to learn from and apply to your home cooking. That’s the case with Chef John’s new apple crisp recipe, which he twists to make even easier than it already is.

“I love the flavor of a classic apple crisp, but what I don’t always love is the texture of those larger slices of apples you get under the crisp,” says Chef John. If you feel the same way, then this lazy but luxurious version of an apple crisp recipe is for you.

What Makes Chef John’s Apple Crisp Lazy?

“According to a recent made-up study, the main reason people listed for not making an apple crisp was the peeling, coring, and slicing prep on apples,” says Chef John. “Well, thanks to this new great technique, that is no longer a valid excuse.”

I agree. If there’s one reason that stops me from making any apple dessert, it’s peeling, coring, and slicing apples. There is very little about this prep step that is lazy. But Chef John finds a nifty way around this problem: Grate your apples.

That’s right. Pull out your cheese grater and shred your apples. Instead of peeling and slicing, this technique is faster and safer for those that don’t have the best knife skills. “The only thing to look out for here is to not grate in too far,” says Chef John. If you start seeing seeds flying into your apples, you’ve grated too far into the core.

The result is an apple crisp that is the easiest you’ll ever make and unlike any other you’ve probably tried. The fine, grated apples maintain some bite while resembling the flavor of apple butter. Along with the crispy topping, the texture between the two is perfect.

Tips for Making Chef John’s “Grate” Apple Crisp

One Allrecipes reviewer said, “This instantly is going to replace my previous Apple Crisp recipe. This was so much quicker to make and I love the added crunch from the Grape Nuts. Home run!”

• If you thought grated apples were the only new aspect of this recipe, think again. Chef John also includes grape nuts (yes, the cereal), which helps bring an ever crispier texture to the dessert.
• If you don’t have light brown sugar, dark brown sugar will work just fine. “For recipes like this, light brown and regular dark brown sugar are pretty much interchangeable,” says Chef John. “The only difference is that the dark has more of a molasses flavor.”
• If you want to give this apple crisp a stronger lemon flavor, add in lemon zest along with the lemon juice. You won’t just get the acidity of this fruit but also the sweetness of the zest.