Easy Camp Stove Maple Apple Crisp

As the weather cools and the colors change, it’s time to cozy up with warm, comforting food, and what better way to celebrate the change of the seasons than with a classic fall dessert, warm maple apple crisp. 

This recipe is a quick and easy spin on the classic apple crisp. By cooking over the camp stove, this simple apple crisp cuts down cooking time to approximately 15 minutes, all without compromising on that classic crunch and sweet cinnamon flavor of a baked apple crisp. This means you can spend less time cooking over the campfire, and more time hanging with your friends while enjoying a warm, delicious dessert. 

Want to switch it up a bit? Try this recipe out for breakfast! Instead of serving it with whipped cream or ice cream, add the sautéed apples and crunchy topping to a bowl of Greek yogurt to create a tasty and satisfying camping breakfast.

What Apples Are Best to Use for Maple Apple Crisp? 

With seemingly endless varieties of apples out there, it can be difficult to know which one to select for an apple crisp. This recipe uses Gala apples because of their mild, pleasant flavor, as well as their slight acidity which balances the added sweetness of the maple syrup. They also cook in less time than other apples, taking about seven minutes until softened. Other apples that would work well in this recipe are Fuji or Honey Crisp. 

A very common apple for pies or baking is Granny Smith because of their tartness and how they remain firm when baked. If you are using Granny Smith for this recipe, increase the sweetness (maple syrup or brown sugar) by at least half, as Granny Smith apples are significantly more tart than Gala apples. You may also need to sautée for slightly longer, about 14 minutes, until soft. 

Ultimately, you can use almost any apple for this recipe and just adjust the added sweetness depending on how tart the apple is. 

Can I Prep This Recipe Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! Prepping camping food ahead of time is a great way to cut down on stress and mess when camping. 

For this recipe, you can pre-cut the apples before heading out on your trip. Quick tip: toss slices in a little lemon juice before storing in a sealed container in the fridge/cooler. This will help prevent them from browning. You can pre-cut these 3 to 5 days ahead of time. 

You can also pre-measure the oats, brown sugar, and nuts ahead of time, so that when you’re cooking the crisp topping you don’t have to worry about measuring out the exact amounts.

How to Store Leftovers

Store the leftover apples and crisp topping separately in sealed containers in the fridge or cooler for up to two days. If you store them together, the moisture from the apples will soften the crisp topping and you will lose that delicious crunch. Reheat separately on the camp stove. 

Easy Camp Stove Maple Apple Crisp

Serves two people

Equipment Needed

• Large frying pan 
• Wooden spoon
• Cutting board and knife 
• Camp stove 
• Bowl and spoon 

Ingredients

For the Apples

• 1 to 2 large Gala apples, diced or sliced 
• 1 Tbsp butter 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 
• Splash of maple syrup (1/2 to 1 tsp)

For the Crisp Topping

• 2 to 3 Tbsp butter 
• ½ cup old-fashioned oats or quick oats 
• 2 tsp brown sugar 
• ¼ cup walnuts or pecans 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 

Instructions 

1. Dice or slice apples into uniform pieces. Melt 1 Tbsp of butter in a medium size pan on medium heat. Add the apple pieces, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Sautée together until apples are softened, about seven minutes. 
2. Spoon apples into a bowl. Return pan to heat and add another 2 to 3 Tbsp butter. Once melted, add the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts, and sautée together until browned and crispy, about five minutes. 

3. Sprinkle over apples and top with whipped cream and ice cream, or serve over Greek yogurt for a delicious breakfast. 

Perfect for dessert or a breakfast treat, I hope you enjoy this maple apple crisp on your next camping trip! 

Carlin is a lover of all things outdoors, adventure, and food! She is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys activities like camping, hiking, biking, snowboarding, and surfing—especially in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta and BC, Canada. She combined her passion for food and the outdoors and decided to start her outdoor food blog, Camp Kitchen, where she shares easy, delicious, and approachable recipes for the outdoors. 

Image credit: Carlin Frimmel