Ina Garten's favorite apple recipe is one that fans have been making for twenty years

It’s even better than grandma’s.

Nothing says fall like apples. And no one does that home-made comfort like Ina Garten. Put the two together and it’s no wonder she has a delicious apple crisp that we can’t wait to make in the fall. While it’s hard to go wrong with a combination of butter, brown sugar, oats, and sweet, yet tart fruit, Ina’s Old-fashioned apple chips proves that some recipes rise above the rest. So what makes her dish different? Get your peeler, mixing bowl and best baking dishand we will discuss.

What makes Ina Garten’s Apple Crisp so good?

At first glance this seems like one apple dessert like everyone else. However, when you look more closely at the ingredients, you notice something extra. Garten adds the zest and juice of an orange and a lemon to the typical apple-sugar mixture, along with a dash of freshly squeezed juices. Cinnamon and nutmeg elevate the filling even more. These add-ins help brighten the sweet apple flavor while emphasizing the sourness in a more balanced way. The warming spices round out the sweetness and add an earthy depth. This harmonious blend makes all the difference in an otherwise classic favorite.

If you want a more pure apple flavor and aren’t a fan of citrus, this may not be for you. Test it out Ina’s favorite apple pie recipe of all time. Or try our beloved apple crisp recipe instead, which is just as fantastic (with over 6,000 five-star reviews!) but has a simpler flavor profile. Each has a time and a place.

Fans of Ina’s version – originally published in her cookbook “Barefoot Contessa Parties!” in 2001 – have received rave reviews in the past month, saying they’ve “made this five times in the last month” or “have been doing this for years, at least 20 times.”

Then she posted the dish on Instagram years agothis ‘all-time favorite’ got nothing but love. “This is an indispensable part of my home!” and “I made this recipe… and my husband said they were the best chips he’s ever had – even better than his grandmother’s, which is high praise!” But that wasn’t the only thing grandma comparison. “I made this and my mother gave me the ultimate compliment. She said it tasted just like my grandmother’s apple crisp. Thank you Ina!” For others, it’s not a holiday without this dessert: “Have made it for Thanksgiving for the past 20 years.”

How do you make Ina Garten’s old-fashioned apple chips?

First of all: the type of apple is important (ask the apple farmers themselves!). Garten mentions McIntosh or Macoun, but you can use your favorite baking variety, such as Jonathan, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith, to name a few. Although the recipe page itself does not specify this, Garten suggests using quick-cooking Irish oatsand the online community agrees quick oats are a must. She also uses an electric mixer make the crumb topping. Others recommend cutting the apples into larger slices, about 1/2 inch thick, so that the texture remains intact. Apart from these notes it’s a piece of cake (easier then cake) 9×13 dish to knock together – the hardest part is waiting to dive in. Just don’t forget the citrus fruits and herbs.

Another recommendation as soon as it comes out of the oven? Serving the comforting bowl of warm, sweet, satisfying apple chips with “good vanilla ice cream.” The result is a treat that your guests “will drool over,” according to Ina. And when the Barefoot Contessa speaks, we listen.

Ingredients

Filling:

5 pounds McIntosh or Macoun apples
Grated peel of 1 orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup of oatmeal
1/2 pound cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees Celsius). Butter a 9x14x2 inch oval baking dish.
Peel the apples, remove the core and cut them into large wedges. Combine the apples with the peels, juices, sugar and spices. Pour into the bowl.
To make the topping, combine the flour, sugars, salt, oatmeal, and cold butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until the mixture is crumbly and the butter is the size of peas. Divide evenly over the apples.
Place the chips on a baking sheet and bake for an hour until the tops are brown and the apples are bubbly. Serve hot.

Recipe courtesy of Barefoot Contessa.