Apple Crisp Dessert Pizza with Sourdough Pizza Crust
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Apple Crisp Pizza is everything you love about warm, spiced fall desserts baked onto a crisp sourdough crust. It’s sweet, tart, buttery, and crisp all at once, layered with tender cinnamon apples and topped with a crunchy oat crumble. It’s like apple pie meets apple crisp meets pizza night, and yes, it totally works.
The recipe uses a homemade apple pie filling and crisp topping baked over sourdough pizza dough. You can prep everything ahead of time, then bake it all together until bubbling and golden. It’s a crowd-pleasing dessert that slices easily and serves like pizza, perfect for brunch, holidays, or a weeknight baking project.
Why You’ll Love Apple Crisp Dessert Pizza
- Crisp Meets Pizza: A buttery oat topping gives this dessert extra crunch and texture in every bite.
- Fall Flavor Packed: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and tart apples give it the ultimate cozy flavor profile.
- Great for Sharing: Slices like pizza so it’s easy to serve at parties, potlucks, or brunch.
- No Pie Crust Needed: Skip the hassle. Pizza dough bakes up perfectly chewy and golden.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep the apple filling and crisp topping in advance to save time.
Ingredients Needed To Make Apple Crisp Dessert Pizza
Make sure you scroll down to the recipe card to see the full list of ingredients needed for this recipe.
Crisp Topping
- Rolled oats
- Ground cinnamon
- Butter, melted
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Optional: chopped pecans or walnuts
Apple Pie Filling
- Granny Smith apples
- Lemon juice
- Sugar
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ground nutmeg
- Water
- Cornstarch + water (slurry)
Other
- Sourdough pizza crust (premade or from scratch)
Oven Temperatures
Oven temperatures can vary significantly from one oven to another. To achieve consistent results, it’s crucial to know the exact temperature inside your oven. The safest and most accurate way to determine this is by using an oven thermometer. This simple tool can help you avoid underbaking or overbaking your treats.
Variations and Substitutions
- Apple Swap: Try Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples for a sweeter filling.
- Nut-Free Option: Skip the pecans and it’s still delicious.
- Shortcut: Use store-bought apple pie filling and focus on making a homemade crisp topping.
- Crust Alternatives: Use store-bought dough, flatbread, or puff pastry.
How To Make Apple Crisp Dessert Pizza
- Make the Crisp Topping: Mix oats, cinnamon, flour, salt, and nuts if using. Add melted butter and work into coarse crumbs with a fork or your hands. Bake on a sheet if you want it extra crispy.
- Cook the Apple Filling: In a stockpot, combine apples, sugar, spices, and lemon juice. Simmer until tender, stir in cornstarch slurry, and cook until thick. Let cool.
- Prebake the Crust (Optional): For a crispier base, bake your dough at high heat for a few minutes before topping.
- Assemble and Bake: Spread apple filling over the crust. Top with the crisp mixture. Bake until golden and bubbling.
- Cool and Serve: Let it cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm or at room temp.
Commonly Asked Questions
How Should I Store Leftovers?
Let the pizza cool completely, then store slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to crisp the crust back up.
Can I Freeze Apple Crisp Pizza?
Yes. Wrap slices tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat directly from frozen in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
Can I Make This Ahead of Time?
Absolutely. You can prep the apple filling and crisp topping up to 2 days in advance. Store them in the fridge and assemble just before baking.
What’s the Best Type of Dough to Use?
A tangy sourdough crust pairs beautifully with the sweet filling, but any pizza dough works. You can also use flatbread or puff pastry in a pinch.
Do I Have to Prebake the Crust?
Not required, but prebaking helps keep the bottom from getting soggy and adds extra crunch.
Apple Crisp Pizza
Equipment
- Baking sheet or pizza stone
- Knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
Crisp Topping
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 4 tbsp butter melted and cooled slightly
- ½ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free 1.1 flour
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: ¼ cup chopped pecans or sub walnuts
Apple Pie Filling
- 5 cups Granny Smith apples peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ lemon juiced
- 1 cup sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/16 tsp ground cloves
- 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch + 3 tbsp water slurry
- 1 sourdough pizza crust premade, or test dough
Instructions
- Melt butter and let cool slightly.
- In a bowl, combine oats, cinnamon, flour, salt, and nuts if using.
- Add butter and work with fingers or a fork until large crumbs form.
- To bake separately: Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread mixture thin on a baking sheet and bake 20–30 minutes until golden.
Make the Apple Filling
- In a large stockpot, combine sliced apples, lemon juice, sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and water.
- Simmer on low to medium heat for 15 minutes, until apples are tender.
- Mix cornstarch with water in a small bowl to form a slurry.
- Stir slurry into the pot and cook until mixture thickens to pie filling consistency. Remove from heat.
To Assemble the Pizza
- Roll out sourdough pizza dough to desired thickness.
- Prebake the crust at 450°F for 6–8 minutes (optional, for extra crispness).
- Spread apple pie filling evenly over the crust.
- Top with crisp topping.
- Bake at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling.
- Cool slightly before slicing.
Notes
Crisp Topping Substitution Options
- Butter: Can sub with melted coconut oil or vegan butter
- Pecans: Swap with almonds or skip altogether
Apple Filling Substitution Options
- Apples: Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady for a sweeter result
- Sugar: Use coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- Spices: Add ½ tsp vanilla or swap nutmeg/cloves with allspice
Nutrition
This dessert is one of those that feels a little extra but is surprisingly simple to make. If you love the warm spiced flavors of apple crisp and the chewy texture of pizza crust, this combo is a no-brainer. It’s a hit every time I make it and always gets people asking for seconds and the recipe.