1. Prepare the Apple Filling

Begin by preparing the apple filling. Peel, core, and chop the apples into small, bite-sized cubes. Place the chopped apples in a large mixing bowl and drizzle them with lemon juice to prevent browning.

Add the granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and flour (if using) to the apples. Toss the ingredients together until the apples are evenly coated. The flour helps to thicken the filling as it bakes, but it’s optional if you prefer a juicier filling.

Once the apples are well mixed with the sugar and spices, set the bowl aside to prepare the crisp topping.

2. Make the Crisp Topping

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir these ingredients together until they are evenly distributed.

Next, add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter, your fingers, or a fork, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. The butter should be evenly incorporated, but you want to keep some small chunks for texture. If you’re adding nuts, stir them in now.

The topping should hold together when pressed, but it should still crumble easily when you handle it.

3. Assemble the Apple Crisp Bites

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a mini muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease it with non-stick spray.

Spoon a generous amount of the apple filling into each muffin cup, making sure to evenly distribute the apples across all 24 cups. You want each bite to have a good portion of apple filling, but avoid overfilling the cups to prevent spillage.

Once the muffin tin is filled with apples, top each cup with a spoonful of the crisp topping. Be sure to cover the apples completely with the topping to create a nice, crumbly crust. Gently press down on the topping to help it adhere to the apples while baking.

4. Bake the Apple Crisp Bites

Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling. You may want to place a baking sheet underneath the muffin tin to catch any overflow from the apple filling.

As the bites bake, the apples will soften and release their juices, and the topping will become crisp and golden. The combination of the soft apples and crunchy topping is what makes these bites so irresistible.

5. Cool and Serve

Once the Apple Crisp Bites are finished baking, remove the tin from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes in the tin. After that, transfer the bites to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve these little treats warm or at room temperature. They’re delicious on their own, or you can serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent dessert.