🍏 Apple Chai Crisp

The Ultimate Cozy Fall Dessert with North Fork Chai Co. Chai Concentrate

When the weather cools down in the foothills, there are a few recipes I immediately crave — warm apple desserts, bubbling fruit crisps, and anything scented with cinnamon and cardamom.
This Apple Chai Crisp brings all of those nostalgic fall flavors together in the easiest, most comforting way possible.

If you’ve never baked with chai concentrate before, this recipe will convert you. The chai adds depth, warmth, and a beautiful spice balance without needing to measure 6–8 different spices. Just pour, stir, and bake. It couldn't be simpler.

This crisp has become one of our most-requested recipes at North Fork Chai Co., and it’s a perfect way to use our chai concentrate beyond the mug. If you love cozy fall baking, this one’s for you.

🌿 The Story Behind This Recipe

I grew up around fruit trees here in Newcastle, where apples and persimmons were a part of our family orchard history. The smell of apples simmering with spices always reminds me of those fall afternoons cooking with my mom and grandparents.

Now, running North Fork Chai Co. and Due North Ranch, I find myself recreating those same flavors for my family and my community — but with a little twist.

Adding chai concentrate to apple desserts became a happy accident during a busy fall season at the café. I didn’t have time to pull out all my spices, so I poured in chai concentrate instead. The result?
A richer, fuller, warmer flavor than anything I’d made before.

That’s how this recipe was born — from heritage apples, seasonal baking, and always finding a way to make the process easier and more flavorful.

🍁 Why This Apple Chai Crisp Works

If you’ve tried a lot of crisps, you’ll notice this one stands out because:

✔ The Chai Concentrate Replaces Multiple Spices

Instead of measuring cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg individually, the chai does it all in one step.

✔ The Texture Is Perfect

Tender apples + a golden, crunchy top = the ideal balance of smooth and crisp.

✔ It’s Foolproof

No pie dough. No pastry. No complications.
Just mix, sprinkle, bake, enjoy.

✔ It’s the Perfect Dessert for Gatherings

This crisp holds up well, transports beautifully, and feeds a crowd when doubled.

✔ It Makes Your House Smell Amazing

Apples + chai in the oven is one of the best fall aromas you’ll ever experience.

🍎 Ingredients

This recipe uses simple pantry staples + our signature chai concentrate.

Filling

10 apples, peeled and diced into ½-inch pieces
½ cup chai concentrate
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Topping

1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
½ tsp sea salt
1 tsp cardamom
12 Tbsp (1½ sticks) butter, room temperature

🥄 How to Make Apple Chai Crisp

1. Preheat the oven

Preheat your oven to 325°F (convection).

2. Prepare the apples

Peel and dice all 10 apples into ½-inch pieces.
Place them in a large mixing bowl.

3. Add the chai flavor

Pour in the chai concentrate, cinnamon, and flour.
Stir until everything is evenly coated.
The apples will absorb the chai as it bakes, giving them incredible depth.

4. Make the topping

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, sea salt, and cardamom.
Add the butter and mix with a fork or your fingertips until crumbly.

5. Assemble

Pour the apple mixture into a 9×9-inch baking dish.
Add the crumble topping, covering the apples completely.

6. Bake

Bake for 40 minutes at 325°F, or until:

the topping is golden
the apples are soft
the juice bubbles around the edges

7. Serve Warm

Serve alone, with vanilla ice cream, or a drizzle of caramel.
(The ice cream melting into the chai spices? Magical.)

🍂 Chef Tips for the Best Crisp

Use a Mix of Apples

Granny Smith + Honeycrisp or Fuji = the best flavor and texture.

Don’t Skip the Cardamom in the Topping

It ties the topping to the flavors in the chai concentrate.

Let It Rest

Let the crisp sit for 10–15 minutes before serving so the juices thicken.

Easily Doubled

Make it in a 9×13 pan for parties.

Serve with Chai (obviously!)

A warm chai latte next to a slice of crisp is an unmatched fall pairing.

🍏 Variations & Add-Ins

Add pears for an Apple-Pear Chai Crisp
Add cranberries for a tart holiday twist
Mix in oats for a classic texture
Use maple syrup instead of some brown sugar
Add chopped pecans for crunch

Each variation brings out a different warm-spiced flavor profile.

⭐ Storage + Reheating

Store:

Refrigerate covered for up to 3–4 days.

Reheat:

Warm individual servings in the microwave for 20–30 seconds
— or reheat the whole dish at 300°F for 10–12 minutes to crisp it back up.

Freeze:

This crisp freezes beautifully before or after baking.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake or reheat until warm.

✨ Final Thoughts

This Apple Chai Crisp is everything I love about fall baking: simple ingredients, warm spices, and a dessert that brings people together. The chai concentrate gives it a unique twist that’s deeply comforting — like a warm hug in dessert form.

If you make this recipe, tag us @northforkchaico. I love seeing your creations and sharing the kitchen moments you create with our chai.

Looking for more chai-inspired recipes?
I can create a full recipe page for your site — crisps, cookies, cakes, syrups, and seasonal bakes using your products.

Apple Chai Crisp