Tag: apple crisp

An even BETTER Apple Crisp

I shared with you an apple crisp recipe not too long ago – it was one of the best ones I’ve had in a long time. But, I have continued to tweak the recipe and I think I have an even BETTER recipe to share with you.

I made it Sunday to have as dessert after dinner with friends.  Everyone agreed it was fabulous.  And, SuperMan and I have eaten leftovers for breakfast a couple times this week – it makes an awesome breakfast – think Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal but in the best possible way.

One of the secrets to the new and improved recipe is using Grape Nuts cereal as part of the topping. I found just plain oatmeal was a little too soft and not “crispy” enough for me. I wanted a little crunch, but didn’t want to use nuts (the girls don’t care for nuts) in the topping.

I just happened to be reading my December/January issue of Cook’s Country magazine and they had a recipe for a low-fat apple crisp.  I decided to combine the top half of their recipe with the bottom half of my original recipe.  I also added raisins for a little more fruity goodness…

The result?

img_0893

Yummy.

If you are looking for something to add to your holiday menu, I would strongly suggest this little dish.  The version below makes a 9×13 dish and I served it with frozen vanilla yogurt and caramel sauce. *swoon*

Here’s the recipe.

Don’t be afraid to try a little for breakfast! It’s so good… and it’s full of the same breakfast-y ingredients we eat anyway – fruit, oatmeal, cereal, etc.  Why not?

Even Better Apple Crisp

Topping:

1 1/3 cup old fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup Grape-Nuts cereal
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 Tbsp salted butter, diced into cubes and chilled
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt

Filling:

10 cups of apples, peeled, cored & sliced (I used honey crisp apples)
1 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup apple cider (or juice)

Instructions:

  1. Place the sliced apples in a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples.
  4. Pour the apple cider over the apples.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the topping ingredients, adding the butter last and using your fingers to mash the butter into the topping ingredients.
  6. Sprinkle the topping over the apple mixture, spreading to evenly cover the apples.
  7. Bake for 45 minutes or until the juices are bubbling and topping is a deep golden brown. 
  8. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.KitchenAid black Fruit Slicer Wedger

Note: I use my apple slicer to make my slices because I like big, chunky pieces of the apple in my crisp.  You can use diced apples or smaller slices if you choose, I just prefer to have more discrete bites of fruit in my crisp.

My favorite fall dessert

Ah, fall… I love you.

My favorite Season of the year… also the peak harvest time of my favorite fruit to eat – apples!

Mercier Orchards Apples
Mercier Orchards Apples

I have been enjoying some really, really good apples this year.

My “connection” who lives in the foothills of North Georgia has been supplying me with a regular dose of freshly picked apples almost every week since September.

I am in heaven.  I have been eating two or three apples a day.  They satisfy the sweet tooth, the need for something crunchy, and they fill me up when I’m feeling snackish. Perfect.

Not to mention they are super delicious.

And when I have a few more than I know what to do with (which rarely happens) then I make this – my favorite fall dessert – Apple Crisp.

The kids even love it. Super easy, super quick to put together. Kind of like that cobbler recipe I shared earlier this year, except a little more “fall-ish” in flavor and texture. But I bet you could use this same basic recipe with some stone fruits – peaches, plums, nectarines – and have a yummy dessert, too.

So, here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try. I based mine off of this recipe but it was (I thought) way too big for a weeknight dessert so I cut it down some and ad-libbed my ingredients a bit.

Apple Crisp

Prep Time: 10 Min
Cook Time: 50 Min
Total Time: 1 Hr
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

5 cups apples peeled, cored & sliced
(the thicker you slice them the more apple “bite” you will have in your crisp – less mush)

1⁄2 cup sugar (I used granulated honey, but regular sugar is fine, too)

2 tsp flour (all-purpose)

1 tsp cinnamon

1⁄2 cup quick-cooking oats

1⁄2 cup all purpose flour

1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar

1⁄4 tsp baking powder

1⁄4 tsp baking soda

1⁄4 cup butter cut into pieces

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Place your sliced apples in a greased casserole dish (I used 9×5 dish).
  3. In a small bowl, mix 2 tsp flour, sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples.
  4. In another bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, cutting the butter into the mixture until it is incorporated and mixture resembles a coarse blend.
  5. Crumble evenly over apples.
  6. Bake at 350 for 45 –50 minutes or until top is brown and crispy.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and a caramel drizzle (I used caramel ice cream topping) and you will be the hit of the family!

View recipe at plantoeat.com