Cooking Lesson #392: Easier Than Pie Warm Apple Crisp

The 2021 Holidays Recipe Collection

How you doin’? My Warm Apple Crisp is crisp, crunchy, easy to make and deee-licious. It has a nice crunchy cinnamon topping over brown sugar and cinnamon coated apple slices. I like to make it when I feel too lazy to make a “real” somewhat fussy apple pie or I just run out of time. It is best to the serve the crisp 30 minutes or so after taking it out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
 
Apple cobbler recipes date back to colonial days here in the United States. However, Apple Crisp is a relatively new apple dessert first mentioned in a 1924 cookbook. According to Canadian Living, "A ‘crisp’ is a baked fruit dessert topped with a crisp and crunchy layer of ingredients. The topping may include a proportion of sugar, butter, oats, nuts, flour and a spice such as cinnamon, tossed together to gain a somewhat granular look. The dessert is baked just until the topping is crisp and golden."
 
Apple Crumble is synonymous with Apple Crisp in the U.K. and Australia, but in Canada and the U.S., it is a slightly different dish. Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter. According to Canadian Living, "The topping is generally clumpier than a crisp topping, but not as clumpy as a cobbler topping." How do you like them apples?
 
Prep time:  15 minutes
Bake time:  35 minutes
Yield:  1-9 inch square pan / 6-8 servings
 
Ingredients 
4 large tart green apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup instant oats
1 large beaten egg
3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375⁰ F.
2. In a 9-inch square baking pan, mix the sliced apples with the brown sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, granulated sugar, remaining cinnamon, salt, pecans and oats.
4. In a small bowl, beat together the egg and melted butter. Stir into flour mixture and spread evenly over the apples.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and crisp.

ChefSecret:  When selecting the right variety of apple for the Crisp use a firm, crisp Granny Smith or Honeycrisp variety. These are the most popular apples to use in apple pies and apple crisps. Golden Delicious is another great choice for a crisp. You can use just one variety or, for added depth of flavor, use an assortment of varieties when baking an apple crisp.

Quip of the Day: “A core belief is that apple quips make me smile.”
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Have a wonderful safe and healthy holiday season. If you have a little extra in your pockets to share with others at this difficult time, please consider donating to Feeding America. 

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                                            ©Perspectives/The Consulting Group, Inc., 2021

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