Apple Crisp

Apple crisp (or crumble) is the quintessential fall dessert.

Served warm with a scoop of ice cream it is hard to beat this easy no frills dessert in deliciousness. It is the perfect end to all the cold weather comfort meals this season brings around and there is just something about it that channels strong feelings of home and family. It makes the house smell delicious too! 

Ingredients:
For the crumble
3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
pinch of salt
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter (salted or unsalted), cold, cut into small cubes
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
For the apples:
3 lbs apples (many varieties will work, I used honey crisp), peeled, cored and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preparation:

Crumble mixture can be made ahead, up to a few days. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar sugars and salt. Cut butter into flour, using a pastry blender or two knives, until mixture is the texture of coarse meal.

This is what a pastry blender looks like

Add oats, and use your hands to toss and squeeze mixture until large moist clumps form. Chill while you prepare the apple filling. In a large bowl, toss apples with lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart baking dish, and sprinkle with topping mixture.

Place dish on a baking sheet and bake until bubbling and golden, 55-60 minutes. Cool slightly and serve. Try it with salted caramel ice cream. It is soooooo good!

Serves 8