Cookbook:Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp
Category	Dessert recipes
Difficulty

Cookbook | Ingredients | Recipes | United States | Dessert

Apple crisp is a dessert made up of a baked apple filling and a crispy crumb topping. It is similar to cobbler, which has a biscuit-like (USA biscuit that is) or cake-like topping. It is also similar to a crumble, and the terms 'crisp' and 'crumble' may occasionally be used interchangeably. According to some traditions, crisp toppings are more likely to contain oats and/or nuts, while crumbles typically do not contain these ingredients. Cool room temperature is required to create a nice crisp topping. To serve apple crisp, spoon it into a bowl and, optionally, add vanilla ice cream. It also goes well with a glass of milk.

Variation I

Ingredients

• 6 cups sliced and cored baking apples (for example, Granny Smith)
• ½ cup (100 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (100 g) rolled oats
• ¾ teaspoon (3 g) cinnamon
• ⅓ cup (75 g) cold butter or cold margarine
• ⅔–¾ cup (120–150 g) brown sugar

Procedure

1. In a medium bowl stir together flour, brown sugar, and oatmeal. If the room temperature is a bit warm, you should cool this mixture in the fridge.
2. Prepare the apples. This should be completed before mixing butter into the topping. It is helpful to choose apples that do not brown quickly; Granny Smith apples are a good choice. Do not use Red Delicious apples; they turn to mush. Place the apples into a 9-inch (23 cm) square baking dish; glass is best.
3. Add the butter or margarine to the topping. Mix it via a slicing action, so that the butter or margarine forms tiny little chunks and does not melt or smear. A pair of butter knives, used like scissors, is good for this. You must work quickly once you start this step.
4. Sprinkle the filling onto the apples. You may pat it down just a bit.
5. Bake for about 30 minutes in a 375 °F (190°C) oven. Do not remove the crisp before the top is dark brown. Black spots indicate burning. It is better to burn a few small spots, which you can then remove, than to risk undercooking the topping.

Variation II

Ingredients

For 8 servings:

• 4 cups sliced apples
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup melted margarine or butter

Procedure

1. Put apple slices in shallow 9 inch (23 cm) pan.
2. Sprinkle the apples with lemon juice.
3. Combine all dry ingredients with butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle all this over apples.
4. Bake at 375 ˚F (190 ˚C) for 30 minutes.

Variation III

Ingredients

• 5 cups of thinly-sliced apples
• Lemon juice, to taste
• ⅓ cup water
• Powdered cinnamon, to taste
• ¼ pound butter
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup rolled oats
• ½ cup flour
• 1 tsp powdered cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• Additional rolled oats (optional)
• Ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

Procedure

1. Preheat a conventional (i.e. not convection) oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
2. Place the apple slices in a buttered baking pan. Sprinkle them with lemon juice for flavor and to prevent them from turning brown. Mix in the water and cinnamon to taste.
3. To make the topping, combine the butter, brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Crumble the ingredients in a bowl with your fingers to create a uniform mixture.
4. Cover the apples with the topping. If desired, sprinkle some rolled oats sparingly on the surface for added texture.
5. Bake for 30–45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the apples are soft and the topping is crisped.
6. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

• Peeling the apples before slicing is traditional but not required.

Notes, tips, and variations

• Any type of apple may be used, baking or sweet, or a mixture of types.
• Cooked apple dishes are a good use for substandard apples, e.g. damaged, wrinkled & windfall.
• Crisps can be made with most any sort of fruit. Pineapple is a good choice.
• Some fruits, especially peaches, go better in a cobbler.
• Raisins can be added to the apples at the beginning, and ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger, or a sprinkling of nutmeg can also be put in.
• Mixed spice is a perfect addition to apple dishes. This is more popular in Britain than the US.