Having a generous amount of storing apples in my basement from my folks, who have several prolific apple trees in their yard up north, we've been lucky enough to enjoy them in everything from muffins and oatmeal for breakfast to pork stews and curries for dinner. But one of my all-time favorite apple desserts is a simple, traditional crisp. Now, while they might not be breath-taking when they first come out of the oven, unless you are sniffing the air, they hold a treasure within:
This particular crisp is made easier by the first step. By making a delicious apple cider sauce and then using it as both the sweetener for the filling and the drizzle for the top, you only need to peel and slice some apples and press together the crisp part in a resealable bag. The result is simply out of this world:
Any autumn-inspired dinner deserves such a lovely end. The recipe below makes just a few servings, so it's perfect for tossing together for my family at a moment's notice, but it can also easily be multiplied for larger servings. So consider making it an event and inviting friends and loved ones to gather around your table and get their daily apple in a most delicious package!
Apple Crisp with Apple Cider Sauce
- 1 c. apple cider — choose the best you can afford
- 2 T. maple syrup
- 2 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 T. cold water
- 2 large baking apples, peeled & diced
- 1/2 c. oatmeal
- 1/3 c. flour
- 1/3 c. packed brown sugar
- 1/2 c. butter
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- Ice cream, for serving
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Coat a small casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, combine the apple cider and maple syrup. Bring to a low simmer over medium-high heat. When a simmer has been reached, slowly pour in the cornstarch-water mixture while whisking constantly. Cook until a thick sauce consistency has been reached. Remove from the heat.
Pour about a tablespoon of the warm sauce into the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Place a layer of the sliced apples over the sauce and then add another tablespoon of sauce. Repeat this process until you've layered all of the apple slices into the dish.
Combine the oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a resealable bag. Using your fingers, press and pinch the contents of the bag until coarse crumbs form. Carefully, sprinkle the crumbs over the apples in the casserole dish.
Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the top of the crisp is slightly crunchy and the apples beneath are soft and bubbly. Serve topped with ice cream drizzled with more of the apple cider sauce.
- Yields: 2-3 servings
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes