Apple Crisp
I would love to take full credit for this recipe but it is simply the recipe my mother made year after year when I was growing up. So simple and delicious.
I love all apples but my newest favorites are Braeburn and Rome varieties. They are tart and hold up well when cooked. For this recipe, however, I use pure Granny Smith. Tart, tried and true.
Ingredients
- About 3 pounds or 8 Granny Smith apples, peeled
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced, plus 1 lemon, zested for garnish, optional
- 1 orange, zested and juiced
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) lightly salted butter, cut into cubes, plus 1 tablespoon for baking dish
- Ice cream, for serving
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Put the apples on a flat surface. Cut the cheeks from the apple, to remove the core. Cut into fairly thin, but not too thin, slices. Put them in a bowl and add the lemon zest and juice and the orange zest and juice. Toss to coat the apples, then add the molasses, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the cinnamon, ginger, and the nutmeg. Toss to blend.
- In another bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Add the butter to the bowl and break it up with your fingers integrating the flour with the butter. Spread it out on a plate or small baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Butter the bottom and sides of a shallow rectangular baking dish (approximately 13 inches long and 9 inches wide) with the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add the apples and top with the butter-flour mixture. Put the dish in the center of the oven and bake until the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. The topping should be golden brown as well, about 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool a few minutes before serving. To serve, garnish with additional lemon zest and ice cream, if desired.