Apple Crisp

Now that Fall is in the air, it’s time for a good Fall dessert, and this hot Apple Crisp will definitely do the trick!

Servings – 6 small or 4 large

Cook / Prep Time – about an hour

Ingredients for the topping:

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp rolled oats
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp fresh grated or ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp cardamom

Ingredients for the filling:

• 3 large Granny Smith apples
• 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp cornstarch or Clearjel*
• 2 tbsp water

* clearjel is a starch used for pie fillings that is superior to cornstarch because it tolerates high heat and acids better than cornstarch. This is a must have starch if you make a lot of pie fillings. You can use clearjel for any application that you use cornstarch for, including sauces, soups, stews and gravies. It seems to make a much smoother, shiny glaze and will not clump when cooled. It should be a staple at all grocery stores, but it’s not. It’s available from Amazon and some specialty food stores. I found some at an Amish market while on a road trip in Kentucky.

Be sure and get the cook type clearjel. There is also an instant clearjel that is amazing for other uses. You can mix the instant one with sugar and add liquid and it thickens without cooking.

Instructions for the topping…

Put all dry ingredients in a bowl and cut the butter into small pieces on top. Using a pastry blender (or your hands) mix the cold butter into the dry ingredients until it gets crumbly. Place it in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Instructions for the filling….

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and core the apples. Cut them into thin wedges, then cut the wedges in half. Place them in a bowl and add the lemon juice and blend.

In another bowl, mix the sugar, cinnamon and starch together and blend the mixture with the apples. Melt the butter and add to the apples along with the water.

Add the topping to the top of the apples and place in the oven for 35-40 minutes until well browned. Let cool for 15 minutes. It’s great with a scoop of ice cream!

Enjoy!

Suggested songs to listen to while preparing the apple crisp….

“Little Green Apples” although this classic song was recorded by dozens of artists, my favorite version is by O.C. Smith from his 1968 album “Hickory Holler Revisited”

Since today is the birthday of Jon Anderson, the lead singer of Yes, how about a couple of songs from their “Fragile” album from 1971? Roundabout” and the B side of that single, “Long Distance Runaround” – both great songs, especially when performed live!