Apple Crisp Recipe

There are many apple crisp recipes in the world and this one from Lucinda Scala Quinn's Mad Hungry from Artisan Books puts them all to shame. It’s simply incredible! Head over to Goodside Grocery and check out their bulk section for inexpensive and high-quality spices and baking ingredients—as well as fresh, local apples! Goodside Grocery members save 10%, but everyone can shop there and support local businesses!

Ingredients

Additional Topping Add-ons
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch of ground cloves

For the Fruit
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 apples, 2 tart and 2 sweet
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

For the Topping
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar, light or dark
1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Position a rack in the center of the oven.

Step 2
To prepare the fruit, place the lemon juice in a large bowl. Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2-inch wedges, tossing the pieces in the lemon juice as they are cut, to prevent browning.

Step 3
To the apples, add the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Toss to combine and pour into a buttered 8-by-8-inch square or oval baking pan. Scatter the butter on top.

Step 4
Make the topping in the same bowl. Combine the oats, brown sugar, nuts, flour, salt, and optional spices. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender, a fork, or two knives. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the fruit and bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes, until the topping is dark golden and the apples are bubbling. Cool slightly on a wire cooling rack. Scoop out with a large spoon to serve in bowls.

Variations
For a pear version of this dish, use four or five Bosc pears. Switch lemon juice for lime, omit the cinnamon, and double the ginger in the topping. For peaches or nectarines, peel and slice 6 pieces of fruit, and toss in orange juice instead of lemon. Add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the topping and increase the flour to 1/4 cup.