Hi, friend! Are you feeling cozy and fully immersed in all things Fall yet? If not, that is okay. Life happens, and sometimes it’s hard to dive into a new season… sometimes we have to just dip our toes in until we have time or feel comfortable making that transition. If you have the desire to bring a little piece of autumnal warmth into your home, though, some cozy fall baking would be a good place to start. This rustic apple crisp is warm, spiced, and oh-so-cozy; the perfect ‘toe-dip’, if you will.
Slow down, friend…
In today’s world, we are prone to rushing. We rush just about everything we do and, in my humble opinion, that is not healthy. There is a time and place for rushing- baking is not one of those times. Apple crisp is one of those classic, timeless recipes that brings you back to Grandma’s house as soon as the apples begin to simmer. It fills your home, and your soul, with the smell of autumn and sweet cinnamon- transporting you to a time when things were simple. It feels like a warm hug on a cold night when you take that first bite. So, I challenge you to take this one slow. Turn the lights low, light a candle, maybe make some tea, and play some soft music. Allow yourself to relax and bake simply for the joy of baking. Let’s take a breath, set the mood, and go back to Grandma’s house together.
What will you need?
This is a relatively straightforward recipe- simple enough for beginners, yet involved enough for those who want to put some time and effort into a dessert. So what will you need to make this happen?
*This recipe is very topping-heavy; if you prefer more apples, add a few more and increase the ingredients for the filling as you see fit.
**Gluten-free alternatives are offered in the recipe table.
Ingredients for the filling:
- 5 large apples– I prefer Honeycrisp for this recipe. They are sour enough to contrast the sweetness of the dish, yet sweet enough to have that wonderful apple flavor. It doesn’t really matter how many apples you use- more apples equals more filling, less apples equals less filling.
- Pure maple syrup*
- Allspice*
- Cinnamon*
- All-purpose flour*
- A splash of water
* If you use more than five large apples, you may need to increase the amount used for these ingredients. Judge this off of taste, smell, texture… and just follow your heart. Baking can be an intimidating science, but not this recipe. This one- particularly the filling- is really more about adjusting until it tastes how you like it
Ingredients for the “crisp” topping:
- Cold salted butter- the butter has to be cold, otherwise it will become a mushy mess when you begin crumbling the topping.
- White sugar
- Old fashioned oats
- All-purpose flour
- Chopped pecans- this amount is up to preference. More pecans equals a nuttier, toasted flavor, less pecans equals a more mild, sweet flavor.
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
But how do we make it…?
I’m glad you asked! I know cooking and baking can be very intimidating for some, and come naturally to others. Don’t worry, friend, no matter where you find yourself on that spectrum, this apple crisp will be doable, and you will find yourself impressing friends and family alike in no time! Now, let me hold your hand and guide you through the steps- just as Grandma did.
Steps:
- Wash (and optionally peel) your apples– some people prefer the peel off of their cinnamon apples, and that is entirely okay! If you want to take the peel off, now would be the time to do so- if not, you can jump ahead. I choose to leave mine on, but if you take the peel off, don’t worry- you will still achieve a delicious, cozy dessert by the end of this.
- Chop your apples into bite-sized pieces– do not stress over this. This recipe is rustic, meaning you can have many different sizes and nobody will care- it will taste the same in the end. And if you’re wondering, “but won’t they cook unevenly if they’re different sizes?”… well, yes, they will! And that is okay. It’s actually quite nice having different textures within the apples. Large pieces have a little more bite (or structure), smaller pieces are softer and melt in your mouth.
- Spice it up – once you’re done chopping your apples, add them to a pot along with your cinnamon, allspice, maple syrup, and water. Do not add your flour yet– that is for soaking up the excess juice after cooking, and it will give your apples that thick creamy coating. Let this simmer on low for about 30 minutes, or until your apples are softened but not yet mushy- they will continue to soften some in the oven later.
- Make your topping– while your cinnamon apples are simmering, you’re going to make your topping. Start by chopping your pecans, then add them to a bowl. Next, add your flour, sugar, cinnamon, and allspice to your pecans. Once that is ready, get your cold butter out of the refrigerator and chop it into cubes. Just like the apples, there is no pressure to be precise with this chopping- remember, this is rustic. Add your *imperfectly* chopped butter to the other topping ingredients and go right in with your hands. This is where you will coat the butter in your flour/sugar/pecans/spices and begin smooshing and crumbling it until you have something that resembles wet sand. This might take a minute; be patient and take some deep breaths while your hands work. This would also be a good time to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Assemble– once your topping and apples are ready, you’re going to assemble. This part is really easy! Take a 9×13 baking dish and dump in your apples. There is no need to grease your pan- these apples won’t stick like a bread or cake, but if you are really worried, you can lightly spread some butter over the dish. Spread your apples into an even layer, then do the same exact thing with your topping right over the apples.
- Bake– you’re almost there! Pop your assembled apple crisp into your preheated oven and bake for about 40 minutes or until the topping gets browned, toasty, and delicious. This is where magic happens; the butter melts and the flour absorbs it, the sugar dissolves into the flour and butter mixture, the oats and pecans get toasted and nutty, the apples continue to soften… the result? A sweet, spiced, warm, and oh-so-cozy dessert filled with texture and flavor.
- Indulge– you did it! You created an amazing dessert, and now it’s time to enjoy it! You only have to let it cool long enough to avoid burning yourself, but after that… enjoy until your heart’s content.
So, you’ve mastered Apple Crisp…
You’ve followed all the steps, your apple crisp has just been pulled from the oven, and now your home smells of fall in every corner. The feeling of Grandma’s hug, or a warm café in a small town, is in the room. Sit with this feeling, friend. Notice the smells, the texture of the topping in contrast with the soft apples, the warmth you’ve invited into your home, and how it all makes you feel. These are the small things we often overlook and take for granted, but are so important for a calmer, more peaceful spirit. This is what the hygge lifestyle is all about: creating an overall sense of comfort, coziness, and contentment. Shedding the stressors and simply immersing yourself in, in this case, baking something that feels like a hug. At the end of the day, friend, remember to take it slow, and that coziness is the end goal- not perfection. Now go share a bite with a good friend or a loved one, I’m certain they will love it.
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Printable Recipe:
Easy Apple Crisp
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 5 large Honeycrisp apples*
- 1/4 c Pure Maple Syrup*
- 1.5 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Allspice
- 3 tbsp All-purpose flour* -This absorbs excess juices. (See notes for a gluten-free option)
- 1/4 c Water -This is just to keep things from burning and start the steaming process before the apples release their juices.
Crisp Topping
- 1 stick Cold, salted butter*
- 1/2 c White cane sugar
- 1/2 c Old-fashioned oats -I don't recommend quick oats; they are not sturdy enough to hold the desired texture through cooking.
- 1 c All-purpose flour -If you are gluten-free, I imagine an oat or almond flour might be nice in this.
- 1/3 c Chopped pecans -This is entirely up to preference; add more, add less, omit, or keep the same!
- 1.5 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Allspice
Instructions
Apple Filling
- Chop your apples into bite-sized pieces and place them in a pot. This does not have to be perfect. If your apples come out different sizes, they will cook unevenly, but that's okay! It adds a depth of texture, with some pieces (the smaller ones) being softer than others.
- Mix the apples with the other filling ingredients EXCEPT the flour/cornstarch. This means: cinnamon, allspice, maple syrup, and water. Bring to a simmer on the stove at medium temp., then turn to low and continue simmering for about 25-30 minutes, or until the apples are softened with a bit of bite to them. (If you want to preserve texture, remove from heat before they get too soft- they will cook a little more in the oven)
- Add flour- You will now make your topping while the apples simmer. When your apples are almost done (about one minute left of cook time), you will add the flour and mix well. If you opt for cornstarch, you will make the slurry (see notes) and cook for about 30 seconds.
Crisp Topping
- Preheat your oven to 350℉
- Chop your pecans (or buy them pre-chopped).
- Add the pecans, sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, and allspice to a mixing bowl.
- Cut your cold butter into small cubes. This, also, does not have to be perfect. You're about to smash them up anyway!
- Add your butter cubes to the mixture and stir them around with your hands to coat in sugar/flour. Then begin smooshing the butter cubes between your fingers, re-coat in sugar/flour, smoosh, re-coat…. and continue doing this until you have something resembling wet sand. Really have fun with this! Bigger clumps= bigger cookie-like chunks, smaller clumps= a finer, more even crumble. I personally like to leave some larger chunks.
- Pour your finished apples into a 9×13 baking dish, spread evenly, then cover with your crisp topping and spread that evenly as well.
- Bake at 350℉ for about 40 minutes, or until your topping is browned and toasty.
- Serve. This dessert is fantastic on its own, but if you would like to take it up a notch, I would recommend pairing it with vanilla bean ice cream. Enjoy!
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