Description
A warm and comforting Brown Butter Apple Crisp featuring tender honeycrisp apples coated in a spiced sugar mixture, topped with a crunchy, nutty oat and walnut crumble made rich with nutty browned butter. This dessert is perfect for cozy evenings and pairs wonderfully with vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
Crisp Topping
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (55 g) old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup (104 g) brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (65 g) finely chopped walnuts
- Pinch kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Filling
- 4 large honeycrisp apples (about 2 1/4 lbs)
- 1/3 cup (69 g) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- Pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dry Topping Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, chopped walnuts, and a pinch of kosher salt. Mix well to combine the dry components for the topping.
- Brown the Butter: Cube the unsalted butter. Place it in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt completely; it will begin to foam and bubble. Continue cooking until you see lightly browned specks appear and the butter develops a nutty aroma. Stir to ensure even browning and cook until fragrant and golden.
- Combine Butter with Topping Mixture: Pour the browned butter, including the browned bits from the pan, into the dry topping mixture. Stir until all ingredients are evenly coated and the mixture has a slightly crumbly texture. Set this topping aside.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples into 1/4 inch slices. Place the slices in a large bowl. Add the brown sugar, flour, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, and a pinch of kosher salt. Toss everything together until the apple slices are evenly coated with the mixture.
- Assemble the Crisp: Lightly spray a 2-quart baking dish or an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray. Transfer all the coated apple slices along with any juices into the prepared dish and level them evenly. Crumble the prepared crisp topping over the apples evenly. Although the topping may seem like a lot at this point, it will settle during baking.
- Bake the Crisp: Place the baking dish on a parchment-lined baking sheet to catch any overflow. Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes or until the topping turns golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling.
- Serve: Remove the crisp from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream for a delicious contrast.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
- Honeycrisp apples are recommended for their balance of sweetness and tartness, but Granny Smith or Fuji apples also work well.
- For extra texture, add a handful of chopped dried cranberries or raisins to the filling.
- To make the crisp topping gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend and certified gluten-free oats.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently before serving.