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–+ servings

Warm Spiced Brown Butter Apple Crisp

Tender cinnamon-spiced Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples baked under a golden, nutty brown butter rolled oat streusel topping. Served piping hot from the skillet with melting vanilla bean ice cream and caramel drizzle.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Autumn Comfort Food, Baking, Dessert, Holiday Dessert
Cuisine: American, Cozy Fall Comfort Food
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Tender Spiced Apple Filling
  • 6 large apples mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and sliced ¼-inch thick (about 6 cups)
  • 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup or light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice brightens flavors and prevents browning
  • 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch thickens bubbly spiced apple juices
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg freshly grated
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Nutty Brown Butter Oat Streusel Topping
  • ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick, browned to deep golden amber nutty perfection
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats certified gluten-free if needed
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free baking flour
  • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ⅓ cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional, for rustic crunch
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt enhances toffee notes of brown butter
Serving Suggestions
  • vanilla bean ice cream essential for melting over hot crisp
  • warm salted caramel sauce drizzled generously over top

Method
 

Brown the Butter
  1. In a light-colored saucepan or skillet over medium heat, melt the ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter. Swirl the pan occasionally as the butter foams and crackles.
  2. After 4 to 5 minutes, the foam subsides and golden-brown toasty specks form on the bottom with a nutty, butterscotch aroma. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a heat-safe bowl to stop cooking. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Toss the Spiced Apple Filling
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet or 2-quart baking dish with a swipe of butter.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, maple syrup, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract until every slice is evenly coated in spiced glaze.
  3. Spread the spiced apples evenly into the prepared baking dish or skillet, packing them down slightly.
Mix Oat Streusel & Assemble
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon, and fine sea salt.
  2. Pour the warm browned butter (including all the caramelized brown milk solids!) into the dry oat mixture. Stir with a fork until moist clumps form.
  3. Scatter the nutty brown butter streusel evenly across the top of the apples, covering them completely.
Bake to Golden Perfection & Serve
  1. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35 to 40 minutes, until the oat topping is deeply golden crisp and thick spiced apple juices bubble vigorously around the edges.
  2. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes (the juices will thicken as it cools slightly). Serve warm in shallow bowls crowned with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel drizzle!

Notes

Pro tip: Pairing tart Granny Smith with sweet Honeycrisp apples ensures the perfect balance of sweet-tart flavor and contrasting textures that hold their shape without turning to applesauce.

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