I remember first being introduced to apple crisp at the summer camp my parents sent me to, Camp Longhorn. Not sure why I remember this detail about camp, but I do. Apple crisp night was the best night. Any CLH alum out there know what I’m talking about? If you did happen to go to CLH…you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. There were always those certain meals at camp that were better than others! I remember going through the dinner line and seeing these massive trays of apple crisp at the end and getting so excited. I lived for dessert as a kid. It was always fun going into the dining hall hall at camp wondering “what’s on the menu tonight!”. Anyways, I always came home from those three weeks at camp and wanted to recreate the apple crisp…because it was just that damn good! Gooey sugary apples with a buttery granola topping… super hot out of the oven and perfect with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream… or both! So I recreated it and maybe even made it a little better! I really hope Camp Longhorn still serves their apple crisp because it was truly one of the highlights of those few weeks at camp. I love how I can connect memories to food like this. That’s why this desert is so special to me… it takes me back years and years ago to summers I’ll never forget.

This recipe is super forgiving and even the most beginner cooks can do this one. All it takes is a few steps and then the dish goes into the oven to finish. Super simple and sooo good. The best part about it? It leaves your house smelling like a cozy fall day. The cinnamon and apples start to break down to create this luscious caramel scent. It’s truly the best smell in the world.

Tip: When reading the recipe, you will see me talk about “grating the butter” or dicing it into chunks. I personally prefer to grate the butter because it is easier to cut into the flour/oat mixture this way since it is a smaller and better shaped. If you choose to grate your butter on a cheese grater… I recommend placing the butter in the freezer for 5 minutes before doing so. This way the butter will be cold and not melt in your hands.

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APPLE CRISP

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Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour + 20 minutes

Serves: 10 people ( 8×10 baking dish)

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INGREDIENTS:

For apple filling:

• 5 Granny Smith apples, peeled/cored and cut into thin slices
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 5 tbsp heavy cream
• Dash of salt
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp corn starch

For granola crumble:

• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Dash of salt
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 12 tbsp butter, salted (1.5 sticks), melted

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DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

For apple filling:

1. Place all the ingredients (besides the apples) in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Once mixed, add in apples and mix till each piece is coated. Set aside.

For granola crumble:

1. Place all the ingredients in a separate large bowl except for the butter. Mix thoroughly.
2. Add in the melted butter and mix together till all the oats are wet.

For assembly:

1. Pour the apple mixture into a large baking dish (8×10). Or a cast iron skillet will work too.
2. Sprinkle on the granola crumble on top of the apples. The crumble will be pretty thick.
3. Place in the oven (middle rack) and cook for 45 minutes, or until the apples are very tender and soft and the crumble is very crisp.
4. Remove from the oven and let rest 15 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

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