If you want to enjoy warm, cinnamon- and brown sugar- flavored apples beneath a crispy walnut cookie crust, then you should definitely follow this recipe!
Growing up, I never liked cooked apples. I suppose that it was because as a child, I thought that apples should only be cold and crisp, never warm and soft. Therefore apple pies, apple strudels, and apple turnovers were all off the table. The only fruit-flavored dessert that I really liked was guava - especially guava tarts. Now that my taste buds have matured, I love to incorporate warm apples into my cooking.
I’ve realized that part of what I disliked about apple desserts in the past was that the pieces of fruit were often so small and minimal in quantity relative to the syrup that oftentimes, the dessert did not even taste like it contained apples at all. Therefore, when I make desserts with apples I cut them into large (about 1 inch x 1 inch) cubes so that the finished product actually looks and tastes like apples.
Sweeteners also play a big role in how the flavor turns out. The flavor of brown sugar is much more complex and delectable than that of white sugar, so using the former ingredient will give a much richer outcome. I’m willing to bet that most if not all of the commercially baked products that I bought in the past did not use just brown sugar for the filling, but would instead combine it with cheaper sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup or refined cane sugar in order to cut costs.
When you think about it, these are both really great reasons to just bake at home. All in all, being able to tailor products to your own standard tends to make for a better finished product, and you can appreciate it more.
You may have noticed that this is not a regular apple crisp recipe - the crust contains nuts. Typically, fruit crisps use oatmeal in the crust, not walnuts. However, I wanted to try adding nuts to this dish in order to increase the fiber and healthy fat content. Walnuts, brown sugar, and apples blend together really well, so I’m sure you will enjoy my twist on this classic dish!
This recipe yields 6-8 servings.
Ingredients:
For the filling:
5 cups apples, peeled, cored and cubed
½ cup brown sugar
½ tbsp all-purpose flour
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
For the crust:
1 cup crushed walnuts
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup brown (or white) sugar
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ cup butter (or coconut oil)
Instructions:
First, cube the apples and place them in a 9 in x 9 in baking dish.
Then, combine them with the first portion of sugar, flour, apple cider vinegar, and cinnamon to make the filling, mixing thoroughly to ensure the even distribution of all ingredients.
Next, combine all the other ingredients to make the crust. Once the combined ingredients appear uniform, crumble the crust over the filling and distribute it across the top.
Finally, place the dish in the oven to bake for an hour at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cook time:
1 hour
Prep time:
15 minutes
Total time:
1 hour and 15 minutes
Note:
I used a 9-inch square glass baking dish. If you are using a metal or ceramic baking dish, you may need to adjust the baking time/temperature. Comment below if you have found a successful tweak to the recipe for those who bake with non-glass dishes!
Enjoy today.
~Recipe by Michelle Adams @YellowCedarNutrition~
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