An apple dessert made from apples and has a delicious crunchy crust on top is called apple crisp in the United States. It is called by the name apple crumble in Britian and both use apples, butter, brown sugar or granulated sugar, flour or oatmeal, cinnamon, and other spices to make a delectable apple crisp recipe. This is a type of peasant dish only being presented to families and never served during the holiday or when guests come to call.

An apple dessert made from apples and has a delicious crunchy crust on top is called apple crisp in the United States. It is called by the name apple crumble in Britian and both use apples, butter, brown sugar or granulated sugar, flour or oatmeal, cinnamon, and other spices to make a delectable apple crisp recipe. This is a type of peasant dish only being presented to families and never served during the holiday or when guests come to call.

There seems to be some sort of confusion with some other kinds of desserts made with apples. There is a dish called apple brown bettie that is made by layers of apples alternating with layers of sugar laiden bread or crackers and slathered with a sauce. Another dish uses drop biscuits on top of the apples and is called by several names including apple cobbler or apple grunt, slump or apple pandowdy.

The first apple crisp recipe was published in the first edition of the Fannie Farmer Cooking book in'96 but it suspected that it was made for families centuries before. This dish is traditionally made during the autumn season mainly because of the abundance of apples during this time. It can also be made with canned apples at any time of the year. There are variations on it that use whatever fruit might be available during the season such as berries or peaches.

Cooking apples are what is needed to make apple crisp. These apples are tart and much more firm than some others because they need to keep their shape while cooking. Use Granny Smith apples, Northern Spye variety, Winesap, Jonathan or MacIntosh to make your apple crisp.

To make an easy apple crisp core, peel and slice six large apples and place them in the bottom of a greased nine inch square baking pan. In a bowl combine three fourths cupful of oatmeal, one half cup of packed brown sugar, one half cup all purpose flour, one half teaspoon of cinnamon, and six tablespoons of softened butter. You will need to use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut the butter in like pie crust until it resembles a fine meal. Take the topping and spread over top of the apples and bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top gets brown. Cool for about 10 minutes then cut it into squares and serve it while it is still warm with some vanilla ice cream. If you prefer whipped cream, use that instead.

Another version adds some cheese to the ingredients. A traditional dish is apple pie and a slice of Cheddar cheese and this recipe is based upon that tradition. You will need 6 apples that have been cored, peeled and sliced; one third teaspoon of cinnamon, six teaspoons apple juice, one half stick of butter, three fourths cup sugar, one teaspoon lemon juice, one eight teaspoon salt, one half cup flour, and one fourth pound grated Cheddar cheese. Again the apples should be sliced and placed in a nine inch square baking dish. The cinnamon should be sprinkled over top and then the apple juice and lemon juice added. In a bowl the butter should be at room temperature and be cut into the flour with a pastry cutter or fork. The sugar and salt are added next and then the shredded cheese. The mixture should be crumbly and is placed over the apple mixture. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for about 40 minutes until it is bubbling and crust is crisp. Let this version cool a little but serve warm and you can serve with ice cream.

Suppose there is no apples to use but you have an abundance of zucchini in your garden. You can make that zucchini taste like apple crisp. You will need five cups of peeled and seeded zucchini that has been sliced about the size of an apple slice, one third cup sugar, one fourth cup lemon juice, one teaspoon cinnamon and three fourths cup apple juice or cider. Place this mixture in a saucepan and bring to a boil simmering for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the zucchini is tender. Place all in a deep dish pie pan. In a bowl you will need to combine six tablespoons room temperature butter, one fourth teaspoon salt, one teaspoon baking powder, one cup flour and one half cup brown sugar. Cut this mixture with a pastry cutter or fork and when it is crumbly like fine meal place it over the zucchini mixture in the pie pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes and serve warm with ice cream. It will taste like apple crisp.

Make these recipes for your family when the days get short and cold and the apples get ripe. They will love it and request it frequently and if they are used to apple crisp make ones with Cheddar or Zucchini and see what they think. This is a dessert that you can look forward to every fall.