As American as apple pie, but a much easier, forgiving, and adaptable recipe!
My parents had an apple orchard while I was growing up. As beautiful as it was, this also meant that every time I said, “I’m hungry,” guess what the answer was. That’s right: “Go get an apple.” We always had apples. My mom was the fastest apple pie maker on the planet. She had to be, with nearly a dozen kids to feed. She liked to mix types of apples in her apple creations, and I know she would’ve picked both Northern Spy and Golden Delicious apples for this dish.
You’re going to love how forgiving this recipe is, and how adaptable it is to what’s available to you. If I felt like making it a little healthier, I’d use coconut sugar in place of the granulated sugar, or maybe replace half a cup of sugar with honey. Then I’d add in a cup of ground pecans. If I’m feeling festive, I’d probably use even more cinnamon and nutmeg, and likely a quarter teaspoon each of cardamom and cloves.
Is Apple Brown Betty Healthy?
Well, it’s fruit, right?! Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. With all the added sugar, let’s eat this in moderation. The apples are certainly good for you, though; they’re a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. But this is more of a fun food, which we all ‘need’ a little bit of now and then.
Types of Apples for Baking
You want to choose an apple that will hold its shape, not turn into applesauce. Applesauce is great, but not when you’re trying to have a dessert you can slice, serve, and eat with a fork.
Northern Spy is my first choice, but you can mix it up and try Honeycrisp. Golden Delicious is always a good bet, as is Jonathan or Jonagold. Some folks swear by Granny Smith. You need to decide what you like.
How to make ahead and store
Who are we kidding? No leftovers here! And this is best served on the day of creation. But yes, you can cool it, then freeze it in individual serving sizes for up to 3 months, or refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. It makes good breakfast food, cold or warm! It can be warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds or in the oven at 325°F for 10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
With a sweet dessert, I always offer coffee on the side. A slice of sharp cheddar on the edge of the plate is also divine, and it perfectly balances the sweetness of the dessert.
Most people will expect an option of ice cream or whipped cream. You could go all out and make your own ice cream, like this Ice Cream with Chocolate and Pomegranate, or a simple Homemade Frozen Yogurt. I also love to drizzle this betty with either Strawberry Sauce or Chocolate Fondue Sauce.
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples peeled, cored, and sliced (about 3 large apples)
- 1 lemon juiced
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Toss the sliced apples with lemon juice and arrange them in the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture and use a pastry blender or your fingers to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the apples in the baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbly and tender.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
can it be maked with gluten free flour?
Hi Lexi, Yes but make sure the flour you use substitute 1:1. Enjoy!