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Easy Brown Butter Apple Crisp with Oat Crumble Recipe

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This easy brown butter apple crisp with oat crumble has that same soul-warming magic as the original. The nutty, deep flavor of the brown butter wraps around the tender apples like a cozy blanket, and the oat topping gets this incredible crunchy-chewy thing going on that keeps you coming back for ‘just one more bite.’

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups apples, peeled and sliced (about 4–5 medium apples; a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Saigon preferred)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Peel, core, and slice the apples into roughly 1/4-inch thick pieces.
  2. Make the brown butter: Place the 1/2 cup unsalted butter in a light-colored skillet over medium heat. Let it melt completely, then swirl the pan occasionally. After about 4-5 minutes, the butter will start to foam and sizzle. When the butter smells nutty and toasty and the milk solids turn amber, immediately remove it from the heat and pour into a heatproof bowl to stop the cooking.
  3. Mix the apple filling: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the granulated sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Let it sit while you make the crumble.
  4. Make the oat crumble: In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, chopped nuts (if using), cinnamon, and salt. Pour the warm brown butter over the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until everything is moistened and clumpy.
  5. Assemble the crisp: Pour the apple mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle the oat crumble evenly over the top. Do not press it down.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes on the middle rack until the filling is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown. If the crumble is browning too quickly after 25 minutes, loosely tent with foil.
  7. Cool for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow the juices to thicken.

Notes

Brown butter is all about timing. The moment you see those milk solids turn from gold to amber, pull it off the heat. The residual heat will continue cooking it for another 30 seconds. Don’t skip the resting time—letting the crisp sit for at least 10 minutes allows the juices to thicken into a beautiful syrup. Toast your oats for extra crunch if you have an extra 5 minutes. Use a mix of apple varieties for best flavor. Do not overmix the crumble; you want clumps, not a uniform dough.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, brown butter, oat crumble, easy dessert, fall dessert, apple recipe, comfort food

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/easy-brown-butter-apple-crisp-with-oat-crumble-recipe/