Caramel Apple Crisp

Caramel Apple Crisp –  Warm fruit crisps are the equivalent of dessert comfort food for me.  There’s something magical about the combination of apples, oats and cinnamon.  Apple crisp just begs to be served while warm and fresh from the oven adorned with a luscious scoop of vanilla ice cream.

When it comes to crisps, I have a confession.  The crispy buttery crumb topping takes it over-the-top for me.  In this case, I added sliced almonds but nuts of any kind would work depending on your personal preference.  This crisp is a regular rotation in my kitchen year-round and not only during apple harvest time.  It is however, a terrific way to celebrate, don’t you think?

Ingredients you’ll need:
5 cup sliced apples, cored, sliced and peeled
4 Tbsp butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Crisp topping: 
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, chilled and cubed [1 1/2 sticks]
1/2 cup nuts, your preference [optional]

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F and spritz and 3 quart shallow baking dish with cooking spray. On the stove top over medium high heat simmer the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.  Simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sugar has completely dissolved.  Stir to prevent sticking.

Add the sliced apples and stir until coated.  Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.  Pour into the baking dish.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, oatmeal, ground cinnamon and salt. Cut the chilled butter into the flour until it resembles peas. [Tip: A hand mixer on low speed works great for this if you don’t have a food processor] Add the nuts.  Mix well.

Sprinkle over the caramel apples. Bake for 45 minutes until bubbly and the crisp topping is golden. Rest on the counter for 15 minutes to allow the caramel to thicken.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Yield: 8-10 servings