Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish or baking pan with shortening.
Step
2
Spread apples in pan. In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients except cream until well mixed; sprinkle over apples.
Step
3
Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm with cream.
No matter the name—crisp, crumble, or cobbler—any baked dessert filled with fresh fruit is defined by the topping. A crisp and crumble are close cousins—both are topped with buttered flour and sugar. What makes crisps unique is the addition of the oats to the topping, which get extra-specially crunchy when baked.
Want to add some extra crunch to your apple crisp? Try tossing some chopped nuts in your sweet, crumbly topping; walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts are good choices and will toast during baking.
If you want a richer, more caramel-like flavor for your apple crisp, substitute dark brown sugar in place of light brown. It pairs incredibly with the apples and adds a whole new dimension to the dish.
Like things a little extra spicy? Get creative by adding your favorite dried spices to the apple crisp recipe. Try 1 tablespoon candied ginger or add 1/2 cup chewy dried fruits to add more layers of flavor and texture.
