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apple pecan crisp

Apple Pecan Crisp

This apple pecan crisp is made with warming spices and an irresistible oat topping. It’s not too sweet, can be prepared ahead of time, and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.
Servings 6 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour

Equipment

  • large pot
  • 1 baking dish (8 × 8 in | 22 × 22 cm) or 6 ramekins (3.5 × 3.5 in | 9 × 9 cm)
  • food processor

Ingredients

For the apple filling

  • 1½ lbs Gala apples ¾ kg
  • 1½ lbs Pink Lady apples ¾ kg
  • 1 Tbl salted butter 15g
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbl freshly squeezed lemon juice about ½ of a lemon
  • 1 Tbl dark rum optional
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg

For the pecan-oat topping

  • ¼ cup flour 30g
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar 50g
  • ½ cup old-fashioned oats 55g
  • ½ cup whole pecans 55g
  • 6 Tbl cold salted butter 85g, cut into chunks

Instructions

  • Prepare the apples:
    Peel the apples. Remove the core, seeds, stem, and base using a melon scooper or paring knife. Cut into ¾–1 inch (2–3 cm) chunks.
  • Cook the apple filling:
    Add the apples, butter, vanilla extract, lemon juice, rum, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a large pot. Stir to combine.
    Bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat, stirring every 5-10 minutes.
    After about 20 minutes, use a wooden spoon or spatula to start gently break up some of the apples. Cook for 30–35 minutes total, until tender, with a mix of soft chunks and a jammy texture.
    Taste and adjust seasoning. If the apples aren’t sweet enough for your taste, add a little brown sugar.
  • Preheat the oven and prepare the topping:
    About 20 minutes into cooking the apples, preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C) conventional or 375°F (190°C) fan-forced / convection.
    Add the flour, brown sugar, oats, pecans, and butter to a food processor. Pulse until combined. The mixture should be crumbly, with some sandy bits and some pea-sized pieces of butter. The pecans should be roughly chopped.
  • Assemble:
    Lightly grease a baking dish or ramekins. Spoon in the apple filling and evenly sprinkle the topping over the apples.
  • Bake:
    Bake in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes, checking after 15 minutes. The crisp is ready when the topping is golden and fragrant.
  • Serve warm and enjoy!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Kid Friendly