Apple Brown Betty (Simple & Scrumptious!)

This Outdated-Normal Apple Betty Recipe Is…

• A fast, no-fuss dessert. An apple brown betty is fast to make with budget-friendly pantry staples like contemporary apples, flour, and brown sugar. The topping comes collectively within the meals processor!
• Nice for fall baking. With piles of apples and a contact of heat spice, this dessert is good for fall. In fact, that doesn’t cease me from baking it year-round.
• Event-ready. This apple betty is a real crowd-pleaser. I virtually all the time return dwelling with an empty baking dish every time I take it alongside to a celebration or potluck. Topped with whipped cream or ice cream? It’s unbeatable.

You’ll Want These Substances

Supposedly named after its creator, the historical past of a brown Betty continues to be a little bit fuzzy. What we do know is that it’s an American dessert comprised of fruit, on this case apples, however you’ll additionally discover variations with pears or berries. I’ve included notes on the substances I exploit under. Scroll right down to the recipe card for the printable checklist with quantities.

• Apples – Peeled and sliced. I like to make use of agency, crisp-tart baking apples like Granny Smith apples or Honeycrisp. See under for particulars.
• Orange Juice – I like the mix of orange juice with the cinnamon within the topping. You may additionally use lemon juice. The acidity boosts the flavour and retains the apples from browning.
• Flour – I like to recommend all-purpose flour right here, as I haven’t examined the recipe with different varieties but.
• Sugar – I make the streusel layer with a mixture of brown sugar and granulated sugar. You may use all of 1 sort of sugar if wanted.
• Cinnamon – Different good choices are nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, apple pie spice, or pumpkin pie spice. I embody a little bit salt within the crumble, too.
• Butter – Chilly, cubed butter. I all the time bake with salted butter, however unsalted works, too.

What Are the Greatest Apples to Use?

As talked about, I bake my brown betty with Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples. Different good selections are Pink Woman, Braeburn, Cortland apples, or a mixture of completely different varieties. 

What’s the Distinction Between Apple Crisp and Apple Betty?

The primary distinction between an apple betty, apple crisp, and apple cobbler is the topping. Apple crisp has a crunchy oat topping, and a cobbler is usually topped with batter, whereas a brown betty has layers of buttery crumbs.

The right way to Make Apple Brown Betty 

Right here’s a brief overview of the steps to make this apple betty. Remember to scroll right down to the recipe card for the printable recipe directions afterward.

• Prep. Whereas the oven preheats to 375ºF, grease a 9×9-inch baking dish. A deep-dish pie plate additionally works effectively right here. Subsequent, add the sliced apples to a bowl with orange juice and toss to coat.

• Make the topping. In the meantime, pulse the flour, each sugars, cinnamon, and salt in your blender or meals processor. Pulse the cubed butter a little bit at a time till you might have coarse crumbs.

• Assemble. Now, unfold about ½ of the apples into the prepped baking pan. Prime with ½ the crumble, then one other layer of apples and a remaining layer of crumbs.
• Bake. Bake the apple betty at 375ºF for 40-45 minutes till the apples are bubbly and tender and the crumble high is golden brown. Cool for a couple of minutes, after which serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Keep away from a Soggy Crumble

Guarantee that the butter you employ for the streusel is COLD when it’s combined with the flour and sugar. If the butter is simply too heat earlier than it will get into the oven, it might probably make the crumble soggy.

Recipe Notes and Variations

• Extra add-ins. Sprinkle chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts in between the layers, or add dried cranberries or raisins. You may additionally swap the crumble for graham cracker crumbs or rolled oats.
• Totally different fruit. Swap half the apples (or all of them) out for various fruits. Make an apple-pear brown betty with contemporary sliced Bosc or Anjou pears. You may additionally attempt rhubarb, berries, or peaches.
• Double the recipe. Double your substances and make this apple betty in a 9×13-inch pan should you’re feeding a big crowd.

Storage Suggestions

• Refrigerate. Retailer this apple brown betty hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
• Reheat. Heat up servings within the microwave, or you possibly can reheat the apple betty in a 350ºF oven till it’s scorching all through.