There’s nothing quite like biting into a sweet, crunchy apple or smelling the fragrance of an apple pie or crisp baking in the oven. Now that apple season has arrived, it’s time to try a modern version of a classic, the apple brown betty.
Our apple brown betty is similar to a crisp and is made with graham cracker crumbs. But we use partly cooked apples in a caramel sauce for more flavor than the traditional raw-apple method.
APPLE BROWN BETTY WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
Yield: 8 servings
1 tablespoon orange rind
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup brandy
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
8 Northern Spy, Winesap or Rome Beauty apples, peeled, cored, cut into
1/4-inch slices
3/4 cup light brown sugar
Vanilla ice cream, fresh mint sprigs
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Combine orange rind and juice, brandy and vanilla in small bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and 3 tablespoons melted butter in small bowl until crumbs begin to stick together, adding additional butter if needed. Spread two-thirds of crumb mixture across bottom of 8-inch-square baking pan. Reserve remaining crumb mixture.
3. Heat large non-stick skillet over high heat. Add remaining melted butter and apples to cover bottom of pan. (this will need to be done in batches.) Cook until slightly softened and edges brown. (Do not crowd skillet or apples will steam and become mushy.) Add brown sugar; cook until sugar melts and mixture thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Repeat this technique as necessary until all apples are cooked.
4. Layer half of the cooked apples in baking dish. Sprinkle with about 1/2 of the remaining crumb mixture. Layer with remaining apples; top with remaining crumbs. Drizzle orange-brandy mixture over top. Cover with foil. Bake 40 minutes. Remove foil; bake until golden, 10-15 minutes. Remove; cool on cake rack.
5. Cut or spoon dessert onto plates. Top with ice cream; garnish with mint sprigs.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories ………… 315 Fat ……….. 10 g Saturated fat .. 5 g
% calories from fat .. 27 Cholesterol .. 20 mg Sodium …… 200 mg
Carbohydrates …… 57 g Protein …… 1.7 g Fiber …….. 4.4 g
WHICH APPLE TO BAKE?
Here is a list of some apple varieties, including a few rarer ones known as “antique” or “heirloom” apples.
Antique apples are older varieties that haven’t been commercial hits because of their irregular sizes and colors, low crop production or delicate handling requirements. Their lack of popularity is too bad because they commonly have superior flavor and texture.
Cortland: Baking, applesauce
Empire: Eating, baking
Golden Delicious: Eating, baking
Golden russet: Eating, desserts
Idared: Cooking, desserts
Jonathan: All-purpose
McIntosh: Eating, baking
Northern Spy: Cooking, desserts
Paulared: Eating, baking, sauces
Rome Beauty: Baking
Winesap: Baking, cider
Wolf River: Baking
