Easy Apple Crisp

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Celebrating Johnny Appleseed Day

This easy apple crisp pays homage to the man whose life’s work was to plant apples trees across our great nation.

Johnny Appleseed Knew What He Was Doing

On National Johnny Appleseed Day, March 11, we remember a man who made apple trees bloom across the nation. The day celebrates a pioneering legend who lived by spiritual teachings and labored to bring the shade of fruit trees across much of the United States.

John Chapman was born on September 26, 1774, in Leominster, Massachusetts. His mother died when he was two, so his father packed up Johnny and his sister and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. His father served as a Minuteman and fought at Bunker Hill.

As a young man, Chapman yearned for adventure. With nothing but the clothes on his back, a tin pan hat, a sack of apple seeds carried over his shoulder, and a Bible in his hand, the often barefoot Chapman worked his way into the frontier of West Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. Eventually, he became known as Johnny Appleseed and propagated his seeds as far west as Illinois and Iowa and as far north as Michigan and Wisconsin.

In his wake, he left orchards and the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish spiritual leader. Chapman would buy his books with whatever payment he might receive for his labor. In turn, he would give the books away as he traveled and planted. He was a kind, gentleman, and the frontier folk always found a place at the table if Johnny Appleseed came visiting. He died at age 71 and, will forever be remembered as a man who asked for nothing but gave so much.

Use a mandoline to make slicing easier.

This recipe is easy enough to include children in the process.

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Easy Apple Crisp

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

For the crumb topping:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• dash of salt

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter ,cut into small pieces

For the Apple filling:

• 3-4 large Granny Smith apples , peeled and thinly sliced

• 3 Tablespoons butter , melted

• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

• 3 Tablespoons milk

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• dash of salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

For the topping:

• In a medium size bowl combine the crumb topping ingredients with a fork or pastry blender until it resembles small crumbs. Refrigerate while you prepare the apple filling.

For the Apple Filling:

• In a medium bowl, combine melted butter and flour until well blended. Add lemon juice, milk and vanilla and stir well. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. 

• Add the sliced apples and toss to coat.

• Pour apple mixture into an 8x8-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer. 

• Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over the apples.

• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and top is set. 

• Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

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This recipe can easily be doubled if you are feeding a crowd.

Photos by Mary Van Hiel, Brown-Eyed Baker and Tastes Better From Scratch

Recipe adapted from Tastes Better From Scratch

Let me know how your family likes it.

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