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Martha Stewart-Inspired Apple Crisp

Close-up of Martha Stewart-Inspired Apple Crisp showing its texture
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A buttery, cinnamon-scented apple crisp with tender, lightly caramelized apples under a thick, craggy oat topping. It’s the kind of unfussy, crowd-pleasing dessert Martha Stewart is known for, and this version is an original adaptation inspired by her classic American home-cooking style.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 medium tart baking apples (about 2 1/2 pounds/1.1kg total), such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch (1.3cm) slices
  • 1/3 cup (67g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (8g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (3g) ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1g) kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) pure vanilla extract

For the Topping

  • 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup (105g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1.5g) ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1g) kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1/2-inch (1.3cm) cubes
  • 1/2 cup (60g) chopped pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) with a rack in the center. Lightly butter a 9×13-inch (23x33cm) baking dish or a 2-quart (1.9L) oval baking dish. Have all ingredients ready before you start, since the topping comes together quickly.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla until every slice is evenly coated. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes so the apples release some juice and the sugar dissolves into a light syrup; this keeps the filling from tasting flat.
  3. Scrape the apples and any juices into the prepared baking dish and spread them into an even layer. Set aside while you make the topping.
  4. Make the topping: in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt until combined and no clumps of brown sugar remain.
  5. Add the cold butter cubes to the dry topping ingredients. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, work the butter into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse meal with some pea-size butter pieces still visible. Stop before it becomes a smooth dough; those cold butter bits make the topping crisp.
  6. Stir in the chopped pecans, if using, then scatter the topping evenly over the apples. Do not press it down; leaving it loose and craggy gives you crisp, golden clusters instead of a dense, heavy blanket.
  7. Bake until the topping is deep golden brown and the filling bubbles up around the edges, 45 to 55 minutes. If the topping browns too quickly, tent the dish loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  8. To check doneness, insert the tip of a paring knife into the center; the apples should slide in with no resistance and the juices should look thick and syrupy, not watery. If the apples are still firm, bake 5 to 10 minutes more.
  9. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. Cooling lets the filling set so it spoon up in neat, juicy portions rather than running all over the plate.
  10. Spoon warm into bowls and serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a pour of cold heavy cream, if desired.

Notes

Storage: Cover leftover crisp and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Freezing: Bake the crisp in a freezer-safe dish, cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Make ahead: The unbaked assembled crisp can be covered and refrigerated for up to 24 hours; add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time. Reheating: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 45 to 60 seconds, or reheat the whole dish covered with foil in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until heated through and bubbling at the edges.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, Martha Stewart apple crisp, apple dessert, easy apple crisp, oat topping, cinnamon apples, fall dessert, Thanksgiving dessert, baked apple dessert, homemade apple crisp

Find it online: https://marthadishes.com/martha-stewart-apple-crisp-recipe/