Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Whole Grain Apple Crisp

When I think of Fall, I think of crisp juicy apples and eat them daily.  I put them in my oatmeal, in salads,and of course desserts, like apple crisp and apple pie.  There are many versions and recipes for "Crisps and Crumbles."  I have been making  the same apple crisp recipe forever, since the late 60's.   Now that I'm trying to cut back on the bad carbs, I wanted to change my apple crisp recipe. So I used whole wheat flour for the all purpose flour, and subbed Splenda brown sugar for regular brown sugar.  I was already using rolled oats. I still had to use butter, because with the Smart Balance, it doesn't get "crispy."  I tried that once before, Still I wasn't sure how the crisp would turn out using the whole wheat flour.  To my amazement, the crisp turned out very well, and not different from using the AP flour in  appearance and taste.  However the whole grains have more nutritional value.

This Apple Crisp recipe is very easy to make with just a few ingredients, and goes together quickly.  It is very good warm, even with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but not for me now. Well, maybe I'll take just a bite out of Scott's dish. Everything in moderation, right? This recipe is for 9x5 loaf pan and serves 2.  The recipe may be doubled for an 8x8 pan, or tripled, for a 13x9 pan, depending on the size of your apples.

Apple Crisp -for a 9x5 loaf pan, serves 2

 Topping:
 I use a pastry blender to make the topping.  If you don't have a pastry blender, you can cut in the butter with two knives.

1/3 c. brown sugar or Splenda  I used Splenda Brown Sugar
¼ c whole wheat flour, or AP flour
1/4 c. old fashioned rolled oats
½ tsp. cinnamon
3 Tbsp butter
3 Jonagold, Yellow Delicious, Gala,  or apples of your choice
More cinnamon to taste.

1. Combine first 5 ingredients and cut in butter until crumbly, like small peas, and refrigerate until the apples are peeled, sliced and cored. .
  
2. Peel, slice and core apples. I use an apple slicer, which makes this step much easier. Sprinkle more cinnamon over the apples, if desired.

3. Spray a 9x5 pan and pile apples into pan. Take topping out of fridge, and spread the topping over the apples.  Bake in 375 degree oven 35-40 min., until apples are tender and topping is golden. Then, turn oven up to 400 degrees for five min. to "crisp" topping. Cool on rack. Serve Warm-Enjoy Fall!

20 comments:

  1. Sounds delicious and everything healthy I love in it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Claudia- I'm trying to eat healthy, but it isn't easy, especially if you have a baking blog!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Becky, this looks so good you'd never even guess it was healthy! ;-) I love it girl! And I'm with you Fall just SCREAMS apples to me, in fact I have a giant bag of them sitting on my counter right now! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim,
    What are you going to do with your apples? Make apple crisp? lol

    ReplyDelete
  5. My all time favorite dessert!! I haven't made one in years though... just might be time!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cooked apples are something I can never get enough of in the fall. This apple crisp does look delicious and I am glad you lightened it up, we can have all the indulgences all the time! Your picture is making me hungry. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Kim Liv life-Apple crisp is so easy to make and Liv could help you make it.

    Christine-Thanks for your comment

    Tina-Thank you! Sometimes we ahve to eat fairly healthy;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Becky! I guess we both had apples on the mind! Hope you are well! Hugs from the north! - megan

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Becky! I guess we both had apples on the mind! Hope you are well! Hugs from the north! - megan

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Becky! I guess we both had apples on the mind! Hope you are well! Hugs from the north! - megan

    ReplyDelete
  11. Becky, I love how you've made one of my favorite desserts more healthy...this looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've never tried and bake with the smart bal butter, I usually use it on my toast. I'm loving all this twists on apple dishes. I'm trying to be good too, it gets hard when it's sitting in front of you.
    -Gina-

    ReplyDelete
  13. Very delicious..and I really love this dessert, simple, flavorful and now even healthy..you can't get better than this!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Megan-Apples are very popular this month:)

    Lizzy- I am trying to re-make some of my old recipes that I love healthier.

    Gina-It's very hard to be good when you have a baking blog, soo many temptations.

    Sandra-sometimes simple things are the best.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Apple crisp is the BEST. Yours looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Carolyn- I think that apple crisp is the best, too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Becky! This looks wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing. I love the whole grain.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Raven- Th whole grain crisp is so good. Scott couldn't see any difference between aP flour and the whole wheat in taste,

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your apple crisp, is so healthy, low-fat, low in sugar. A perfect simple dessert any time of the year, especially now, in the fall!

    ReplyDelete

Print friendly