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Cozy Brown Butter Apple Crisp Recipe with Easy Oat Streusel Topping

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A comforting apple crisp featuring nutty brown butter, a crunchy oat streusel topping, and a salted caramel drizzle. Perfect for cozy nights and simple to prepare with pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups peeled and sliced apples (Granny Smith and Honeycrisp recommended)
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup (90g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 3/4 cup (95g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) salted caramel sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Peel, core, and slice the apples into 1/4-inch thick pieces. Toss them in a large bowl with granulated sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Set aside to let the flavors meld for 10 minutes.
  3. Brown the butter: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Stir frequently as it foams and then turns a golden amber color, about 4-5 minutes. Watch closely to avoid burning—it should smell nutty, not bitter. Remove from heat immediately.
  4. Make the oat streusel: In a separate bowl, combine rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, the remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Pour the warm brown butter over the mixture and stir gently until everything is moistened and clumpy.
  5. Assemble the crisp: Spread the apple mixture evenly in your baking dish. Sprinkle the oat streusel topping over the apples in an even layer.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbly and tender when pierced with a fork.
  7. Remove from oven and drizzle salted caramel sauce over the top. Let the crisp cool for about 10 minutes before serving to let the caramel set slightly.

Notes

If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover the crisp with foil halfway through baking. Mixing the streusel while the butter is still warm helps everything bind better. For vegan adaptation, replace butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free caramel sauce. You can prepare the crisp assembly ahead and refrigerate, adding 5-10 minutes to baking time if baking from cold.

Nutrition

Keywords: apple crisp, brown butter, oat streusel, salted caramel, fall dessert, easy apple dessert, cozy dessert

Find it online: https://juliamadeit.com/cozy-brown-butter-apple-crisp-recipe-with-easy-oat-streusel-topping/