Calibrate Recipe

STOVETOP APPLE CRISP

Gluten-free, Vegetarian, Halal, Kosher

Active: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Serves 2
Yellow (but be mindful of added sugars)

Crisp, tender, cinnamon-spiced apples are tucked under a crunchy crisp oat topping in this delicious fall comfort food dessert. It’s gluten free (be sure to buy gluten-free oats if you have an allergy), can be made dairy-free or vegan (simply sub in coconut oil for the butter; since this is such a small amount, it doesn't count toward the triangle), and is all made on the stovetop in half the time a typical apple crisp would normally take in the oven. Best of all, you probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. 

We chose Gala apples for this recipe because they’re more sweet than tart, and they keep their structure when cooked (which means you won’t wind up with a bowl of bland apple mush!). But any apples you have on hand will do. Other favorite varieties for this dish include Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Fuji, or Golden Delicious. Feel free to also sub in pecans or almonds in place of the walnuts. If you’re tracking your sugar intake closely, one serving contains about 7g of added sugar from the maple syrup.

Ingredients:

For the apples:

  • ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 Gala apples, cored and cut into ½-inch chunks
  • 2 teaspoons 100% pure maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the topping:

  • ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup chopped raw unsalted walnuts
  • ¼ cup rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon 100% pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds

Directions:

  1. For the apples: Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the apples, maple syrup, and cinnamon and stir until combined. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft, about 7 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, make the topping: Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the walnuts, oats, maple syrup, and sesame seeds and toss to coat. Cook, stirring frequently and being careful not to let it burn, until golden brown and crunchy, 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Divide the apples between two bowls and serve warm, topped with the oat mixture.

Test Kitchen Tip:
You can easily make this a one-skillet dessert to cut down on dirty dishes. It only takes 5 additional minutes. First, cook the apples in a medium skillet and transfer them to the bowls. Then wipe out the skillet with a paper towel and use it to toast the oat mixture.