Apple Walnut Crumble

There's nothing so warming on a cold winter night as an apple fruit crumble. The smell of the apples baking in the oven is heavenly..it's the ultimate dessert comfort food. Which is why I chose to make this one.
And did you know there is a difference between a crisp and a crumble? Yup, a crisp is fruit topped with a mixture of butter, flour, sugar and nuts and a crumble is the same but it has oatmeal added to the topping. So I guess that means if you don't like oatmeal, you can leave it out and still make this recipe..it's just going to be an apple crisp! This is kind of an apple crumb pie without the bottom crust.

Other than the time it takes to peel the apples, this is an easy dessert to make. You really can't mess it up! Just stir the apples together with some maple syrup and spices, mix the flour and sugar and butter and spread on top and bake. It's a not too sweet, fruity, crunchy dessert, served best slightly warm with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream or ice cream.

Slice and peel the apples.

Place the apples in a baking dish and toss with maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Then scatter the walnuts over top.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, whole wheat flour and sugar, then add the butter pieces and blend in with your fingers.

Then add the oatmeal.

And sprinkle over the apples, and bake.

Apple Walnut Crumble

Serves 8

The best apples to use would be the same as for making a pie, such as, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn or Pippin. Using a combination of several apples is always good.

5 to 6 large apples, peeled and cut into wedges about 1/4" to 1/2" thick

2 oz. maple syrup

1/2 tsp. cinnamon ( I'd increase this amount to 3/4 to 1 tsp.)

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts ( you can use pecans if you don't like walnuts)

2/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup AP flour

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

6 tbsp. butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

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Preheat oven to 350.

1. Place apples into baking dish (I used a pyrex 7" x 11" dish) and toss with maple syrup, nutmeg and cinnamon. Scatter nuts on top.

2. Stir sugar, flour and whole wheat flour and mix well.

3. Drop in butter pieces and rub with fingers til mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

4. Mix in oats with fingers.

5. Scatter mixture over apples and bake 45 to 50 minutes. Cover with foil if browning too quickly but uncover toward the end.