If you’re looking for a fall dessert that’s comforting, easy to make, and downright delicious, then this Apple Brown Betty Recipe is exactly what you need. I absolutely love how this classic dessert balances tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with a buttery, crumbly topping that crisps up beautifully in the oven. It’s one of those simple recipes that feels like a warm hug from your kitchen, and trust me, your family will go crazy for it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything you need in your pantry and fridge right now.
- Easy to Make: This Apple Brown Betty comes together fast with no complicated steps or equipment.
- Classic Comfort: It’s a warm, cozy dessert perfect for chilly evenings and special gatherings.
- Customizable: You can tweak the spices or apples depending on what you have or what your family loves.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For this Apple Brown Betty Recipe, the magic is really in the combination of fresh apples and a buttery, sweet crumb topping. Choose apples that hold their shape well while baking, like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji for the best texture and flavor.
- Apples: I used Honeycrisp because they’re sweet with just the right amount of tartness, but Granny Smith or Fuji work beautifully too.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon juice keeps the apples from browning and adds a subtle brightness.
- All-purpose flour: This helps create that crumbly topping—no oats here, just pure buttery goodness.
- Brown sugar: Adds a rich molasses sweetness that pairs perfectly with apples.
- Granulated sugar: Balances out the sweetness for that perfect caramelized crust.
- Pumpkin pie spice: I love this blend for an autumnal touch without needing to mix several spices separately.
- Cold butter: Key to achieving a tender, crispy topping—make sure it’s cold and cubed for easy blending.
Variations
I find that this Apple Brown Betty Recipe is like a canvas—once you get the basics down, you can play around with your favorite flavors or dietary needs. I sometimes swap the pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon or nutmeg, or switch up the apples based on what’s fresh at the market.
- Add nuts: Chopped walnuts or pecans sprinkled into the topping give an extra crunch that my family adores.
- Make it gluten-free: Substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free blend—just be mindful of texture changes.
- Use maple syrup: Swap some or all of the sugars with pure maple syrup for a richer fall flavor.
- Add oats: I know traditional Brown Betty sometimes includes oats; adding ½ cup old-fashioned oats to the topping gives a lovely nuttiness.
How to Make Apple Brown Betty Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Apples with a Zesty Kick
Start by peeling, coring, and slicing 4-6 large apples into thin slices. I like slicing them thin so they cook evenly and become tender without turning mushy. Toss the slices in the juice of half a lemon to keep them from browning and to brighten the flavor. Then, spread the apples evenly into a 9×9-inch baking dish. Give them a quick toss so the lemon juice coats all the slices well.
Step 2: Mix the Sweet, Spiced Crumb Topping
Grab a medium bowl and combine your flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. The pumpkin pie spice adds that warm, inviting aroma I adore in autumn desserts. Cube the cold butter and use a pastry blender (or two knives if you don’t have one) to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly. The bits of cold butter are what make the topping crisp up in that perfect way, so don’t skip this step or use melted butter here!
Step 3: Layer and Bake to Perfection
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apple slices. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes. This step steams the apples so they’re tender. After 40 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for another 10-20 minutes to let the topping crisp up and get that irresistible golden color. You’ll know it’s ready when the top is crunchy and the apples are bubbling underneath.
Serve your Apple Brown Betty warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. I love how the ice cream melts into the warm apples and crumbly topping—pure heaven.
Pro Tips for Making Apple Brown Betty Recipe
- Use Cold Butter: This is the secret to getting that perfect crumbly, crispy topping—warm butter will just turn your topping into mush.
- Thinly Slice Apples: Thin slices mean even cooking and a tender texture, but don’t go too thin or they might become too soft and lose structure.
- Cover During Baking: Covering the dish during the first 40 minutes steams your apples to perfection—removing the cover later crisps the topping without drying out the fruit.
- Let It Rest Before Serving: Waiting just 10 minutes allows the juices to settle so you won’t have a watery mess on your plate.
How to Serve Apple Brown Betty Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping this Apple Brown Betty with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream that slowly melts into the warm apples. If you want to dress it up a bit, a sprinkle of toasted chopped nuts or a drizzle of caramel sauce adds an extra special touch that’s irresistible.
Side Dishes
Though this dessert stands strong on its own, I’ve often paired it with a cup of homemade spiced tea or a bold cup of coffee to balance the sweetness. If serving alongside a meal, simple roasted pork or turkey works beautifully for a cozy autumn dinner.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, I like to bake individual portions in small ramekins—each guest gets their own warm Apple Brown Betty ready to be topped with ice cream. It feels fancy but is super easy to make. You can also dust the tops lightly with powdered sugar for a snowy, festive look.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover Apple Brown Betty covered tightly in the fridge for up to 3 days. It reheats wonderfully without drying out if you cover it loosely with foil and bake at 325°F for about 15 minutes or until warmed through.
Freezing
If you want to freeze this dessert, I recommend assembling it in a freezer-safe dish and freezing it before baking. When you’re ready, bake it covered with foil at 350°F, adding extra baking time since it goes in frozen. This trick helps keep it just as delicious as fresh.
Reheating
To reheat and keep that crisp topping, warm the Apple Brown Betty in the oven uncovered for 10-15 minutes at 350°F. Avoid microwaving if you can because the topping loses its crispness.
FAQs
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What apples are best for Apple Brown Betty Recipe?
For Apple Brown Betty, apples that hold their shape well during baking—like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji—are ideal. They provide a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness and keep a nice texture.
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Can I make Apple Brown Betty without oats?
Absolutely! This version of Apple Brown Betty uses a flour-based crumb topping without oats, resulting in a crisp, buttery crust that contrasts beautifully with tender apples.
- How do I store leftovers?
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to keep the topping crisp rather than microwaving.
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Can I prepare Apple Brown Betty ahead of time?
Yes, you can assemble the dish beforehand and bake it just before serving. It also freezes well if you make it in a freezer-safe dish.
Final Thoughts
When I first tried making Apple Brown Betty, I was blown away by how simple ingredients could come together in such a cozy and comforting way. It’s dessert perfection for fall, and I honestly look forward to making it year after year. I hope you give this recipe a try—you’ll enjoy its tender, cinnamon-spiced apples and that irresistible, buttery crunchy topping as much as I do. Consider it your new favorite go-to fall dessert!
Print
Apple Brown Betty Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 80 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Apple Brown Betty is a classic fall dessert featuring thinly sliced fresh apples tossed with lemon juice, layered with a sweet, buttery crumb topping seasoned with pumpkin pie spice, then baked until golden and crisp. This comforting dish is perfect served warm with vanilla ice cream for a cozy treat.
Ingredients
Apples
- 4-6 large apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced, preferably Honeycrisp)
- 1 lemon (halved, juiced)
Topping
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 cup cold butter (1 cube)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the dessert.
- Prepare Apples: In a 9×9 inch baking dish, place the thinly sliced apples. Squeeze the juice from half the lemon over the apples, then toss gently to coat all the apple slices evenly with the lemon juice. This helps prevent browning and adds a fresh citrus note.
- Make Topping: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and pumpkin pie spice. Add the cold butter and use a pastry blender or fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with no large dry pockets.
- Assemble: Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over the coated apples in the baking dish.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. This initial baking cooks the apples through.
- Uncover and Finish Baking: Remove the foil, then continue baking for an additional 10-20 minutes until the topping is crisp and golden brown.
- Serve: Allow the Apple Brown Betty to cool slightly, then serve warm, ideally topped with vanilla ice cream for an indulgent finish.
Notes
- This Apple Brown Betty recipe is a delightful variant without oats, featuring a buttery, crumbly topping that complements the apples perfectly.
- Using fresh Honeycrisp apples adds a lovely balance of sweetness and tartness, but feel free to use any baking apple variety.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a classic comfort dessert experience.
- Make sure the butter is cold to achieve a crumbly topping texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 197 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 6 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg
