This delicious fall dessert features fresh local apples with a pecan oatmeal brown sugar topping. It’s great served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 6 apples
• 1 cup packed brown sugar, divided
• 1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the apples.  Cut into quarters and remove the core.  Cut apple quarters into 1/2 to 3/4- inch slices or chunks.  Yields about 6 cups of sliced apple chunks.    
2. Place sliced apples in a large bowl with 1/2 cup of brown sugar.  Toss to coat. Spoon into an 8-inch ovenproof baking dish.

• In a small bowl, combine oats, remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and chopped pecans.  Stir to combine.  Add butter and mix until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over fruit. Bake at 350⁰F until the crisp is bubbly and the fruit is tender, about 45 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream or yogurt.

Tips:

• The best apples for baking are crisp and firm varieties that hold their shape in the oven instead of turning to mush.  Some examples of baking apples are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Braeburn and Golden Delicious. 

Recipe was developed, tested, and photographed by Diane Sokolofski