Crunchy, Nutty Apple Crisp with a Sprinkling of Bacon

Sprinkling on bits of crispy bacon during the last few minutes of baking is, of course, optional. But it sure is a fun option!  

I always have such good intentions.  I always buy lots of fruit and I always throw away some of that fruit.  This time I put those soft apples to good use and baked one of my favorite old-fashioned desserts – Apple Crisp.  Sprinkling on bits of crispy bacon towards the end of the baking time gives this dessert an new twist.

You know, I actually prefer eating apple crisp at room temperature, but that didn’t keep me from giving myself a big serving while it was still hot.

Except for coring, peeling and cutting the apples, this dessert takes very little time to prepare.

8 – 9 inch square cake pan        Bake at 350F for 30 – 35 minutes

Add chopped, cooked bacon 5 minutes before apple crisp is ready to come out of the oven.

Ingredients

    Apple Filling

• 7 cups peeled, sliced apples
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 3 pinches nutmeg
• 1 Tbs. flour     ++ Flour helps thicken the apple juices
• 1/4 tsp. salt

    Topping

• 1/2 cup brown sugar   ++  Just leveled, not ‘packed’    
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 Tbs COLD butter, cut into small pieces
• 2 pinches salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 2 – 3 Tbs. roughly chopped cooked bacon  To be added during last few minutes of baking.

++  As the old expression goes, “Live and Learn’.  I learned that finely chopping the cooked bacon was NOT the way to go, so I recommend doing a rough chop.  Also, it’s better if the bacon is slightly crispy… not super crispy.  

Method

In a large bowl mix 7 cups peeled, sliced apples, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, 3 pinches nutmeg, 1 Tbs. flour and 1/4 tsp. salt.  Pour into a square baking pan.

Place 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 4 Tbs cold butter (cut into small pieces) and 2 pinches salt in a medium bowl.  Using a pastry cutter, or two knives, mix ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs.  Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.  (Do NOT add the bacon!)

Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly over the sliced apples.  Bake at 350F for 30 – 35 minutes.  The apple filling should be bubbling and the topping should be browned.

++ If adding 2 – 3 Tbs. chopped cooked bacon – sprinkle it on 5 minutes before apples crisp is fully cooked.    Enjoy!