I'm sure you've heard of her cousins, Pie, Crumble and Crisp, but there's just something about Betty. You need to meet her. Miss A. Betty makes great use of the season's fresh-picked apples, and brings a comforting warmth to anyone within spoon's reach. Bring her out for dessert, or, hell, parade her around at brunch -- she looks great next to a basket of bagels. Either way, just invite her to your next party, okay? She'll come dressed in her brown sugar shortbread base, her spiced, buttery apple blouse, and her crumbled gingersnap hat. Sounds pretty gorgeous, no? I think you're going to like her.
Apple Betty
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups homemade or store bought gingersnaps
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 sticks (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 2 lb tart apples (I like Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or McIntosh)
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- juice from 1 lemon
- juice from 1/2 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
To make shortbread: Pulse the flour, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until small lumps form (the dough will not seem to fully come together, but will look sandy). Sprinkle the dough into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish and press evenly to form the base of the apple betty. Bake in the middle rack of the oven for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned.
While the shortbread bakes, grind your gingersnaps and prepare your filling. Place gingersnaps in a food processor and pulse until they look like bread crumbs. Peel, core and slice apples into 1/4-inch slices, and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle apples with 1/3 cup of sugar, ground cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Squeeze citrus juices on top of apples and add vanilla extract. Stir apples with clean hands or a spoon to evenly coat with sugar, juice and spices. In a separate, smaller bowl, stir together flour and 2/3 cup sugar.
Melt the 1 1/4 sticks butter on the stove top or in the microwave.
Looks like a great desert for sitting in front of the fire in New Mexico with 9" on snow on the ground.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to the Bashionista. Aunt Deb
Thanks, Aunt Deb! And yes, that plan sounds lovely. Truth be told, I am missing having snow . . . I'm in San Francisco right now, but we hadn't had a single flake before I left the east coast. Some of my favorite days of all time have been snow days!
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