September 26, 2012

Kicking off fall with a delicious vintage apple crisp recipe

Proclaiming, cutely, that "the toppings on apples makes this apple dessert tops", I knew that this vintage recipe was just the one that I wanted to use as the first of the fall season, a time that is as inherently connected to apples as winter is to snow.

I'm a huge fan of apples, and have grown to love and appreciate them even more over the years, especially once they became one of only a very small handful of fruits my health permits me to partake of any more. From tart Granny Smiths to sublimely juicy Pink Ladies, there's scarcely a variety of apple out there that I don't adore sinking my teeth into, especially when they're at the peak of their growing season like they are now.

The Okanagan Valley were I live in renowned for its apples and it never fails to disappoint come fall. Thousands upon thousands of red, green, yellow and burgundy orbs cling to the seemingly countless apple trees around these parts, just beckoning one to plunk a piece of fruit, dust it off on their shirt, and chomp right in.

Not one to steal however, I prefer to get my apples from either a local fruit stand or supermarket - picking your own from an orchard is also a great option, but not always the quickest one, if you suddenly need a basket of apples for that evening's dessert - like that in today's scrumptious old school recipe for apple crisp.


Vintage Berry Crocker Apple Crisp recipe, Chronically Vintage recipe post

{A timeless fall classic that never, ever goes out of style, apple crisp is the kind of warm, sweet, wonderful dessert that always pleases table guests of all ages. Image via Eudaemonius on Flickr.}


Apple crisp was a standard, and much loved, dish in our home when I was growing up, and to this day I still prefer to serve it with wedges of thick, well aged cheddar cheese and frosty vanilla ice cream, just as my mother often did when we were young.

While this particular recipe differs somewhat from my family's classic (which includes an oat crumble top), it certainly doesn't sound any less delicious (especially if you swap the shortening for butter or margarine). I'd up the quantity of cinnamon and perhaps toy with the idea of a pinch of nutmeg or allspice, too, but otherwise I’d likely leave it exactly as it is.

Should your area still happen to have a glut of pears at the moment, too, you could absolutely make this dish with them instead of (or as a 50/50 mix) using apples. In the warmer months, peaches and plums are both shinning stars in fruit crumbles, and you can always turned to frozen or canned fruits in the wintertime.

Summer may be done and over for another year, but with desserts as sweet and wonderful as this, I don't think it will be hard to welcome autumn with open arms - and eager forks - once more, do you?  Smile

15 comments:

  1. I just made an apple crisp after I joined my daughter on a field trip to our local apple orchard. Unfortunately, the frost killed most of the blossoms and there are hardly any apples to pick.

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  2. I LOVE apple and apple pie. A few years ago I went through a phase where all I wanted to eat was apple pie. My husband was afraid I was pregnant but I wasn't just one of my weird phases.

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    1. I love it, too! If you'd wanted some pickles and peanut butter to go with the apple pie, his fear might have been a little more justified, but who doesn't go through a bit of an apple pie phase every now and then? :D

      ♥ Jessica

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  3. Hello Jessica,

    I love everything about autumn, so glad that it is here once more; I don't miss summer a bit!

    Apple crisp has always been a favorite around our home. I'll have to make some this weekend for breakfast.

    Granny Smiths are my personal favorite apple; love the tartness.

    :) Hope

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  4. As you know from my almost constant moaning, we have had a very poor summer and the apples have suffered. My neighbour has a tree that overhangs our garden and we are invited to help ourselves. Alas, this year, not a single apple, when usually we have more than we can cope with.
    Mind you, having see this recipe, I might have to go and buy some imports!

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  5. Hello! I love apple tart! But I've never tried to make it. After reading your post, I'll feel like trying it

    Thanks for sharing:)

    Love,
    Lorena

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  6. Hello Jessica,

    How sweet you are to follow my "Women Then" blog and to leave me those encouraging comments. It is such a pleasure to have you visit me there; I enjoy reading your thoughts.

    I have added THIS blog to my blog list at Woman Then, since you are truly a vintage gal. I have met very few bloggers quite like you. I love to savor each post, popping over with my cup of coffee for a friendly visit with you.

    ♥Hope

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  7. Yes! apple crisp! Apple pie for lazy folk like me. I'm going apple picking this weekend so I will check back to copy this recipe!

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  8. I haven't made apple crisp in a long time. I should make them, for like you, apples are one fruit that don't get me into any trouble diet wise. My version of apple crisp has the oatmeal topping. I'd like to try this one, but I couldn't view it because I don't have a flicker account. Is there anyway you can send this recipe to me so I can try it?

    Blessings to you! :)

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  9. ahhh we have a surplus of apples in our house at the moment, I think you've inspired me! lovely post xx

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  10. Oh my! There is nothing like the scent of baking apples and spices on a crisp, autumn day! That looks like a delightfully simple recipe and I'm tempted to substitute butter for the shortening:-) We like to keep a pot of simmering orange peel, cinnamon, whole gloves and ginger on the stove all season long. Autumn is such a wonderful time, isn't it! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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    1. Hi sweet Ann, for sure, swap in butter for the shortening. I almost never cook with shortening any more (butter makes a better pie crust most of the time, IMO) and suspect many other folks take the same approach.

      Autumn is so heavenly, I just adore it, too! I often keep a similar pot of spices and fruit simmering during these nippy months as well. It just makes the house extra cozy and like the air is giving you a warm hug.

      ♥ Jessica

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  11. This sounds great! I hope next time when you post recipes you can post pictures of your attempt {in making the recipe/s} as well. :) I love reading those. Lol

    xxxx,

    FMWL

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    1. Hi CJ, thank you very much for your comment. Unfortunately due to severe diet restrictions resulting from some of my chronic medical conditions, I'm often not able to eat the vintage recipes I post here, so I don't tend to make that many of them myself. Sometimes I do though, if I can eat one (or alter it to make it safer for me) or if I'm cooking for guests, and I'll certainly try to take and post pics if possible in those cases.

      ♥ Jessica

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  12. Hi wonderful ladies,

    Thank you all very much for your comments on this tasty vintage apple crisp recipe. Some of you mentioned using oatmeal in your crust - which I totally am in favour of doing, too. My mom's classic version always included oats, so to be an apple crust just isn't quite the same without them.

    Happiest autumn wishes - and baking - my dears!
    ♥ Jessica

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