Amaretto Brown Butter Apple Crisp

 

This is a sponsored post by Challenge butter, but the text and opinions are all mine. Thank you for supporting brands that make Kylee's Kitchen possible!

I can't think of a more classic fall dessert than apple crisp. It's warm, it's comforting, and it's a great way to use up the excessive amount of apples you picked over the weekend when you got caught up in the moment doing all the fall things. 

One of these best things about apple crisp is you can't really mess it up. Even a bad apple crisp is better than no apple crisp. That being said, I really wanted to elevate an already delicious dessert with two special ingredients: amaretto and brown butter. It's the difference between good and WOW! 

I tested this recipe with apple slices and diced apples. I liked the look of sliced apples better, but the diced apples may have been a little easier to eat. You decide what you like best, though!

I used Challenge butter in this recipe because I like that they use hormone-free milk from local dairies, and they don’t add any unnatural additives.

Amaretto Brown Butter Apple Crisp 

Yield: One 8 x 8 dish, about 6 servings

Ingredients

For the topping

• 6 Tablespoons Challenge butter
• 1 cup oats*
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour**
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons amaretto
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the filling

• 6 medium apples (about 26 ounces)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour***
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup amaretto

Directions 

For the topping

1. Slice butter into Tablespoon-sized pieces and heat in skillet over medium heat
2. Stir butter around and wait for it to melt. It will foam around the edges.
3. Around 6 to 8 minutes of cooking butter, you'll notice light brown specks at the bottom of the pan. Smell butter; it should have nutty aroma.
4. Remove butter from stovetop and pour into medium-size heat-proof bowl.
5. Chill butter in refrigerator until it becomes solid again, about 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Add all other topping ingredients to bowl with brown butter and stir to combine. Set aside.

For the filling

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Prepare 8x8 baking dish with nonstick spray. Add filling ingredients to baking dish and stir to combine.
3. Sprinkle topping evenly over apple mixture and bake for about 40 minutes on low oven rack. Put aluminum foil over top of dish after 20 minutes to ensure topping doesn't burn. Mixture should be bubbly on sides when it's removed from oven.
4. Allow it to set for about 10 minutes before serving warm with ice cream.

* Use gluten-free oats to make apple crisp gluten free

** Can substitute equal amounts gluten-free flour of choice

*** If you prefer juicier apple crisp, you can reduce flour amount to 2-3 Tablespoons