This delicious Apple Brown Betty recipe brings crisp, sweet apples with a touch of lemon together with layers of sweet cinnamon nutmeg crumbs. Top it with all-natural vanilla ice cream or warm caramel sauce to make it the ultimate comfort food dessert.
In my opinion, apples make the world a better place. Gone are the days when your choices were Granny Smith or Red Delicious. I have not touched a Red Delicious apple since I was a kid. They are just a little too mealy for me. When I bite down, I want to hear a good crisp break. So give me a Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Jazz, or Pink Lady, and I will love and appreciate every single bite.
Unlike the apple crisp, an Apple Brown Betty does not have any oats in the topping. So for all of you who don’t like oats, this is your recipe.
How do you make Apple Brown Betty?
The first thing you need to do is peel, core, and slice the apples. But not too thin because you don’t want them to get mushy when you bake them. After you cut them, toss them with a little lemon juice in a bowl and place half of the apples in the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate or 8 or 9-inch casserole dish.
Now in a food processor, combine your flour, brown sugar, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt. Pulse a couple of times to combine. Now, drop in the butter one tablespoon at a time, pulsing once or twice between each tablespoon. Pulse until coarse crumbs form. Once the mixture is combined, crumble half of it over the apple slices. Then, top with the remaining apples and the rest of the crumb mixture. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until very lightly browned. This recipe is especially delicious, served warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.
What are the best apples for Apple Brown Betty?
My go-to apples for this recipe are crisp tart apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples. Other good choices are Braeburn or Pink Lady (also known as Cripps Pink). You can also do a mixture of any or all of these for more texture and flavor. When you cut your apples, slice them at least a quarter inch thick to help keep a little bit of firmness through the baking process. If you really like them crispy, cut them into small cubes.
Tips for making the best Apple Brown Betty
- Pick apples that are ideal for baking, like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady.
- Don’t slice your apples too thin because this recipe is best when the apples still have some firmness to them.
- For ease in cleaning, grease your baking dish.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice. It helps keep the apples fresh while you are getting the rest of the recipe ready and adds a delectable, zippy flavor to the final outcome.
- Always preheat your oven and load this dish as close to the center as possible.
- For best results, do not overbake this recipe.
- This recipe, like apple pie, is best served warm yet still very delicious cold.
- Please store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Other apple recipes you will love!
Apple Brown Betty
Ingredients
- 5 Honeycrisp Apples peeled cored and chunked or sliced see notes
- 1 lemon juiced about 2 tablespoons
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter cold
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the bottom of a 9-inch casserole dish with nonstick baking spray.
- Toss apples with lemon juice and place half of them in the bottom of a 9-inch casserole dish or 9-inch pie dish.
- In a food processor, combine your flour, brown sugar, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; pulse several times to combine. Drop in butter 1 tablespoon at a time pulsing between each tablespoon or until butter is fully incorporated and coarse crumbs form.
- Sprinkle half the crumbs over the apples. Top with remaining apple slices and the rest of the crumb mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until very lightly browned. Serve warm.
Notes
- Pick apples that are ideal for baking, like Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Granny Smiths, or Pink Lady.
- Don't slice your apples too thin because this recipe is best when the apple still have some firmness to them.
- For ease in cleaning, grease your baking dish.
- Don't skip the lemon juice. It helps keep the apples fresh while you are getting the rest of the recipe ready and adds a noticeable delectable zippy flavor to the final outcome.
- Always preheat your oven and load this dish as close to the center as possible.
- For best results, do not overbake this recipe. The top should be very lightly browned, and the apples still be slightly crisp.
- This recipe, like apple pie, is best served warm yet still very delicious cold.
- Please store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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Rebecca Whitener
I love Apple Bron Betty, My mama loved it & made it quite often, I still make it especially during Holidays everyone in family says make for their Christmas present. LOL.
Toni
This is always a must-make at my house during apple season!
Michele
I love apple desserts but have yet to try an Apple Brown Betty! I need to remedy that and make this recipe. It looks so good. Thanks for sharing.
Krissy
This has always been one of my favorite recipes… especially in the fall. YUM!
Katie
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
I LOVE all things apple pie, crumble, crisp – you name it! I’m from France and I have actually not had a brown betty before but it sounds like all the things I love about apple desserts united in one dish! YUM
Beth Pierce
Me too! This is one of my husbands favorite desserts! He just LOVES it!!
Anjali
This is one of my favorite fall recipes!! All of the flavors of apple pie, but much easier to make!
Kushigalu
Drooling over this. How flavorful dessert. Love your photos too!
Jessica
My hubby LOVES honey crisp so this is right up his alley! Maybe I’ll make a treat for him!
Beth Pierce
My husband loves this recipe so very much!
Erin
This delicious Apple Brown Betty couldn’t look any more perfect!
Beth
I agree! Honeycrisp are by far the best apple! I’ve never had a brown betty so trying this ASAP!
Tammy
I am sure my family will love this!! It looks amazing!
Catalina
Perfect for my afternoon snack! Love apples!
Kimberly
Such a delicious classic, I make this several times every fall!
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
WOAH! Does that look delicious or what?! Definitely giving this a whirl. I have an entire bag of apples I bought that need to be used up before they go bad.
Phillip
My Pennsylvania “hillbilly’ mother called dishes like this a ‘slump’.