Cinnamon-Ginger Apple Crisp

The smell of apples baking in the oven is one of the best smells in the world, if you ask me.  When fall rolls around, it's the perfect time for baking apples.  Apple crisp is delicious, and easier to make than some other dishes, like pie, since it's freeform and very forgiving.

The only trick to apple crisp is to get the apples cut the right thickness so that the apples are cooked but not overcooked when the topping gets crisp.  If you want a thick and very crisp topping, cut the apples thicker.  A thinner or less crisp topping, the apples can be thinner.  It's not rocket science.

Today I made some apple crisp with not just cinnamon, but also ginger sugar that I happened to have leftover from making crystalized ginger.  I saved the remaining ginger-flavored sugar crystals.  But, it would be just as easy to mix regular ground ginger in with the cinnamon and sugar.  I've never used ginger in an apple crisp before today, and I absolutely loved it.  Dan enjoyed it, too; in fact he thought it would be good with a whole lot more ginger.  Maybe I'll go nuts with it next time.

Here's my basic recipe for apple crisp with ginger and cinnamon.  Play around with the flavors as you see fit.  You can add other fruits to the mix, or add oats or nuts to the topping. 

Cinnamon-Ginger Apple Crisp

4 baking apples, same or mixed, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp each: cinnamon, ground ginger, and sugar (or ginger sugar)
1 Tbsp butter, cut in very small pieces

topping:
1/4 c flour
1/4 c brown sugar
dash each: cinnamon and salt
3 Tbsp cold butter, cut in very small pieces

Sprinkle apples with lemon juice as they are cut to avoid browning.  Layer sliced apples evenly in small baking dish.  Sprinkle with seasonings.  Dot with butter pieces.

In bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.  Cut in small pieces of butter and mix gently with fingertips until mixed but crumbly  (some pieces of butter should remain).  Sprinkle on top of apples.  Bake in oven until apples are cooked through and topping is golden brown and crisp, 20-40 minutes (depending on thickness of apples). 

Serve warm or room temp, alone or with ice cream.

Yum!  Happy autumn eating!