Crisps

Some desserts seem special, even if they're not that difficult to make. Crisps fall into that group. Check out the Bluberry Crisp, the Microwave Apple Crisp, and the rest of today's yumminess. Enjoy!

BROWNED BUTTER RHUBARB CRISP

This recipe is from Yossy Arefi in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummy recipe, Yossy wrote, "Making a crisp is one of the best and easiest ways to highlight seasonal fruit. Crisps come together quickly with no special equipment, and they are a great way to use the odds and ends of fruit in your refrigerator. This recipe highlights one of spring’s finest flavors: rhubarb. It is often paired with berries, but here, rhubarb shines on its own, with tart, puckery flavor and gorgeous color. Browned butter and almonds add toasty, nutty notes to the topping, making this an almost-effortless, high-impact dessert. You may notice that 2 tablespoons of the butter aren’t browned; they are added to the hot browned butter to cool it down a bit so that you can use it immediately. Feel free to swap an equal amount of rolled old-fashioned oats for the almonds in the topping. Serve this cozy dessert with whipped cream or ice cream, if you like."

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yield: 8 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023139-browned-butter-rhubarb-crisp. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.

Ingredients

For the Crisp Topping

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons

1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

For the Rhubarb

2 pounds rhubarb, chopped into 1-inch pieces (8 cups)

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract

1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

Pinch of kosher salt

Vanilla ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream, to serve

Preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, brown the butter: Melt 1/2 cup of the butter in a small skillet set over medium heat. (Use a skillet with a light interior so you can easily see the milk solids change color.) Cook the butter, stirring occasionally and scraping the milk solids off the bottom and sides of the pan as needed, until the milk solids turn golden brown and smell toasty, a few minutes. Transfer the butter to a medium heatproof bowl. Cut the remaining butter into 2 pieces and add it to the bowl with the hot butter. Stir occasionally until all the butter melts.

Add the flour, brown sugar, almonds and salt to the butter, and stir together until evenly combined and clumps form. You may need to use your fingers to do the last bit of mixing.

Prepare the rhubarb: In a 9-by-9-inch (or 9-inch round) baking dish, combine the rhubarb, granulated sugar, flour, vanilla paste, orange zest and a pinch of salt. Stir until combined and evenly mixed. Press the rhubarb gently into the pan, then scatter the crumble evenly over the top.

Bake until the topping is deep golden brown and the rhubarb juices are bubbling, 55 to 65 minutes. Cool slightly, then serve warm with ice cream or lightly sweetened whipped cream. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The topping will soften as it sits.

APPLE CRISP

This is from Genevieve Ko at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yummminess, Geneview wrote, "This warm dessert can quickly satisfy sweet tooth cravings, especially if you forgo peeling the apples, which adds a nice chewiness to the crunchy toasted topping and juicy, saucy apples. Choose a variety of apples, then adjust the amounts of sugar and lemon juice to strike the right tangy balance for the filling. Or customize your crisp by using your favorite spices and nuts. The dessert tastes particularly comforting hot out of the oven, with the caramelized apple juices bubbling around the nutty cookie-like clusters, but it’s just as good cold for breakfast the next day."

Total Time: 1-14 hours; Yield: 6 to 8 servings

This was featured in "Baking That’s Simple, but Always Satisfying," and can be found online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022569-apple-crisp.

Ingredients

For the Topping

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, cardamom or nutmeg, or a combination

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, or a combination

1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

For the Apples

1 to 4 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, cardamom or nutmeg, or a combination

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 pounds apples, preferably firm, with a mix of tart and sweet-tart (8 to 10 apples)

1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preparation

Make the topping: Rub together the flour, both sugars, the spice and salt in a medium bowl. Toss in the butter and nuts to coat, then pinch the butter into the dry ingredients until no floury bits remain. Add the oats, and gently rake and squeeze them through the buttery mixture to form peanut-size crumbles. Freeze while you prepare the apples. The crumb mixture can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Prepare the apples: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Use 1 tablespoon sugar for all sweet apples; 2 to 3 tablespoons for sweet-tart apples or a mix; and 4 tablespoons for all tart apples. Mix the sugar with the flour, spice and salt in a 10-inch cast-iron or other heavy ovenproof skillet.

If you’d like, peel the apples. Cut into 1/2-inch chunks, discarding the seeds and cores. Add to the skillet and drizzle with 1 tablespoon lemon juice for tart apples and 2 tablespoons for sweet-tart and sweet ones. Mix until evenly coated, then spread in an even layer. Crumble the frozen crisp mixture on top. (There will be gaps.)

Bake until the topping is golden brown, and the apples are tender and bubbling, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool for at least 15 minutes on a rack before serving hot, warm or at room temperature.

BLUEBERRY CRISP

This is from Genevieve Ko in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Genevieve wrote, "Fragrant with the sunshine of lemon zest, the crackly almond roof of this summer-in-a-dish dessert gives way to jammy berries begging to be swirled with ice cream. To make this dead simple treat even easier, the crisp topping is simply stirred with melted butter, which binds together the dry ingredients while giving the mixture a sturdiness that holds up against the juicy fruit. Sliced almonds require no chopping and add a delicate crunch, but chopped pecans would be delicious here too, as would pinches of spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom or even black pepper. The topping can be refrigerated for up to 3 days ahead of time. Pro potluck tip: Ask the host if you can use the oven, and if you can, bring the berry mixture in the baking dish and the chilled topping in a separate container. When you arrive, scatter the crumbs over the filling and bake to perfume the house and enjoy a warm dessert."

Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 servings

This was featured in "A Summer Dinner Party That’s Actually Fast and Easy", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024462-blueberry-crisp.

Ingredients

For the Topping

1 lemon

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted if you’d like

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled

For the Filling

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1-1/2 packed tablespoons cornstarch

2 to 2-1/4 pounds blueberries

Ice cream, for serving

Preparation

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare the topping: Zest the lemon directly over the sugar in a medium bowl and mix with a fork. (Save the zested lemon for the filling.) Mix in the flour, almonds and salt.

The cooled melted butter has likely separated, so stir it until evenly pale yellow, then drizzle over the dry ingredients. Stir lightly and quickly until the mixture forms pea-sized crumbles with gravelly bits; don’t overmix. Refrigerate until ready to use. The topping can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Make the filling: Whisk the sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl to break up starchy clumps. Add the blueberries and squeeze in 1 tablespoon lemon juice from the reserved zested lemon. Toss until evenly coated, then scrape into a 1-1.2- to 2-quart casserole (such as a 9-inch square dish or deep-dish pie plate).

Spread the berry filling in an even layer, then cover with the topping, leaving no gaps. Place the dish on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any drips.

Bake until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling like lava, 40 to 45 minutes. You don’t want to burn your mouth eating the crisp hot, so let it cool for at least 15 minutes and preferably an hour or so because the filling firms up as it cools. It can be served warm or at room temperature, ideally with ice cream.

RHUBARB CRISP

This is from Mark Bittman at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Mark wrote, "When you think of rhubarb you probably think of strawberry-rhubarb pie, a quintessential spring dessert, especially if it’s made by someone who makes good pies. I usually manage around one pie crust annually, so I need alternatives. Thus, when the spring’s first rhubarb shows up, I adjust the execution and produce a crisp. If rhubarb is young and fresh, you can trim it in seconds. If it has fibrous outer strings, peel them off as you would those of celery. Toss the rhubarb with orange or lemon juice and zest, and only a little sugar. (You can also substitute strawberries for some of the rhubarb if you want the classic combination.) Blend the ingredients for the crisp topping in a food processor, crumble the topping over the rhubarb mixture, and bake — it is nearly effortless and as good or better than a pie."

Time: 1 hour; Yield: 6 to 8 servings

This was featured in "Rhubarb Crisp That Stands Up to Pie", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013147-rhubarb-crisp.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces, plus more for greasing pan

2-1/2 to 3 pounds rhubarb, trimmed, tough strings removed, and cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces (about 5 to 6 cups)

1/4 cup white sugar

1 tablespoon orange or lemon juice

1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste

Pinch salt

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup pecans

Preparation

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking or gratin dish with a little butter. Toss rhubarb with white sugar, orange or lemon juice and zest, and spread in baking dish.

Put the 6 tablespoons butter in a food processor along with brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt, and pulse for about 20 or 30 seconds, until it looks like small peas and just begins to clump together. Add oats and pecans and pulse just a few times to combine.

Crumble the topping over rhubarb and bake until golden and beginning to brown, 45 to 50 minutes.

RHUBARB CRISP

This yumminess is from Jeanine and Jack on their wonderful site, Love & Lemons. (Hint: If you've never checked out their site, now would be a great time to do so. Absolutely worth checking out!)

Anyway, this starts off, "Step aside, strawberry rhubarb pie! This rhubarb crisp recipe is my favorite spring dessert.

"I love it because it’s so easy (HUGE bonus points for not requiring pie crust), but it’s still completely delicious. A layer of fresh rhubarb bakes to jammy, sweet-tart perfection, and a brown sugar and oat crumble crisps up beautifully on top. I’m personally incapable of eating it without a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but hey, you do you."

To read the rest of what Jeanine and Jack have written about this yumminess, and see the recipe on their site, go to https://www.loveandlemons.com/rhubarb-crisp/.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes minutes; Serves 6

Another note from the recipe: "Rhubarb's season is fleeting, lasting just from April through June. Make the most of it with this rhubarb crisp recipe! It's a delicious spring dessert, featuring a layer of tart, jammy rhubarb with a buttery oat crumble on top. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors."

Equipment

8x8 Ceramic Baking Dish (I've loved this Le Creuset one for years)

Ingredients

2 pounds rhubarb, trimmed, tough strings removed, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon fresh orange juice

1 teaspoon orange zest

Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Topping

1/2 cup almond flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup whole rolled oats

1/2 cup crushed walnuts

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup firm coconut oil, or butter

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.

In a large bowl, toss the rhubarb with the sugar, cornstarch, and orange juice and zest. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.

Make the topping: In a medium bowl, mix together the almond flour, brown sugar, oats, walnuts, cinnamon, and salt. Use your hands to work in the coconut oil until the mixture crumbles. If it is too dry, add water, 1/4 teaspoon at a time, until the mixture starts to hold together when pinched.

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the rhubarb and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the rhubarb is soft and bubbling.

Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

MICROWAVE APPLE CRISP

This yumminess is from Betty Crocker, and begins, "Make a classic, favorite apple dessert even quicker when you cook with a microwave."

Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

4 medium tart cooking apples, peeled, sliced (4 cups)

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup Original Bisquick™ mix

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

In ungreased 2-quart microwavable casserole or 8-inch square microwavable dish, arrange apple slices. In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples.

Microwave uncovered on High 7 to 10 minutes, rotating dish 1/2 turn after 5 minutes, until apples are tender. Serve warm.

Expert Tips

Good choices of cooking apples include Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious and Greening.

You can bake this simple dessert in the oven. Grease 8-inch square pan or glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. Decrease oats to 1/2 cup; increase butter to 1/3 cup. Bake in 375°F oven about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender.

Serve this warm, fragrant dessert topped with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of cinnamon ice cream.

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