Peanut Butter Apple Crisp

“Mom can I have an apple with peanut butter?” This is a question I get almost daily, the girls love apples and peanut butter. I can’t say I blame them it is a delicious combo! So I decided to take a classic fall favorite we make every year with the apples we pick and add peanut butter to make Peanut Butter Apple Crisp! Yes and not only did I put peanut butter with the apples in the filling I also put it in the topping instead of traditional butter that would be there. The family approved but I have to say was a little surprised that out of the two girls the one who would eat peanut butter and apples for every meal if I would let her, ok maybe not every meal, wasn’t the one who ate the majority of the first pan it was the other one. I don’t think there is an apple dessert I look forward to more in the fall than apple crisp. I’m not a pie fan so apple pie isn’t something I would crave but apple crisp was something I looked forward to for as long as I can remember growing up. It was also one of those dishes that was never the same. Growing up we didn’t measure much in the kitchen it was always an eyeball or you just knew this is about a teaspoon, this is about a cup, ect. Which is one of the only reasons I can’t make bread, ok maybe it’s because I like to just make things and not follow directions sometimes either and you can’t forget a step and there are lots of time requirements. Along with that we also just put things together so like chili or soup it was throw it all in the pot. With meatloaf it was always ok we have bread, or crackers, or oats and oh we have these shredded carrots and half an onion to use up. When it came to apple crisp it was sometimes there was more crumble topping than others, sometimes it had more cinnamon, sometimes we added nuts, there were times there was a lot of filling. So I did the same well until years ago when I started posting things on my Facebook or when friends were asking me for recipes and I would be oh just this, that, pinch of cinnamon… and yeah that didn’t seem to fly for a lot of people and there were more questions. Or I would make something amazing and someone would want it again and I would have to try to remember what I did, hmm well I added cinnamon, than danced around and what did I do. So that was one of the big things I had to adjust to with starting a blog a few years ago and writing every thing down, and not losing the paper. I tried to do it on a tablet but there were too many scribbles and notes with changes when testing or tweaking or I was told food wasn’t good to have all over my keyboard. Luckily things have evolved, the girls have been trying to mark their favorite recipes for their books, which is why I started this and I think may be novels. Oh well I guess there will just have to be an off to college edition, a first house edition, just married, first baby… maybe I’m getting ahead of myself since I hope there is still lots of time before we get to any of those but I know apple crisp, be it this one or another amazing version that I have yet to think of, will be in the book for sure!

Since I seem to be all full of secrets today I will let you in on another one…. apple crisp isn’t just for dessert! It falls into one of my best dessert for breakfast categories. While it is great with ice cream for dessert I also like to eat leftovers for breakfast. Warmed up or cold I just love it! Really if you think about it it isn’t that crazy, kind of like having cooked apples and granola, or a oatmeal with a lot of apples. This version with peanut butter makes it even more acceptable for breakfast right?

We went to the apple orchard yesterday and picked apples and this was the first thing S, my oldest, requested so I’m going to surprise her and make some single serving minis in jars this week to put into her lunch for a treat one day!

Peanut Butter Apple Crisp
Makes an 8×8 or 9×9 pan, 9 servings
6-8 tart baking apples, 8 if using smaller apples (use Braeburn and Granny Smith apples, I also like to use Honey Crisp and Granny Smith)
1/2c peanut butter (used Peanut Butter & Co Smooth Operator)
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch salt
1/2c plus 1 TBSP powdered peanut butter (used Peanut Butter & Co Go Mighty Nut Original Powdered Peanut Butter)
1/2c coconut palm sugar

Topping:
1/3-1/2c coconut palm sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2c rolled oats, gluten free if needed (used Bob’s Red Mill Organic Rolled Oats)
2TBSP coconut oil
1/3c plain or maple peanut butter, (used Peanut Butter & Co Peanut Butter Smooth Operator)

Preheat oven 350F*. In a medium bowl combine coconut oil and peanut butter for the topping. If you have kids helping you can also place the ingredients in a gallon size zip loc bag and have them squish the ingredients together to mix. If you want a more traditional crumble grind half the oats to about flour consistency or you can leave them whole it will just be more crumbly kind of like granola. Add the oats, chopped oats, sugar, and cinnamon to the peanut butter mixture and combined. You should have a crumbly mixture. Place the mixture in the freezer while you prepare the filling. You don’t have to I just find it works better when using whole oats and your topping doesn’t get too brown. Peel, core, and thinly slice your apples and put into a large bowl. Toss apples with lemon juice, coconut palm sugar, pinch of salt, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Carefully stir in peanut butter, I like to use my hands or a rubber spatula. Sprinkle and toss with the peanut butter powder and pour into baking dish. Sprinkle with crumble topping and bake about 45 minutes, until golden brown and apples are tender. Let cool and enjoy, we like ours with ice cream, or shh warm for breakfast!

*Growing up apple crisp was always baked at 375F for 30 minutes. I still do this times as I like my apples to have a little bite but not everyone likes it this way and if you don’t and bake it longer the top will sometimes burn.
Peanut butter and apples #tasteamazing can't wait to try this Peanut Butter Apple Crisp! Share on X

It’s Monday so I’m linking up with fellow bloggers Tina and Deborah for Meatless Monday! Find more inspiration or maybe a delicious dinner to pair with this apple crisp!