Do you have a family recipe that means a lot to you? Is it something that is so simple, but you hold it near and dear to your heart because when you make it it floods your mind with memories of a special loved one? This apple crisp recipe is my special family recipe. It means so much, not because it’s so good, but because it’s my grandfather’s recipe and because he meant so much to me. Every time I pull that yellow handwritten recipe card out of my recipe box and hold his writing in my hand it makes me smile. I picture him right in the kitchen with me with his warm and kind smile and it brings me right back to my childhood, and sitting right at my grandparent’s kitchen table.
I can still see my grandfather in his flannel shirt and jeans at the sink with a towel draped over his shoulder washing dishes. My grandparent’s house was always (and still is) neat as a pin. If a dish was dirty, it didn’t sit in the sink very long before it was washed, rinsed, dried and put away, right back where it belonged. I was lucky enough to spend my summers and days when I was too sick to go to school at my grandparents house. If it was Fall, then there was a really good chance that I might get a little piece of apple crisp for dessert.
Grandpa’s Sweet Apple Crisp is full of fresh, juicy apple slices, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, flour, butter and love. It was always made for family. It wasn’t for show, and it wasn’t fancy. It was simple and it was good. Just like my grandpa. I believe he came up with this family favorite recipe by combining both of my great grandmother’s apple crisp recipes and trying it out a few different times until it was just right. My grandpa loved anything made with apples and was known for eating a little of this tasty dessert for breakfast with his coffee sometimes. I will admit, I’ve done that a few times myself!
I have my own Old Fashioned Apple Crisp recipe that I make quite often in the Fall, but I always make this one too. For me, it tastes like home. It’s the ultimate comfort food and now that I am grown and have children of my own, I want to share it with my family. This yummy apple crisp, yes…but the wonderful memories of my grandpa that go along with it is what I long to share the most. Even though he is no longer with us, the memories of him are alive in our hearts and our home.
If you are looking for a simple, delicious apple crisp recipe, I hope you’ll give this one a try! Maybe it will become a special treat for your family too!
Ingredients
- 10 cups of your favorite baking apples (We love Cortland or McIntosh)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- For the Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into smaller pieces
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- Place your sliced apples in a 9 x 13 casserole or baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together the 1 cup of sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Sprinkle that mixture on top of the apples evenly.
- With a pastry blender or in your Kitchen Aid Mixer, combine the topping ingredients until the crumbles are separated and the size of peas. If I do this in my mixer, I usually let the mixer go for about 5 minutes, but keep an eye on it because you don't want to end up with 1 big ball! 🙂 When the crumbles are really small, just wait a few more seconds and they will get the perfect size!
- Cover the apples with the topping evenly, place the apple crisp on a cookie sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes or until lightly golden on top and bubbly.
- Let cool a bit, and serve warm or room temperature.
- Enjoy!
*Linking up at Simply Gloria, Skip To My Lou, Savvy Southern Style, Buns In My Oven, Lou Lou Girls, Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, Living Well Spending Less, The Best Blog Recipes, Cooking With Curls, Feeding Big, Pint Sized Baker, Hun What’s For Dinner, The New Mrs Adventures, Just A Girl and Her Blog
I made your Grandpa’s apple crisp today, it is really delicious. I’m taking it too a function tonight. I’m sure I won’t be bringing any home😉 I hope no one notices the little scoop that’s missing, and now in my tummy 🙂 Thank you for sharing Shannon.
Hi Marjorie! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for leaving such a nice comment- I was thinking about my grandpa a lot today, so it was great to see a comment here on this particular recipe today. Have a wonderful weekend:)
Family recipes are so special always bringing back wonderful memories of loved ones and special moments. Your Grandpas Apple Crisp looks delicious! http://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.com/2012/11/caramel-apple-nut-bars.html
Miz Helen recently posted…Cornbread Dressing Casserole
Thank you so much Miz Helen!
Hello sweet lady! This looks incredible. Pinned. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us. We hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm. We love partying with you! http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
Happy Sunday! Lou Lou Girls
Lou Lou Girls recently posted…DIY Decoration!
I think my favorite ingredient here is love. That makes a good dish great!!! I loved your story about your grandpa and his yellow recipe card. Those recipes are my favorites! My mom has recipe cards written by my great-grandmother and those are my favorites. This crisp looks delicious and perfect for Fall! Pinned!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking recently posted…Pumpkin Spice French Toast for Two
Thanks so much Lindsey! I hope you have a chance to try this soon 🙂
Shannon, what a special recipe and a wonderful post you’ve written about your grandfather. I love pulling out the handwritten recipes from back then. A few years ago, my aunt had handwritten so many of her recipes and gave them to me for my birthday. I’ll tell you that it was so special of her to spend the time to do that for me. Now days we just type it. In fact, one of the main reasons I have my blog is for my boys, so they may use my recipes for their families. (Right now, my oldest refers to it and cooks for his roomies!)
We would really love this apple crisp, pinning and bookmarking!
Thank you so much Gloria! You know, that’s one of the main reasons I have my blog too! It’s amazing how special a hand written note and especially a recipe can be from a loved one. I love that your son is cooking for his roomies! 🙂 I really hope you like this apple crisp if you try it!
Your crisp looks delicious! One of my grandmother’s signature recipes was her homemade waffles. I am so glad I have some of her recipes to remember her by.
Julia recently posted…Cranberry Pineapple Upside-Down Baked Oatmeal {GF}
Thanks Julia! Food with memories- my favorite! I bet those waffles are delicious 🙂
That’s so sweet Shannon….I remember those days too!!
Oh yum! I love the look of that crumb. Family recipes are always more special, right? I would give anything for a serving of this warm deliciousness right now! <3
Tash recently posted…Cookie Dough Sandwich Monster Cookies
Thanks so much Tash! 🙂