Apple Brown Betty

A brown betty is an American dessert of fruit and bread crumbs. This version uses apples.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups soft bread crumbs
  • ½ cup white granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup butter or margarine
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 cups apples, sliced (they don’t need to be peeled)
  • ¾ cup water
Apple Brown Betty

Photo: KaMan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Procedure

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Sauté bread crumbs in butter.
  3. Add apples, cinnamon, sugar, and water.
  4. If the skillet is oven-proof, cover and place in the oven. If the skillet is not oven-proof, transfer to a greased casserole dish.
  5. Cover and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until apples are tender.
  6. If mixture becomes too dry during baking, add another ¼ cup of water. (Apples vary as to moisture content.)

Notes, tips, and variations

  • Serve with milk or whipped cream.
  • If cooking in a Dutch oven, preheat with 15 charcoal briquettes, ⅓ on the bottom, and ⅔ on the top.