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    Home » Desserts

    Published: Oct 10, 2017 · Modified: May 7, 2019 by Usha Rao

    Apple Brown Betty

    Apple brown betty is an American variant of apple crisp or crumble. Apple brown betty or apple betty is a baked dessert made with apples, crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Unlike apple crisp, apple crumble and cobbler, apple betty has layers of bread or cake crumbs and apple slices. Incidentally, October 5th is national apple brown betty day.

    Apple brown betty in a mini pie dish on a baking tray and a kitchen towel on the side.
    Bowl of apple dessert.

    Jump to recipe
    I start this week’s blogging marathon with the theme apple desserts. One of the recipes I picked is apple brown betty. The reason being, it is easy to make and ingredients are readily available in any kitchen. The only drawback is, it takes 45 minutes to bake!

    Apple Brown Betty, Apple brown betty is a layered American version of apple crisp or crumble, Apple dessert, Apple Betty

    If you noticed, the first photo and rest of the photos have different setting and lighting because these were taken on two different days. First was on a rainy day and the rest on another day when it wasn't raining. As I mentioned in my last post, I am back to blogging after 6+ months and I was going though a blogger's and a photographer's block. I kept postponing cooking for the blog till the last-minute and if I did cook for the blog, I was not motivated to take any photos. Hence ended up taking pictures on two different days 🙂 .

    Apple Brown Betty, Apple brown betty is a layered American version of apple crisp or crumble, Apple dessert, Apple Betty

    As with many recipes, there are many variations to apple betty as well. In fact, some say the original betty recipe has flour in it while some say it has cake or bread crumbs. The recipes I came across that called for flour had a single layer of crumb, just like a crisp or a cobbler, hence I went with a recipe that used bread crumbs and, had layers of crumbs and apple slices.

    Apple Brown Betty, Apple brown betty is a layered American version of apple crisp or crumble, Apple dessert, Apple Betty

    This is one of those desserts where one can arrange the betty in a pie dish, toss it in the oven, set the meal, eat and cleanup, and the betty is baked in the oven just in time for dessert. Serve with whipped cream or ice-cream or eat it as is! It tasted great as is as well.

    Apple Brown Betty, Apple brown betty is a layered American version of apple crisp or crumble, Apple dessert, Apple Betty

    Apple Brown Betty Recipe

    Adapted: Pioneer Woman
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Preparation: 10 - 15 minutes
    Bake Time: 45 - 50 minutes
    Serves: 2 - 3

    Ingredients:

    • 1 Granny Smith Apple, peeled, cored and sliced
    • 2 - 3 Bread Slices (I used 2 ½ slices white sandwich bread)
    • ½ cup Dark Brown Sugar
    • ¼ cup Salted Butter (I used unsalted butter and sprinkled ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon salt)
    • Cinnamon (I didn’t use)
    • 1 tablespoon Water
    • Small Pie Dish
    • Whipped Cream or Ice-Cream for serving

    Preparation:

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degree fahrenheit.
    • Wash, peel and core the apple. Cut the apple into 8 pieces length wise and slice each piece widthwise. If making twice the recipe in a large pan, cut the apple into 4 and then slice it.
    • Chop bread into small pieces or tear into small crumbs or run it in a food processor to make crumbs.
    • Grease the pie dish with butter.
    • Keep aside a tablespoon of brown sugar. Sprinkle ⅓ of the sugar, followed by ⅓ apple slices and ¼th of the bread crumbs.
    • Repeat the step two more times and top the remaining bread crumbs on the top.
    • Slice butter and arrange it on top of the crumbs.
    • Sprinkle water, remaining sugar, cover the dish with an aluminum foil and bake in a 375 degree preheated oven for 45 - 50 minutes.
    • Few minutes before turning off the oven, approximately 5-7 minutes before, remove the foil and let the top brown.
    • Remove from oven, let cool slightly and serve with ice-cream or whipped cream. I served it with Reddi Wip.

    Note:

    • I used ¼ cup butter (4 tbsp) and felt it was a bit too much. I would use 3 tablespoon next time I bake apple betty.
    • Apple betty is bit on a sweeter side, yet I liked the sweet and slightly tart apple slices in betty. If one prefers less sweet, I would recommend using ⅓ cup dark brown sugar or use unsweetened whipped creaming when serving.

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Priya Srinivasan says

      November 05, 2017 at 10:48 am

      i m undergoing the same block now, sometimes felt i should stop blogging!!! but fighting it hard, trying to blog atleast twice a week now. hope i will sail thru this phase!
      Apple BB looks scrumptious! love the clicks as usual, the bowl and the reflection of the table cloth on the bowl, creates such a design! awesome usha! hope u blog more in coming months! best wishes!

      Reply
    2. Ritu Tangri says

      October 28, 2017 at 6:53 am

      I have recently developed my love for baked apple. Apple brown betty is though never heard off, send similar to apple crumbs in taste. I'll surely try it.

      Reply
    3. Mayuri Patel says

      October 23, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      What a tempting dessert. Never heard of Apple Brown Betty, so its good to learn from your blog what its all about.

      Reply
    4. Ruchi indu says

      October 22, 2017 at 10:31 pm

      Great comeback... 6 months you would have missed blogging. Great clicks and a tempting recipe

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 23, 2017 at 10:33 am

        i didn't miss blogging in the last 6 months Ruchi. I was busy with other stuff. However, I did miss blogging last month during the mega BM seeing all the bm related feeds in social media.

        Reply
    5. Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says

      October 16, 2017 at 11:20 am

      Such a great come back. The recipe looks super tempting!!

      Reply
    6. Harini-Jaya R says

      October 15, 2017 at 7:51 pm

      We love anything with apples and I have made apple crisp umpteen number of times. This one is just as easy to bake. On another note, I can totally get the blogger's block thing as I was also just hibernating for a few months now.

      Reply
    7. Priya Suresh says

      October 15, 2017 at 6:28 am

      Omg, that much long, 6 months seriously??.. glad to see you Usha, brown betty makes me drool, this is definitely an easy dessert to whip up anytime.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 15, 2017 at 4:43 pm

        Yup, it is see to whip up, Priya

        Reply
    8. Veena Krishnakumar says

      October 14, 2017 at 9:46 am

      6 months????? Welcome back and lovely clicks as usual!!Lokks yumm

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 15, 2017 at 4:43 pm

        Yeah, it's been 6 months. Thanks Veena.

        Reply
    9. Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      October 13, 2017 at 9:05 pm

      Welcome back Usha! I love this dessert for 2 reason, one I love the name. Second, it is so easy to whip up and I love anything with apple and crumbs. I am bookmarking this to make for a gathering soon.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 15, 2017 at 4:42 pm

        The name is quite unique, isn't it. Am sure your guests will like it.

        Reply
    10. sushma says

      October 13, 2017 at 1:50 pm

      Good to see u back after a long time Usha. Apple dessert looks so delicious.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 15, 2017 at 4:41 pm

        Thanks Sushma

        Reply
    11. Sandhiya says

      October 13, 2017 at 1:47 pm

      Welcome back to BM, Usha. This recipe is totally new to me and it looks absolutely delicious,bookmarked to try.

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 15, 2017 at 4:41 pm

        Sandhiya, yes it is delicious. Make it sometime and you too might love it.

        Reply
    12. Pavani says

      October 13, 2017 at 10:11 am

      That is such a simple and easy to make apple dessert Usha. I would love to try it sometime. Welcome back to BM 🙂

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 15, 2017 at 4:40 pm

        Do try it Pavani. You will love it.

        Reply
    13. Srivalli Jetti says

      October 12, 2017 at 6:34 am

      Oh the break was six months Usha??..this year surely zipped past us so quickly right..Its good to have you back ok, and this recipe sounds fantastic!..what a delicious bake..

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 12, 2017 at 4:45 pm

        Yes Valli, feels like the year started few weeks ago and we are almost at the end of year.

        Reply
    14. vaishalisabnani says

      October 10, 2017 at 8:33 pm

      Six months ! That’s really long ! Good to have you back , with a delicious and interesting dessert . The dessert is tempting and I love tarty green apples in bakes .

      Reply
      • MySpicyKitchen says

        October 12, 2017 at 4:43 pm

        I can't believe I was away from blogging for 6 months!

        Reply

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