Cardamom Spiced Apple Crisp (Printer-Friendly)

Tender spiced apples topped with a crunchy oat and almond crumble for a warm, comforting treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Apple Filling

01 - 6 medium apples (about 2 pounds), peeled, cored, and sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
08 - Pinch of salt

→ Crumble Topping

09 - 3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
10 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
12 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter a 9-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, granulated sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, all-purpose flour, and salt until evenly coated.
03 - Spread the seasoned apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, almonds, cardamom, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry blender to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
05 - Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apples.
06 - Bake for 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling at the edges.
07 - Allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cardamom transforms ordinary apples into something that tastes like a secret spice-market discovery.
  • That buttery almond crumble is just crunchy enough to make you reach for another spoonful before the first has finished melting.
  • It fills your entire house with a fragrance that makes people ask what you're baking before they even see it.
02 -
  • Don't skip cooling time; the filling is lava-hot right out of the oven and needs those 10 minutes to thicken or you'll end up with cardamom-spiced apple soup instead of a proper crisp.
  • If your crumble starts browning too quickly, lay a sheet of foil loosely on top for the remaining baking time; ovens vary wildly, and protecting the topping matters more than following the clock.
03 -
  • Buy cardamom pods when you see them and grind your own; it's worth the 30 seconds with a mortar and pestle, and the flavor is incomparably fresher and more complex than pre-ground spice that's been sitting in your cabinet for months.
  • If you're making this ahead, assemble everything except don't bake it, then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; bake directly from the fridge and add 5 minutes to the baking time.
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