*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post with Yes!Apples®, however all opinions, experiences and enjoyment of apples, KORU® apples in this particular recipe, are completely my own!

The first time I learned what a fruit crisp or a cobbler was, I was living in Dallas, TX. I was working my way through a year-long dietetic internship at Presbyterian Hospital where all the desserts in the cafeteria (“The Presby Cafe”) were made from scratch. That’s right. Everything in that dessert case was made fresh daily! All the cookies, all the muffins, all the cakes, and on certain (lucky) days, the pastry chef baked up a fruit crisp. Not knowing what this was at first, I quickly learned just how amazing fruit and oats could taste when baked to bubbly, crispy perfection—especially when topped with a scoop of ice cream! Between the chef’s dinner plate-sized fresh baked cookies and her amazing fruit crisps, I quickly came to the realization that it was a very good thing that not all of my clinical rotations were at the hospital!

Years later, I was planning a cooking class for my patients and wanted to include a special dessert recipe. Presby Cafe’s famous fruit crisp immediately came to mind! Unfortunately, a recipe that a) didn’t require an oven, b) took less than 30 minutes to prepare, and c) didn’t call for a stick or two of butter was almost impossible to find, so I made my own. My Apple Skillet Crisp may not be Presby-dessert legendary status, but it is really tasty and easy to make!

So, what makes this version healthier? Check out some of the highlights of the ingredients I’ve used:

  • KORU® apples are crisp, crunchy, juicy and sweet! They’re ideal for baking given their flavor profile and they’ll keep their shape under heat. Also, when sliced, KORUs are slow to brown making them the perfect option for kid’s lunches and charcuterie boards! Check the Yes!Apples locater to find our where you can purchase them.

  • Apples are among a group of fruits and vegetables that have been studied and shown to reduce the risk of asthma. They taste great and can help you breathe easy!

  • The polyphenols (natural plant properties) in apples have antioxidant properties that have been associated with lower risk of several types of cancer, including breast, mouth, lung and colorectal.

  • The toasted oats in granola are high in soluble fiber, which has natural cholesterol-lowering properties. Fiber slows digestions and helps keep us feeling full and satisfied long after we’ve eaten!

  • Dried cranberries naturally contain the flavonoid (naturally found in plant pigments), proanthocyanidins (PACs) that may help prevent the adhesion of certain harmful bacteria, including E. coli, that are associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Scroll down to check out my recipe and YouTube recipe tutorial video and see how easy this recipe is to make for yourself!

Apple Skillet Crisp

Recipe by Christy Wilson

Makes approximately 8, 1/2 cup servings

Ingredients

  • 3 KORU® apples, cored and diced into 1/4-inch cubes

  • 2 tablespoons apple juice

  • 1 tablespoon conrstarch

  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for dusting

  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

  • 2 teaspoons butter

  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

  • 1/4 cup dried cherries

  • 1 cup prepared granola

  • Serving suggestion: Ice cream

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, add apple juice and cornstarch and mix until cornstarch dissolves. Set aside.

  2. In a medium bowl, combine diced KORU® apples, brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Mix until apples are coated, then pour cornstarch slurry over apples and stir to combine.

  3. Over medium heat, add butter to a large, nonstick skillet. Heat until melted, then add apple mixture to the skillet. Cook and stirring constantly until apples are brown but not mushy, around 5 minutes.

  4. Add cranberries and cherries to the apples and stir to combine and heat through.

  5. Spread all fruit evenly in the pan, then add granola over the top. Reduce heat to low.

  6. Flatten fruit and granola with the back of a wooden spoon, cover pan with lid and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

  7. Turn off heat and serve immediately with a scoop of ice cream. Top with cinnamon.

Note: Any leftover Apple Skillet Crisp can be stored in a sealed container up to 3 days. Best served warm with ice cream!

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