Description
There’s no seasonal dessert I love more than apple crisp. A few years ago, I felt inspired to give my mom’s classic apple crisp recipe a cozy masala chai-inspired twist. Masala chai – the creamy, dreamy spiced tea latte that we Americans typically just call chai – is one of my favorite drinks & I love infusing its warm flavors into all kinds of treats. That’s exactly how this chai spiced apple crisp recipe came to be. (And if masala chai is new-to-you, be sure to check out the blog post, above, to learn more!)
Simply toss Granny Smith apples into a homemade chai spice blend of ground cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, & allspice. Top it off with an extra-generous amount of crumbly, buttery oatmeal crisp for loads of satisfying texture, & bake until bubbling & golden. So good!
I love to serve spiced apple crisp warm with a scoop of vanilla or salted caramel ice cream. It’s the perfect sweet treat to celebrate all things autumn!
Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray
- chai spice blend (below)
- chai spice crumble topping (below)
- 3 pounds granny smith apples (approx. 8-10), peeled & cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chai spice blend (below)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
for the chai spice crumble topping:
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons chai spice blend (below)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter (12 tablespoons), diced
for the homemade chai spice blend:
- 1 heaping tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, ensuring a rack is positioned in the center of the oven. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray & set aside. Mix the chai spice blend by combining all listed ingredients in a small bowl or jar. Stir to combine & set aside. Peel & slice apples according to the Ingredients List, above.
- Prepare the apple filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of the chai spice blend, vanilla, & kosher salt. Toss to combine, ensuring the apples are evenly coated with brown sugar & chai spice. Transfer apples to the prepared 9×13 baking pan, spreading them out into an even layer across the bottom. Set aside.
- Prepare the chai spice crumble: In a medium bowl, combine the old fashioned oats, flour, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of the chai spice blend, & kosher salt. Whisk to combine. Add in the cold, cubed butter. Cut the butter into the oat mixture – you can use a pastry cutter or fork, though I typically just use my hands to press the butter into the oats – until the mixture is super crumbly & begins to stick together when pressed gently. This takes a few minutes – have patience! Sprinkle the crumble overtop the apples, pressing down slightly to create a nice layer of crumbly topping over the apples.
- Bake the chai spiced apple crisp: Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to the oven & bake for 45-50 minutes, until the apples are tender, the filling juices are bubbling around the edges, & the crisp is golden. Remove from the oven & allow to cool slightly before serving.
- Serving: Serve however you like it best – at our house, we enjoy it while it’s still warm, topped with a generous scoop of vanilla or salted caramel ice cream. Enjoy!
Notes
- Storage & Reheating: Cool any leftover chai apple crisp completely before covering & storing in the fridge. Leftover apple crisp will keep for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave as desired.