Chocolate Apple Crisp
Who knew apples and chocolate tasted so good together! Layers of sweet and juicy fruit topped with a buttery crumble with dark chocolate make up this dessert that is wonderful in so many ways: it comes together quickly, can be made ahead and is great to serve a crowd.
Servings 8 servings
Ingredients
For the crumble:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour you can substitute ⅓ cup with superfine whole wheat flour for a more rustic feel
- pinch of salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup butter cold and in pieces
- ½ cup chocolate chips or chunks
For the apple filling:
- 1 pound apples about 4 (I am partial to Granny Smith, but other baking apples work well)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven in 350ºF (180ºC).
- Butter a 9-inch glass or ceramic dish.
Chocolate crumble:
- In a large bowl (or the bowl of a food processor), add 1 cup all-purpose flour, a pinch of salt, 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder, ¾ cup brown sugar and lightly mix.
- Add ⅔ cup butter, cold and in pieces, and work it with your hands or a dough cutter (or pulse if using the processor) until clumps begin to form.
- Transfer to a medium bowl, mix in ½ cup chocolate chips or chunks and refrigerate while making the filling.
Apple layer:
- Peel, core and cut 1 pound apples in half. Cut in half again so you have 4 quarters for each apple. Cut each piece into slices. Transfer to the prepared dish, covering the bottom.
- In a small bowl mix 2 tablespoons sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of the apples.
- Drizzle with ½ tablespoon lemon juice.
- Top with the chocolate crumble mixture distributing evenly. It will look like it's too much but it's fine.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until dry, bubbly and the apples are easily pierced.
- Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Flour: you can use buckwheat flour instead of the whole wheat.
Apples: I always use Granny Smith for desserts, but use your favorite baking apple. If they are already sweet you might want to not add the tablespoons of sugar over the apples before the topping.
Chocolate: I love using chunks because they are bigger so you bite into soft chocolate, but chips work very well too.
Storing: you can freeze the whole baked dessert, well wrapped, or make it a day ahead and warm before serving. Or just make ahead and freeze the raw crumble to save time.
