Start your day off right with this delicious Apple Peanut Crunch! Juicy apples are baked under a sweet and wholesome, oat and peanut butter topping. Packed with nutrients and a little bit of protein, this is the perfect breakfast treat (but we won't tell anyone if you want to enjoy it with a scoop of ice cream)!
Everything's better with a little bit of crunch, don't you agree?
Apple Peanut Crunch is a delicious way to satisfy an apple dessert craving. Sliced, sweet apples fill a casserole dish and then are topped with an oat and peanut butter topping--reminiscent of a Nature's Valley granola bar.
Sugar is kept to a minimum in this treat; there's a little brown sugar and butter in the topping for a bit of a streusel flare, but that's essentially it!
This feel-good treat is perfect for breakfast or a weekend brunch, but it also makes a great after dinner dessert, just like Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake and White Chocolate Cranberry Bread.
Why you'll love it
| Fresh ingredients: Fresh apples are better for you and are packed full of vitamin C. This dessert is abundant in them, Feel good recipe: Unlike many other apple desserts, the apples in this crunch aren't coated in sugar, making this a healthier choice. Simple: This recipe uses pantry staples that you most likely already have on hand. |
Ingredients
- instant oats- for added nutrition and bulk in the topping
- all-purpose flour
- brown sugar- choose dark brown for a deeper molasses flavor
- salt
- peanut butter- I like to use crunchy peanut butter in this for a great texture
- butter- salted is best for this recipe
- fresh apples, peeled cored and sliced thin- I like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples for this because they are sweeter
- fresh lemon juice- used as a preservative
- water
Instructions
For more detailed instructions, see the printable recipe card below
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar and salt.
- Add the peanut butter and the softened butter to the bowl. Use a pastry blender to combine these ingredients with the oat mixture. Then set this bowl aside.
- Next, prep the apples. Wash and peel the skins. Then use a paring knife to halve and core the apples. Slice apples into even-sized slices, aiming for ¼ inch thickness or less. Then place the sliced apples into a separate, large mixing bowl.
- Mix lemon juice and water together. Pour over apples and stir to coat.
- Then place apple slices in a lightly greased 8 x8 baking dish.
- Spoon peanut butter/oat mixture over apples.
- Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until apples are fork tender.
- Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.
Helpful tips
- Try to keep the slices uniform so that the apples bake evenly. Aim for thin slices so that the fruit is fork-tender after it bakes.
Equipment
- 2 large mixing bowls
- pastry blender (optional, but helpful for mixing peanut butter and butter together)
- mixing spoon
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- fruit/vegetable peeler
- paring knife
- cutting board
- 8 x 8 square pan, lightly greased
Storage
Cover with foil or store in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Enjoy leftovers right out of the fridge, or cover with aluminum foil and reheat at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or until heated through.
📋Recipe
Apple Peanut Crunch
Ingredients
- ¼ cup instant oats
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup peanut butter I prefer crunchy for this recipe
- ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
- 4 cups fresh apples, peeled cored and sliced thin I like to use Gala apples, which are on the sweeter side
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Before starting: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Soften butter on counter
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar and salt.
- Add the peanut butter and the softened butter to the bowl. Use a pastry blender to combine these ingredients with the oat mixture. Then set this bowl aside.
- Next, prep the apples. Wash and peel the skins. Then use a paring knife to halve and core the apples. Slice apples into even-sized slices, aiming for ¼ inch thickness or less. Then place the sliced apples in a separate, large mixing bowl.
- Mix lemon juice and water together. Pour over apples and stir to coat.
- Then place apple slices in a lightly greased 8 x8 baking dish.
- Spoon peanut butter/oat mixture over apples.
- Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until apples are fork tender. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Serve hot or cold with cream, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Apple Peanut Crunch is also great all on its own without any additional toppings!
- Cover any leftovers with foil or store in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Enjoy right out of the fridge, or cover with aluminum foil and reheat at 325 degrees for 10 minutes or heated through.
Sam D. says
We enjoy this cold for breakfast and warm for after dinner with a scoop of rum raisin ice cream.
Kitchen Ready Betty says
I will have to try it with that ice cream flavor...sounds delicious!