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)!
Why We Love It
Sometimes I need to take a break from the super sweet apple desserts. Don’t get me wrong: I LOVE a good Dutch Apple Crumb Pie. Like, a lot. But when I want to appreciate the wonderful taste of baked apples, I crave a treat where they’re simply allowed to just be apples–and not mixed with cinnamon or sugar.
Now I realize that, technically, I could just bake some apples. But everything’s better with a little bit of crunch, don’t you agree? This tasty Apple Peanut Crunch is the perfect way to satisfy my craving. Sliced, naturally 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. There is 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. Ok, and yes, we DO occasionally enjoy this with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, which is really hard to resist when Apple Peanut Crunch is served warm!
Why You’ll Love It
| Fresh ingredients: Fresh apples are better for you and are packed full of vitamin C Feel good recipe: The apples aren’t coated in sugar, making this a healthier choice Simple: Uses pantry staples that you most likely already have on hand Versatile: Can be served with breakfast or dinner |
If you love streusel topped breakfast desserts, check out Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake! It’s the best!
Apple Peanut Crunch Ingredients
- 1/4 cup instant oats
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup peanut butter– I like to use crunchy peanut butter in this for a great texture
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
- 4 cups fresh apples, peeled cored and sliced thin– I like Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples for this because they are sweeter
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice– used as a preservative
- 3 tablespoons water
How to make Apple Peanut Crunch
You’ll want to gather the following 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
Getting started
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Soften butter on counter
Start making Apple Peanut Crunch by preparing the topping first.
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 1/4 inch thickness or less. Then place the sliced apples into a separate, large mixing bowl.
Kitchen Ready Betty tip: 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.
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!
Apple Peanut Crunch Leftovers?
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.
Apple Peanut Crunch
Description
Sliced, juicy apples fill a casserole dish and then are topped with an oat and peanut butter topping--reminiscent of a Nature's Valley granola bar. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, this delicious treat can be enjoyed hot or cold all on its own--or with cream, whip or vanilla ice cream.
Apple Peanut Crunch
How to Make Apple Peanut Crunch:
-
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 1/4 inch thickness or less. Then place the sliced apples in a separate, large mixing bowl.
It's important to 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. -
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.
Note
I prefer Gala, Honeycrisp, or Fuji apples for this recipe. I rely on the sweetness from these varieties since there aren't any sweeteners added to the fruit portion.
Whichever apple variety you choose, take time to make sure the apples are sliced thin and uniform.
I prefer crunchy peanut butter for this recipe for added texture in the topping.
