Dessert: Apple Shortbread Crisp

Difficulty: Medium

Prep Time: 15 min

Cook Time 35-45 min

Serves (12)

My dad loves shortbread. He also loves apple pie. Combine the two? Amazingness. Switch your traditional pie crust for the buttery delicacy of shortbread, and top with a simple crumb topping. So the apples and topping don't compete for sweet attention, use whole wheat flour and oats for a muted topping that compliments, but doesn't overpower.

Ingredients: Shortbread 2 cups flour, 1 cup butter*, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp nutmeg Apple Filling 6 cups sliced apples (about 7 medium), 1/2 cup sugar, 1-2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg Crumb Topping 1 cup oats, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup softened butter, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon

*chilled and sliced into pieces

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Combine all ingredients for shortbread in large bowl and work with hands into small crumbs (no larger than pea sized). Pour and press mixture into 13x9 pan. Poke shortbread with a fork several times throughout. Place in over for 15 min. (We're pre-baking the shortbread so it doesn't absorb too much of the juice from the apples.)

While shortbread is cooking, peel, core, and slice apples. Combine with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside. After 15 min, reduce heat to 350 and remove shortbread from oven.

In a medium bowl, combine ingredients for topping. Pour apples over shortbread. Pour crumb topping over apples and spread evenly. Place pan back in over until sides of crumb topping begin to brown and apples are soft (about 35-45 min).