The Best Easy Apple Crisp to Make with a Child

On Friday, I was looking for an after-school cooking project for N, now in first grade. So, we made Easy Apple Crisp.

This simple recipe was a huge success–both as a learning activity and as a yummy dessert for our Friday night family dinner, which was this week, a pre-Valentine’s Day celebration.

The trouble with being a second child is that we continue to think of them as little, even though they’re growing up. While Miss T and I had done a fair amount of baking together by this age, N and I had not.

In fact as an extremely picky eater, I reasoned that getting hands-on involved with cooking and baking might give N a greater appreciation of food. We can only hope.

Advance Prep

How much preparation you do in advance will depend on the child’s capabilities.

• If the child is young or doesn’t have a good attention span, gather all the ingredients and the mixing and measuring tools.
• Prepare what you can in advance so the child isn’t waiting between steps. For example, I peeled, halved, and cored the apples, then wrapped them tightly in plastic wrap. I also chopped and pre-measured the nuts.
• An older child could have fun gathering the ingredients and equipment, as a kind of treasure hunt. They could also prep the apples and nuts.

Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies: the only other baking project we had done together.

About the Recipe

This recipe is laid out so it’s easy for a child to follow. The ingredients are separated by the steps in which they will be used. So, it you need 3/4 cup sugar, divided (some for the topping and some for the filling), the recipe pre-divides the sugar in two separate ingredient sections.

1.) Copy and paste the recipe into a Word document. Enlarge the type so it’s easy for a child to see.

2.) Print the recipe.

3.) Review the recipe in advance of the project.

The Child’s Role

1.) Read the recipe with the child so they are clear on the steps. If the child can read, have them read the recipe aloud.

2.) Have the child measure the ingredients, following the recipe.

3.) Have the child cube the apples with a table knife. It doesn’t matter if the cubes aren’t even. They’ll all meld together.

Easy Apple Crisp

Equipment Needed:

• Medium mixing bowl
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Table knife for cutting apples
• Cutting board
• Plastic or waxed paper for greasing
• 8-inch square baking pan
• Pot holders

For the Topping:

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
• 4 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into pieces

For the Filling:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• About 4 large apples, peeled and cored (the child will cube the apples to make 4 cups)

To Assemble:

• Butter for greasing pan

Method:

Heat oven to 375° F.

To make the topping: In a medium bowl put oats, sugar, flour, and nuts; stir to mix well. Add butter and squish it into the dry ingredients with fingers, until the butter is incorporated into the dry ingredients and forms small crumbles.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, put the sugar, flour, and cinnamon; stir to mix well.

Using a table knife, cut the apples into 3/4-inch cubes to make 4 cups. Add apples to sugar mixture and toss apples with hands to coat.

To assemble: Grease an 8-inch-square baking pan with butter. Pour apples into pan, leveling surface. Sprinkle with topping, spreading evenly.

Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes until topping is golden, apples are tender, and juices are bubbling.

Makes 6 servings.

Baking Tips:

• Apples suitable for baking, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Cortland or Braeburn, will give you best results. Here’s a guide.
• Dress up this dessert if you like, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• About 4 large apples will make 4 cups of 3/4-inch cubed apples.

Grandma Tip:

While this is a single, self-contained cooking activity, you can include this recipe in a more comprehensive summer vacation activity program for the grandkids.

What Kids Learn

Kids will take great pride in having baked a dessert to share with the family. N proclaimed himself the Apple Master!

They learn to:

• Develop confidence and pride in achievement
• Follow instructions
• Enhance motor skills
• Practice measuring and basic math
• Appreciate a deferred reward as they wait for the dessert to bake

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