Classic Apple Brown Betty recipe makes a pan of juicy apples layered with sweet, buttery toasted bread topping. This recipe is a delicious alternative to apple crisp!
Apple Brown Betty is a warm, homey dessert made with everyday pantry staples. Since it uses apples, it’s also a perfect Fall desert.
It’s also a great way to turn leftover sandwich bread into a delicious dessert!
What is Apple Brown Betty?
Apple Brown Betty is a simple dessert made from sliced apples layered with brown sugar and bread.
It’s a baked apple dessert that’s similar to apple crisp. Rather than an oatmeal crisp topping, the apples are layered with a sweetened buttery bread crumb mixture.
Apple Brown Betty is a great alternative for anyone who likes apple crisp but wants to make a dessert without oats.
How to make Apple Brown Betty
Apple Brown Betty is made by layering brown sugar, sliced apples, fresh bread crumbs, and spices. It’s topped with a layer of butter pats and brown sugar.
Then, it’s covered with foil and baked until the apples are tender.
Tip >> I unwrap the foil and let the top crisp up a little before serving.
Tips
- Apples: I like to use a combination of baking apples when making apple desserts like apple crisp or apple pie. Using more than one type of apple gives a more complex, varied flavor.
- Bread: Regular white sandwich bread works well. There’s no need to remove the crust before using.
- Spices: Using apple pie spice in place of the spices in the recipe works well.
- Doubling the recipe: Feel free to double the recipe. It works well in a 9×13-inch pan.
Serving suggestions
This dessert is delicious as-is. If you want prefer, you can serve it with vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream on top.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The leftovers will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored in the fridge.
More apple dessert recipes!
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Apple Brown Betty
Ingredients
- 4 baking apples
- 4 slices white sandwich bread
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed and divided
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples.
- Slice bread into a small dice, or tear into very small pieces.
- Coat a 7×11-inch baking dish with butter.
- Add 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 of the apple slices, and 1/2 of the breadcrumbs to the dish.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Repeat the layers.
- Slice butter and lay slices all over the top of the breadcrumbs.
- Sprinkle dish with remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar.
- Bake, covered in foil, until done – about 30-40 minutes.
- Carefully remove foil in last few minutes of baking to brown the top.
Notes
- Apples: If you use Granny Smith apples, you may want to increase the sugar by 1/4 cup if you like desserts on the sweeter side.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published 10/25/12. Slightly adapted from thepioneerwoman.com
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Comments & Reviews
Linda says
This is a wonderful recipe! I’ve been making it for years. Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you like it! And thanks for coming back to comment! =)
Pam says
Boy does this recipe bring back memories. My mom made this occasionally and we loved it. Loved this recipe too.
Kate says
Thank you!