Homemade Apple Crisp: So Easy, a 2-year-old Can Do It

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Homemade Apple Crisp: So Easy, a 2-year-old Can Do It

October 7, 2009

Grace loves to cook.

You already knew that, right? That’s why Thursdays belong to Grace’s Kitchen.

The three of us stopped at Wegman’s on the way home from day care yesterday, and Grace was in the mood for apples. We picked up one each of six different varieties of apple, plus a few extra miniature apples that I thought would be a perfect snack for little hands.

I was right.

I had been inspired by my good friend whose blog featured a basket of apples craft yesterday. I thought we could bake an apple crisp and then do the craft.

We started out with an old faithful recipe that I made when I did Pampered Chef kitchen shows. I wanted Grace to be able to reach everything, so we prepared the food on the floor and on her stool.

Easy Apple Crisp

4-6 large apples
8 graham crackers, finely chopped
3/4 cup packet brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup butter, melted
Vanilla ice cream

First, peel, core, and slice the apples. We chose six different varieties of apples because I like how the flavors blend when the apples are cooked. You could also use six of the same apple, though I don’t think it would be as nice.
As you peel, core, and slice the apples, arrange them in a large baking dish.
I have a fancy peeler/corer/slicer contraption, and Grace was able to do it herself. She was so excited that I can’t describe it. She turned the crank, cut the apples, and laughed the whole time.
Just as a side note, it bugs me to throw the peels and cores away. I hate wasting food, but nobody wants big pieces of apple peel in their apple crisp. Instead, we collected the peels and cores and fed them to Joe and Gracie’s worm colony. As she peeled each apple, she said, This wormie food. or This yummy apples. and put it in the appropriate container.
After the apples are all peeled, cored, sliced, and placed in the baking dish, you can start working on the crust. First, put the graham crackers into a large mixing bowl and crush them. We started with a spoon, but it didn’t work very well.
We quickly moved on to our Food Chopper, which made the work quicker, easier, and definitely more fun.
Next, mix in the rest of the dry ingredients. Grace wasn’t able to do much of the measuring, but she dumped all of the measuring cups and measuring spoons into her bowl, and she continued stirring to blend it together.
Add melted butter to the crumb mixture, and combine well. This is only one of two steps that I would not allow Grace to help with.
Make sure that the apples are arranged evenly in the baking dish. Try to avoid a mound in the center of the dish. (Do as I say, not as I do!)
Spread the topping overtop of the apples.
The second thing I wouldn’t allow Grace to help with was the cooking. The original recipe said to microwave the Apple Crisp for 12 to 15 minutes. I like the top of my apple crisp to get, well, crispy, so I put it into the oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes after microwaving it. The only problem is that the apples get really mushy this way.
- If you like your apples more firm, you may want to cut the microwave time down (or even cut it out all together).
- If you don’t mind the crust being soft, you wouldn’t have to put it in the oven at all.
Serve with ice cream.

Grace’s Kitchen Friends

Please join in Grace’s Kitchen Friends! To play along, all you have to do is fill out MckLinky below. You can link up any post that talks about kids and food: Grace's Kitchen Friends

feeding kids
cooking with kids
kids’ nutrition
play with food or play kitchens
crafts with or about food
There are a lot of other kids and food things I haven’t listed (like growing food with kids or fun recipes that kids love!), so please don’t feel limited.

I’m easy like that, Dear Reader. The only thing I ask is that you link back here to Grace’s Kitchen Friends in your post. I can’t wait to see what your kids are doing!

Happily submitted to Real Food Wednesday, What’s Cooking Wednesday, Eat More Fruits & Veggies Challenge, Ultimate Recipe Swap, Tasty Thursday, Recipe Swap, Friday Feasts, Foodie Friday, Family Recipe Friday, Favorite Ingredient Friday, and Food on Friday

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Tiffany said:

We have a peck of apples, so I am for sure coming back to this!!

# 7 October 2009 at 10:13 pm

Liz@HoosierHomemade said:

I have the same apple peeler, I love it. I also save the peels, and sometimes put them in a pan with some water and spices just to put some aroma in the house.
Grace did an awesome job! My 15 DS helped me when he was that age, and now, he is an awesome cook. He cooks for his girlfriend all the time.
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..Aldi’s Money Saving Meal – Mostacolli

# 7 October 2009 at 10:23 pm

Live.Love.Eat said:

That is so adorable that you prepped the food on the floor so Grace could help. I want so bad for my 6yo son to take more of an interest in helping me in the kitch. One of these days…..

Your crisp looks wonderful, something I wouldn’t mind having for breakfast like right now!
Live.Love.Eat´s last blog ..Whole Chicken in a Crockpot & Asian Inspired Asparagus

# 8 October 2009 at 7:46 am

Robyns Online World said:

I remember when I was little that when my mom would make cookies we always put everything out on the floor in the kitchen so my brother and I could reach everything and do most of the work.
Robyns Online World´s last blog ..Rollup Laptop – I need this!

# 8 October 2009 at 10:21 am

chrissy said:

Thanks for the memories this brought back. I helped my mom make this many a time. In her later years we cheated and after cutting the apples and putting them in a 9×13 pan we would put a white or yellow cake mix(right out of the box)on the top. Slice pads of butter on the top. Cook until apples tender. Delicious!!! Thanks again. Gracie is adorable.

# 8 October 2009 at 7:23 pm

Tara (author) said:

Liz – That’s a great idea! I might be able to sneak one apple peel out, but they got pretty quickly into the wormies. Joe and Grace both get so excited about those worms!

I am so impressed that your mothers put food on the floor for you! I thought it was kinda strange to do it on the floor, but with the knife and the slicer and everything, I was afraid to perch her up on the counter.

# 8 October 2009 at 8:33 pm

Sheila said:

Look at that cute Grace learning to cook! She’s a doll, and that recipe sounds very good! Loved seeing you two enjoying yourselves and cooking together.

Happy Foodie Friday!

XO,

Sheila
Sheila´s last blog ..Play With Your Food (Act II ) or In the Pink…

# 8 October 2009 at 10:18 pm

Erica said:

That looks like so much fun Your daughter is so cute! Happy Friday!
Erica´s last blog ..Friday Feast: Crepes with Pecan Banana Topping!

# 9 October 2009 at 9:07 am

Mary said:

What a sweet child! She is just beautiful. It must be nice to have a helper in the kitchen. I’ll bet it only took you three times as long as normal to make the crisp .
Mary´s last blog ..Braised Vietnamese Fish – Ca Kho To – Foodie Friday

# 9 October 2009 at 10:58 am

Jean said:

Apple Crisp is one of my favorite fall foods. I love the apple peeler, core, slicer too. Gracie was so cute and I can just hear her squeal with enjoyment while helping you. I hope everyone enjoyed that delicious dessert. I used to live by Wegman’s and loved it!
Jean´s last blog ..Thursday Tablescapes and Foodie Friday-Chicken Enchiladas

# 9 October 2009 at 4:02 pm

Tara (author) said:

Mary – I imagine that you’re right. Three times as long is a good estimate. I don’t mind the time, though. She’ll remember these fun times forever, and the extra time is only an inconvenience for a bit.

# 9 October 2009 at 5:00 pm

Shan @ the fairy blogmother said:

I have a ton of apples to use here, so apple crisp will be on my list. Thanks for the recipe! Great WCW post.
Shan @ the fairy blogmother´s last blog ..you capture – red

# 10 October 2009 at 7:48 am

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# 10 October 2009 at 11:51 am

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[...] weeks ago, I posted an Apple Crisp recipe that was so easy even Grace was able to make it (with a little help, of [...]

# 21 October 2009 at 9:36 pm

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