Okay, friends, let's be honest – store-bought apple crisps can be a little...meh. So I decided to create my own version, one that screams 'comfort food' and 'deliciousness' in equal measure. This recipe isn't just another apple crisp; it's an adventure for your tastebuds, starting with a rich, decadent chocolate crust that you'll want to eat all by itself (don't judge me, it's amazing).

The warm, spiced apples nestled in that chocolatey hug? Pure heaven. I've played around with this recipe for years, adjusting spices, trying different apple varieties and even experimenting with gluten-free flour. This one, this version...this is perfection. At least, it's the best I've managed so far, and that's good enough for me. So gather your ingredients and let's get baking!

Apple Crisp with a Chocolate Crust

Name: Apple-Crisp-with-a-Chocolate-Crust
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Fall
Ingredients: 1 cup All-purpose flour; 1/2 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/2 teaspoon Baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon Salt; 1/2 cup Cold unsalted butter; 1/2 cup Granulated sugar; 1/4 cup Milk; 6 medium Apples (peeled, cored, and sliced); 3/4 cup Granulated sugar; 1/4 cup Packed light brown sugar; 2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon Ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon Ground allspice; 1 cup Rolled oats; 1/4 cup All-purpose flour; 1/4 cup Chopped walnuts or pecans; 1/4 cup Cold unsalted butter

This apple crisp with a dark chocolate crust is the ultimate comfort food. Sweet apples, warm spices, and a decadent chocolate base create a dessert that's both comforting and irresistible.

⏳ Yield & Time

Yield: 8 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

📖 Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This is crucial for a perfectly baked crisp!
Make the chocolate crust: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup (113g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar and 1/4 cup (60ml) milk. The dough will be a little crumbly; that's perfectly fine!
Press into the baking dish: Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pat the chocolate crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared dish. You can press it down firmly but not too hard.
Prepare the apple filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine 6 medium apples (about 6 cups), peeled, cored, and sliced, with 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar, 1/4 cup (50g) packed light brown sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice. Gently toss to coat the apples evenly. If the apples release excess moisture, gently press them to drain some liquid. We don't want a soggy bottom!
Top with oats: In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup (80g) rolled oats, 1/4 cup (30g) all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup (50g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional, but highly recommended!), and 1/4 cup (60g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes. Use your fingers to crumble the butter into the oat mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Assemble and bake: Pour the apple filling over the chocolate crust. Sprinkle the oat topping evenly over the apples. For a crispier topping, you can place the baking dish on a larger baking sheet to catch any drips.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely tent it with foil for the last 15-20 minutes of baking. This prevents burning.
Cool and serve: Let the apple crisp cool slightly before serving, about 10-15 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a dollop of caramel sauce. Enjoy!

📝 Notes

Don't overmix the crust dough. Overmixing will make it tough.
Feel free to adjust the amount of spices to your liking.
For a more intense chocolate flavor, use dark chocolate chips instead of cocoa powder in the crust.
Leftovers are best served reheated!