Freezer-Friendly Apple Crisp

This apple crisp recipe can be prepped and frozen for up to 9 months — when you’re ready to enjoy it, just pop it into a hot oven, straight from the freezer. It’ll be ready to serve in about an hour. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and your’ll be in apple crisp heaven.

Pile the prepared apples in a pan. You can bake this recipe in a standard baking dish, but when I’m making it to store in the freezer, I like to use disposable “half size” foil pans so I can keep my glass and ceramic baking dishes available for use in the kitchen. I cut the apples about 1/8-inch thick and 1 inch or so wide so they fit easily on a fork or spoon.

Fun fact - when consuming something that can be eaten with either a spoon or a fork, I’m team spoon.

The topping is easily stirred together and spread evenly over the apples.

Seal the pan well with heavy duty aluminum foil and label with date and cooking instructions. If you don’t have heavy duty foil, use a double layer of regular foil and crimp it well.

Bake as directed and enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• my favorite apple peeler https://amzn.to/3HsvdVw

• disposable “half size” foil pans https://amzn.to/3eCIUoz

• 9x13 casserole dish https://amzn.to/34aVZnf

• heavy duty foil https://amzn.to/3FMcHY6

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Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp

makes one 9x13 casserole dish

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 pounds apples, peeled and sliced thin (golden delicious or gala)

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)

• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and coat 9x13 baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.

2. Place sliced apples in prepared pan, spreading into an even layer.

3. Make the crisp topping by stirring together the remaining ingredients until no dry ingredients remain and clumps start to form.

4. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apples.

5. Seal pan with heavy duty foil or double layer or regular foil.

6. Bake immediately for 30-40 minutes. From frozen, bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 30-40 minutes more.

Notes

• Slice apples 1/8-inch thick and about 1-inch wide.

• I suggest using apple varieties that hold their shape well during baking and have a light, sweet flavor (such as golden delicious or gala). The only sugar in this recipe is found in the crumb topping so I avoid using tart apple varieties (like Granny Smith).

• I like to make multiple batches all at once and use disposable half size, deep, steam table pans for storage in the freezer (equivalent to a 9x13 pan). Sometimes the pans come with covers, otherwise cover with a layer of heavy duty foil (or a double layer of regular foil).

• When serving warm, I like to top with vanilla ice cream. When serving cold, I like to top with freshly whipped cream.

Summer Fruit Tart

My children grew up watching me cook/bake and they apparently learned a thing or two in the process. When I recently celebrated a birthday, my girls presented me with this stunning fruit tart that they made without my help. Well, I answered a few baking-related questions… and provided the tart pan, but everything else they did on their own. Proud Momma moment.

The written recipe can be found at the bottom of this page, but you can click HERE to see complete step-by-step photos.

ITEMS USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:

(affiliate links)

• 10-inch tart pan https://amzn.to/2O27QYs

• heavy-bottom saucepan https://amzn.to/2Fc38Vu

• BeaterBlade attachment https://amzn.to/2FdzyyP

• fine mesh sieve https://amzn.to/3oGA5iT

• offset spatula https://amzn.to/3LsLZ9X

• professional pastry brush https://amzn.to/2F6uif9

• vanilla beans https://amzn.to/3rJUHc4

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MIXED BERRY FRUIT TART

makes a 10-inch tart

Printable Recipe

INGREDIENTS

VANILLA PASTRY CREAM:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk

• 1/2 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped

• 6 tablespoons granulated sugar

• 4 egg yolks

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

SHORTBREAD TART SHELL:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large egg yolks

• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt

FRUIT FILLING:

• 3 kiwi fruits, peeled and sliced

• 1 mango, peeled and sliced

• 1 pint blueberries

• 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced

• 2 tablespoons apple or apricot jelly (for glaze)

DIRECTIONS

TO MAKE THE VANILLA PASTRY CREAM:

1. In a small heavy-bottom sauce pan over medium heat, combine milk, split vanilla bean, and vanilla bean seeds.

2. Remove from heat as soon as small bubbles start to appear around the perimeter of the pan.

3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together sugar and egg yolks until smooth.

4. Sift cornstarch into the egg mixture; whisk until smooth again.

5. Add a ladle or two of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture; whisk immediately.

6. Pour the egg mixture into the milk mixture and return to heat, whisking constantly for a minute or two until it thickens.

7. Remove from heat and whisk in butter.

8. Pour hot mixture through a sieve into a shallow bowl.

9. Cover pastry cream with plastic wrap touching the surface.

10. Chill until thoroughly cooled.

TO MAKE THE SHORTBREAD TART SHELL:

1. Place all the ingredients into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a BeaterBlade attachment; mix on low speed until evenly combined and mixture looks crumbly.

2. Press crumbs evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 10-inch removable bottom tart pan.

3. Freeze tart shell for 20-30 minutes while the oven preheats.

4. Preheat oven to 350F (lower temp by 25F if you use a dark tart pan like I did).

5. Place tart pan on a rimmed sheet pan and bake in the center of the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the edges of the shell turn golden brown.

6. Cool completely before assembling (about an hour).

TO ASSEMBLE TART:

1. Spread vanilla pastry cream evenly into cooled tart shell using an offset spatula.

2. Arrange prepared fruit as you wish.

3. Heat jelly with a little water until the jelly melts and makes a glaze; brush on fruit.

4. Chill tart until service.