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Roasted Apple Brown Betty

Roasted Apple Brown Betty
The traditional accompaniment to plum pudding, hard sauce pairs well with any hearty autumn or winter dessert, such as this apple brown betty. To make hard sauce, combine 8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, with 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, 1 Tbs. dark rum or brandy or 1 tsp. vanilla extract, and 1/8 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg. Mix well to blend. If desired, refrigerate before serving.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 80 minutes
Servings 0
Serves 6 to 8.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 lb. Golden Delicious or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into slices 1/4 inch thick
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 cups dried white bread crumbs or graham cracker crumbs
  • 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • Hard sauce (see headnote), vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream for serving

Directions

Preheat an oven to 400°F.

In a large bowl, toss the apples with the granulated sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mound the apples in a roasting pan just large enough to hold them comfortably.

Roast, turning twice, until fork-tender, about 1 hour. Drain the apples, reserving the liquid. Let cool. In a food processor, puree the apples, adding the reserved liquid as needed to make a thick applesauce.

Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. In a bowl, toss the bread crumbs with the melted butter. Sprinkle half of the crumbs over the bottom of an 8-inch round or square baking pan. Pour the applesauce over the crumbs and sprinkle the remaining crumbs on top. Bake for 20 minutes.

To serve, spoon into shallow bowls and top with the hard sauce.
Serves 6 to 8.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Collection Series, Roasting, by Barbara Grunes (Simon & Schuster, 2002).