The Everything College Cookbook’s Easy Brown Betty

Yet again I’ve succumbed to the simplicity of these college recipes. This time around it’s the “Easy Brown Betty for Late-Night Snacking,” and it’s delicious despite my general disinterest in apples. So much so that I ate half of an 8 inch square pan…that’s 32 square inches of applesauce, butter and graham crackers….heh.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup applesauce
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
3/8 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
1/3 cup butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs

Procedure:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8″x8″ baking pan.
2) Combine the applesauce, granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, 1/8 tsp. of the cinnamon and ground ginger. Set aside.
3) Melt the butter. Toss the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter.
4) Press the graham cracker crumbs on the bottom of the prepared pan.  Spread the applesauce mixture along the top.  Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon on top.
5) Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes, to lightly brown the applesauce.  Let cool on a rack.  Cut into squares.  Serve warm as is, or topped with ice cream or whipping cream.

(Serves 4-6)

Here’s how I did it:

Consolidate equipment by crushing the crumbs right in the pan.

I find crushing the crackers in a ziplock pan with a rolling pin works best – and is a great stress-reliever.

Melt the butter in the microwave.

Graham cracker crust, pressed.

I would mix the butter and crumbs in the pan – just do it with your hands. It’s so much quicker and easier.

Applesauce – stir together with the tablespoon used for the spices – less mess.

Ready to be baked…

Going into the oven!!!

And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The result is a plain, slightly moreish looking little slice that somehow possesses a firm filling of applesauce.

Look at that beauty…don’t bother using a fork!

I need more suggestions for desserts that make apples taste good. What do you think?

You can buy The Everything College Cookbook by clicking here to the KollegeKitchen webstore!