If you have a few apples and some bread, you have what it takes to make this apple brown betty recipe. This quick and delightful treat is an anytime dessert and comes together in a flash. Tart apples are the star of any apple brown betty; they retain the perfect taste and texture when baked. Some brown betty recipes layer the fruit with a crumbly bread mixture, but ours is much easier. Just toss torn toasted bread in a baking dish, top it with apples, butter, and sugar, and bake. It’s a homey and versatile dessert that’s excellent for a dinner party, a barbecue or a potluck.
What is a brown betty?
There are many baked fruit desserts, from crumbles to cobblers, buckles, crisps and pies. What makes an apple brown betty a betty? It comes down to the batter—or lack thereof. Instead of oats and nuts typically used in crisps or a crumble’s streusel-type topping, you make a betty with toasted bread or bread crumbs mixed with butter, sugar and fruit. It’s baked to a golden brown and served with cream or ice cream.
The dessert dates back to the 19th century, possibly created by a woman named Betty (no one knows for sure). The earliest mention was in 1864, and the recipe called for crackers, not bread crumbs. More than 100 years later, it was the signature dessert at the White House during the Reagan administration and often appeared on presidential menus. Today, it’s a smart way to use up day-old bread and whatever apples you have on hand.
Ingredients for Apple Brown Betty
- Toasted white bread: Old-school white sandwich bread is the classic choice for this recipe. Toasted, it still retains a little softness in combination with the crunch, creating the perfect crumb. Tearing the toast creates a more rustic look to the finished product, while cubing means the breadcrumb will look more uniform, but either way works.
- Tart apples: There are many different types of apples, and while some are better for eating off the tree, others are better for baking. We recommend tart apples for this betty recipe because their flavor offsets the sweetness of the other ingredients. Granny Smith is the go-to tart apple for baking, but Gravenstein, Rome Beauty, Northern Spy, Braeburn and Fuji are also fantastic. Core, peel and slice them.
- Sugar: This recipe calls for half granulated sugar and half brown sugar. The brown sugar adds more flavor and caramel notes to the betty.
- Cinnamon: The warm, earthy notes add another flavor profile and accentuate the sweet and tart flavors of the apples and other ingredients.
- Butter: Butter brings everything together. Salted or unsalted butter is fine, but consult our guide to butter if you have questions. I love using salted Amish butter when baking, but there are no wrong answers when it comes to butter.
- Half-and-half: The creamy dairy drizzle is another element that adds depth to the flavor and texture.
Directions
Step 1: Tear the toast
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Tear the toast into bite-sized pieces and place in a well-greased 1-1/2-quart casserole dish.
Step 2: Add the apples
Layer the peeled and sliced apples on top of the bread. Combine the sugars and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples. Drizzle with melted butter.
Editor’s Tip: Toss in some lemon juice with your sliced apples; they won’t brown as quickly, and it adds a signature citrus zip.
Step 3: Bake the betty
Cover and bake for one hour, stirring after 30 minutes. Serve warm with cream.
Apple Brown Betty Recipe Variations
- Use another type of bread: Day-old pastries like croissants are delicious in this betty instead of white bread. Or try toasting some cinnamon raisin bread! Have a super-sweet tooth? Even day-old cinnamon rolls do the trick.
- Find a favorite fruit: For a fun pop of color and burst of flavor, throw in a handful of berries, like blueberries or blackberries. If you’re partial to pears, make a pear brown betty or mix some with the apples.
- Go nuts: Chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds add a delicious crunch to an apple brown betty.
How to Store Apple Brown Betty
Store apple brown betty in an airtight container for up to two days at room temperature or four days in the fridge. After that, the dessert gets mushy. If you want to freeze an apple brown betty, cool it and tightly wrap the entire dish or individual servings. It will last up to three months in the freezer. To defrost, put the betty in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350°.
Can you make an apple brown betty ahead of time?
Sure! Make it the day before your event and reheat it before serving. If you want to prep your ingredients beforehand, toss your apple slices with lemon juice so they don’t brown. Leaving torn bread out overnight to stale is a very clever way to dry it without toasting, too!
Apple Brown Betty Recipe Tips
Can you make individual servings of apple brown betty?
Make the apple brown betty recipe using small 6- or 8-ounce oven-safe ramekins. Adjust the baking time to cook the smaller portions.
How do you serve an apple brown betty?
Serve an apple brown betty scooped into bowls with half-and-half, homemade whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Because the shape of each serving isn’t consistent (or essential), I like to use vintage sorbet glasses to fancy up the look. There are no hard and fast rules; just make sure you make enough because your crowd will be back for seconds.
