Who said baking a homemade dessert has to be difficult? Not me. This dessert could not be simpler and is fully customizable. It has 2 basic parts - the apple filling and the oatmeal topping. Choose any type of apple (or a combination), your favourite fresh or frozen berry, and any of the baking spices. Ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, or simply cinnamon all work.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

For the fruit filling
6 large or 10 medium apples, unpeeled, cored and cut into chunks
2 cups (500 mL) of your favourite berries, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup (125 mL) of sugar
1/4 cup (60 mL) of flour
The zest and juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon (5 mL) of your favourite baking spice

For the crisp
1 cup (250 mL) of flour
1 cup (250 mL) of rolled oats
1 cup (250 mL) of brown sugar
1 teaspoon (5 mL) of freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup (125 mL) melted butter

To finish
Your favourite vanilla ice cream
Your favourite granola

Procedure

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190ºC). Turn on your convection fan if you have one. Lightly oil a 9 by 13-inch pan.

In a large bowl toss together the apples, raspberries, sugar, flour, lemon juice and zest and the baking spice of your choice. Transfer to your baking pan. Whisk the flour, oats, sugar and nutmeg together, then add the melted butter and crumble together with your fingers. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit. Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 45 to 60 minutes.

Scoop the ice cream out into balls, roll in the granola and serve alongside spoonfuls of warm crisp.

© Chef Michael Smith