Apricot Crisp

Apricots have been very bountiful this spring, and very inexpensive.  Since I have quite a few on hand I decided to make a fresh apricot crisp.  It's very easy, inexpensive, and such a good dessert.  From start to finish it only takes about 1 hour and you'll be able to feed 6 - 8 people easily.

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8 X 8 inch baking pan.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup four
1/2 teas ground cinnamon
1/2 teas ginger
1/2 teas nutmeg
1/4 teas ground cloves
1/4 teas allspice
1/4 teas salt
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup quick cooking oats
1/3 cup raisins (optional)
1/3 cup chopped pecans (optional)
5 cups apricots  (about 15 fresh apricots)
1 Tabs fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar

Melt your butter and set it aside to cool 

In a medium bowl combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, salt, and brown sugar.  Stir together well

Stir in your oatmeal, raisins, and pecans, (note: make sure your raisins are soft, if they not you will need to soak them for about 20 minutes before adding them, just make sure to drain them well before adding to the flour mixture).

Now stir in melted butter

You now have a nice golden crumble for the topping.  Set this aside.

In a medium bowl add your apricots, (which you have pitted and cut into quarters, (no need to peel off the skins), the sugar and lemon juice.  Stir together well.  Now pour the apricots into your baking pan and top with the crumble mixture

Now your ready to bake for 45 - 50 minutes.

When you remove it from the oven, let it cool for at least 30 minutes.  It will be bubbling hot!!

And there you have it!!  A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of this - yummy!!  You can also just eat it plain.  Some people like to pour a little cream over their crisp.  It's delicious warm, or the next day cold.

And the best part, you can use this recipe with peaches, plums, apples, just about any kind of fruit.  You can change up the spices and make it your own version.  

Now go make a delicious all American fruit crisp.