I’m known for barbecue, not for baking. But there are times when I’m called on to produce a dessert, and I’ll tell you right now that there’s nothing easier to make than this apple crunch. It’s like apple pie without the hassle; you don’t even have to make a crust. If you’re really feeling desperate and in a big hurry, you can top the apples with half of the batter of a boxed cake mix; it’s good that way, too.

　　

Ingredients

serves 6

　　4 cups peeled, cored, and sliced apples, preferably Granny Smith

　　3/4 cup all-purpose flour

　　1 cup sugar

　　1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

　　1/2 teaspoon salt

　　8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, at room temperature, plus extra for the baking dish

　　Vanilla ice cream (optional)

　　

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

　　

Step 2

Lightly butter a 9-inch square baking dish. Place the apple slices in the baking dish.

　　

Step 3

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pulse a couple of times to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

　　

Step 4

Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the apples.

　　

Step 5

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the apples are tender. Serve warm, with ice cream, if you like.

　　Reprinted with permission from Smokin' with Myron Mixon by Myron Dixon with Kelly Alexander, © 2011 Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.