Holiday Apple Crisp

WendyMaq's Note:

From the South Beach Diet "Daily Dish." Warm and fruity, this seemingly familiar apple crisp is spiked with sweet and tangy dried cherries. Fresh or dried, cherries contain impressive amounts of antioxidants, as well as soluble fiber and potassium. Ounce for ounce, dried cherries are higher in nutrients than their fresh counterparts, but they also have more calories. So it's best to enjoy them in moderation, as you will here. I don't use them at all.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 0 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• ¼ cup dried cherries , unsweetened
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• ½ cup trans-fat free margarine
• ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
• ¼ cup Splenda granular (or other granular substitute)
• 2 tablespoons Splenda granular
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 9 granny smith apples , sliced (9 to 10 cups)
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Place cherries and water in a bowl and let soak until ready to use.
3. Meanwhile, combine oats, margarine, 1/4 cup of the flour, 1/4 cup of the sugar substitute, and 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon in a medium bowl; stir until mixture is crumbly.
4. Toss apples and lemon juice together in a large bowl. Add remaining 1/4 cup flour, 2 tablespoons sugar substitute, and remaining 1 tablespoon cinnamon; stir to combine.
5. Place apples in baking dish. Pour cherries and soaking water over apple mixture; toss gently to combine. Sprinkle oat topping evenly over fruit.
6. Bake until apples are tender, about 40 minutes. Serve warm.