Decadent Apple Brown Betty

A favourite dessert of many. This makes good use of stale bread. Who knew that with such simple ingredients as bread, apples, butter, sugar…..you could make something so delicious and magnificent! It’s magic! When rhubarb replaces the apples, it is known as Blushing Betty! Another example of North American Colonial thrift!

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 3  cups  soft bread cubes (remove crusts)
• 7  tablespoons  melted butter
• 3  cups  sliced peeled tart apples (I used Granny Smith)
• 1  cup caster sugar
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  fresh ground nutmeg
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1  grated lemon, rind of
• 3  tablespoons lemon juice
•  light cream or  vanilla ice cream, for serving

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 180*C/375*F. Butter a shallow 1 ½ litre baking dish.
2. Place half the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Mix the remaining cubes with 2 TBS of melted butter and set aside.
3. Spread the apple slices over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Stir together the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, water, lemon juice, lemon rind and the remaining 5 TBS of butter. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour evenly over the apples, then top with the reserved bread cubes.
4. Bake in the pre-heated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the bread is well browned. If it is browning too quickly, cover lightly with foil. Serve warm or cold with cream or ice cream.