Zoom™ Apple Crunch

From the Krusteaz Company based in Seattle, Washington. The maple syrup and nuts were my addition. Pears would make an ideal substitute for the apples I think. Pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or Mixed Spice - Traditional Old Fashioned English Pudding Spice can be used in place of the ground cinnamon if you wish. I tried apple pie spice in the test recipe.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  cup  Zoom quick hot cereal, mix (*uncooked*)
• 1⁄2 cup unbleached flour
• 3⁄4 cup  packed brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons maple syrup (*not* imitation)
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon (or substitute-read recipe ^^intro)
• 1⁄3 cup butter, softened plus 1 tablespoon
• 4 1⁄2 cups  peeled and sliced apples (4 medium)
• 1⁄2 cup  nuts, chopped (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, etc. I used up a bunch of odds and ends.)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In medium bowl, blend together Zoom Hot Cereal mix, flour, brown sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon.
3. Cut in 1/3 cup butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles size of small peas.
4. Press half of mixture into lightly greased 8x8x2-inch pan.
5. Layer with sliced apples. Sprinkle remaining mixture over apples. Sprinkle the nuts on top. Dot with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter.
6. Bake 40-45 minutes. Cover the dish the final 15 minutes of baking to avoid the nuts burning.
7. After removing the apple crunch from the oven set it aside to cool slightly-about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm and if desired with vanilla ice cream or real whipped cream.