Crabapple Crumble Recipe
This crisp is a wonderful way to put those crabapples to good use.
This year our Crab Apple trees are fruiting to the point of limbs nearly touching the ground.
Now, if you are in upstate New York and have an apple tree in your yard, then you know that all apples are about to start abandoning their post. You may have already experienced these tiny tarts dive-bombing your car and your head. You might even be enjoying the sweet stench of those that are composting themselves right there on your lawn.
When a branch finally made contact with my thick head the other day, I realized that I needed to do something about it. Really?! Why on earth was I letting these wonderfully organic and insanely accessible food bits go to rot? And why-oh-why wasn't I enjoying the reaching up, squatting down, and all the wonderful movements associated with gathering my harvest. So I grabbed two of my largest bowls (one for each tree) and started collecting my bounty.
What to do with all those super sour crabapples?
I have several things planned, from chutney to bread and maybe even some apple spirits for the holidays. But for now, I decided to start with a delicious crab apple crisp! I searched around the ol' web for a bit of wee apple inspiration, then added some goodies from my cupboard and topped it off with a few of my favorite baking flavors to bring you the gluten-free recipe you see here.
Nourishing Note
The seeds of crab apples, like other apples, contain amygdalin. Amygdalin is a glycoside toxin that combines with a gastrointestinal enzyme to produce hydrogen cyanide. Yep! Poisonous cyanide. Yikes!
However, the amount of amygdaline in apple seeds is tiny, and the seed must be chewed up to release the substance. But, the seed to meat ratio on the crab apples is different from larger apples. Some of my little beauties had more seed than flesh. Chances are, this wouldn't be nearly enough cyanide to harm you. That said, why add more toxins to your system to flush out if it isn't necessary?
So I decided to core these little buggers before baking. Not to mention that there were a few recipes that suggested it for improved taste.
Now removing the seeds from 30-50 crab apples is a bit tedious. My suggestion is to utilize it as a wonderful mindfulness practice, time to shuck and boogie to your favorite tunes or podcast.
RECIPE :
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