Everybody loves having their own designated dessert!
Easy Individual Apple Crumbles. Photo: Jani H. Leuschel
My latest recipe is a dessert special that combines everyone's favorite fall fruit with portion control: Individual Apple Crumbles.
Desserts in individual cups are the best! Easy to serve and quick to bake--they're contained decadence and deliciousness. Plus, if you make them for guests, you'll have one for each person.
Although these crumbles are delicious, they aren't all that decadent. They're sweet and yummy, with a cinnamon-spiked brown sugar topping and juicy cinnamon apples.
However, they have some good nutrition. (You know that old saying about the doctor and the daily apple....)
Crumble Health Benefits
Peels: Because these are left on the apples in the filling, the dessert is a quick prep and offers up antioxidants, polyphenols, and fiber.
These goodies may help your heart, lower the risk for certain cancers, and boost immunity.
Nuts and grains: Included in the topping, they provide some fiber, minerals, and protein.
The nuts, especially, contribute healthy fats, along with neutral vegetable oil (canola) in the recipe. The topping also includes butter for flavor.
Cinnamon: This anti-inflammatory spice is well-studied for its health benefits. Like most spices, it has antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties.
Lately, however, researchers think that it may improve insulin sensitivity and help with blood sugar management. (Not sure this applies if your main source of cinnamon is Cinnabons! π)
By the way, you can use a single dish for the recipe if you prefer. A nine-inch pie plate works perfectly.
This is also a nice recipe if you have a small gathering on Thanksgiving. It can easily fulfill the need for an apple dessert. (We always like to enjoy something with apples in addition to pumpkin pie!)
One more perk: The recipe can be cut in half to serve just two people or doubled to serve a dinner party of eight.
Food Safety and Cinnamon
Because cinnamon is a prominent feature of this dessert and many fall recipes, I wanted to share two concerns about it: lead and coumarin.
Elevated Lead Levels: You may remember the recent recall of applesauce in squeeze pouches.
It was because the cinnamon in the applesauce contained high levels of lead that caused poisoning in more than 460 children!
It's possible that lead is being added to cinnamon to bulk up the spice and increase the manufacturers' profits.
The FDA announced a recall of six cinnamon brands in March. Since then, at least 10 more brands have tested positive for high lead levels.
Very few of these brands are sold in bottles. They are mostly less expensive types in cellophane or, in some cases, large plastic shakers.
It is somewhat reassuring to know lead levels in these brands is lower than those found in the applesauce. However, it's still enough to be a concern over time.
Coumarin is a flavoring substance found in plants and in relatively high amounts in Cassia cinnamon.
This widely available cinnamon has a stronger flavor and is easier to find than "Ceylon" cinnamon. It's also less expensive.
When used daily and in good amounts, the coumarin in Cassia cinnamon could hurt your liver. Although troubling, the damage is probably reversible.
If you cook often with cinnamon and/or use it as a health supplement, it's best to seek out "Ceylon cinnamon."
Thinking about foods with apples and cinnamon may boggle your mind and kitchen, but fall will be here in the blink of an eye.
Some of you may have trees full of apples that are about to ripen. If so, I have a couple more recipes...
βApple Butter. This hands-off recipe with anti-inflammatory ginger is perfect for Instant Pot fans. (You can omit the ginger if you're just trying to use up your apples!)
βApple Pear Bread. This moist quick bread contains brown sugar, cinnamon, and two fall fruits. It makes a delicious breakfast or afternoon snack.
There are more recipes with apples on the blog and also a few with tomatoes, which are in full swing right now! π
I hope that the heat of August is not too difficult as summer enters its dog days. πΆ Maybe you've made some summer memories with family and friends that will help get you through!
Or maybe you have some fun travel plans for fall to look forward to?
I love to hear what you're up to and what you are cooking! You can always email me or find me on Pinterest @healthyfoodhall or Instagram @janifoodhall.
I help more than 200 people learn to make easy, delicious foods that support strong bones and muscles, as well as overall health. From breakfast to dessert, you'll find recipes and ideas for tasty, nutritious meals and snacks.
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