If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m fairly uncomplicated. My Mom even proclaimed me “least high-maintenance” out of the entire family at our last Sunday lunch. YES! I was so proud.
To me, life’s simple (ok, when it’s not.) Try to do the right thing, be kind, tolerant, and out-serve others.
Now, before you think I’m making myself out to be some sort of saint, I procrastinate way too much, am incredibly impatient, care too much about what others think of me, and sweat profusely when nervous.
There. Happy?
Anyway, I guess it’s due to my tendency to have a “black or white” outlook on a lot of things. Good, or bad. Happy, or sad. Right, or wrong. It just seems like so much time is wasted in “grey” areas. (Which is a total Type A thing to say, and why I can’t work in corporate America anymore. Hello hour long meetings over issues that could be resolved in one email!)
What does this have to do with Cherry Almond Crisp again?
Oh, right. If you’ve been reading IGE for any length of time, than you know my cooking style is very reflective of my personality. Uncomplicated. If I had room for a second tagline next to “Eat Well. Run Often. Travel Far.” it’d be – good tasting food doesn’t have to cost a lot, and can be easy to make too.
Which is exactly how I would describe Cherry Almond Crisp.
Sweet, in-season cherries are spiced with cinnamon and vanilla, then buried under a mountain of almond-spiked crisp and baked until golden brown. Just fresh fruit and pantry staples tossed together then baked. Uncomplicated and easy, yet foot-stompingly delicious. (You know, so good it makes you want to stomp your feet?)
See, cherries and almonds were made to meet in this crisp. While the sweet fruit softens to create a thick, syrupy sauce in the bottom of the baking dish, roughly chopped almonds in the crisp brown and toast from the heat of the oven on top. It is the perfect flavor combo.
Snag some fresh, in-season (read: inexpensive) cherries at the grocery store, then raid your pantry for the rest of your ingredients and make this ASAP!
Start the Cherry Almond Crisp with 1-1/2 pounds sweet cherries. I’ve been finding them for $1.99-$2.99/lb at Whole Foods recently!
Pit the cherries by hand (slice and pop like a peach) or with a cherry pitter, like this one that I stole from my Mom gave me. (Psst – it’s the same one I’ve giving away at the end of this post!)
Once all the cherries have been pitted, slice what’s left in half. I say “what’s left” because you would not believe how easy it is to plow throw pitted cherries before you even know what’s happening…
To the halved cherries, add 1 Tablespoon sugar, 2 teaspoons gluten-free measure for measure flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon then toss to combine.
Spoon the spiced cherries into a non-stick sprayed baking dish, then set it aside while you work on the crisp.
The best part of this crisp is that it adds roughly chopped almonds to the mixture of oats, sugar, flour, and butter for fantastic crunch. First combine 1/2 cup each certified gluten-free oats and brown sugar with 1/4 cup gluten-free measure for measure flour in a small bowl.
Add 1/4 cup roughly chopped almondsfollowed by 1/4 cup cold butter cut into cubes.
Finally, add the secret ingredient: 1/4 teaspoon almond extract. A little almond extract goes a long way, so you only need to add a tiny bit to get it’s sweet, totally unique flavor. (BTW I usually add 1/4-1/2 teaspoon almond extract to my sugar cookie dough. Try it sometime – you’ll have everyone asking you what’s in there!)
Incorporate the butter into the ingredients with your fingers until it’s pretty smooth, then spread the crisp on top of the cherries.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until the crisp is golden brown. Then open a mason jar to capture the scent coming out of your kitchen to sniff at a later date. Unbelievable!
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
Cherry Almond Crisp
Description
Cherry Almond Crisp is a simple yet absolutely luscious summer dessert. Or use frozen cherries to make all year round!
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 lbs cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons gluten-free measure for measure flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- For the crisp:
- 1/2 cup certified gluten-free old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup gluten-free measure for measure flour
- 1/4 cup cold butter, cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup chopped almonds
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine cherries, sugar, flour, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Spray a 10.5x7" or 8x8" baking dish with non-stick spray then pour in the cherry mixture. In a separate bowl combine all the ingredients for the crisp. Smush with fingers until butter is well incorporated, then pour over cherry mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until crisp is deeply golden brown.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I mean, fruit, oats, sugar, butter, and almonds. So uncomplicated, yet so, so mouthwatering. Be sure to make this while cherries are in season, as the cherry/almond combo really is cah-razy good. Otherwise, frozen/thawed/drained berries, or apples will work with the crisp too.
Ok, ok, if you want to complicate things a wee bit, plant a scoop Tahitian Vanilla Gelato on top to melt over the warm crisp. Oh HECK yes!
Now – in order to make this crisp come together even faster for ya’, I’m giving away a free Cherry Pitter! Just place a cherry into the cradle, then press down and the pit will pop right out. Easy!
Enter to win this free cherry pitter by tomorrow, Wednesday, August 22 @ 5pm central, by telling me what your favorite fruit crisp is in the comments section of this post (not by email.)
***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!***
Kelly 08.22.2012
Blueberry and peach (together)!
Alison H. 08.22.2012
I am a huge fan of the tartness of an apricot crisp, especially when you let all the flavors mesh together overnight and then top the cooled crisp with a little Greek yogurt for a yummy breakfast (usually my topping does not have that much butter or sugar in it for this morning crisp). But, my favorite summer crisp is blueberry and peaches with a little scoop of vanilla to make it ooey, gooey and delicious!
LeeAnn 08.22.2012
My Mom’s peach or black raspberry crisp… mmmm, and you can’t forget the scoop of vanilla ice cream!
Jamie K. 08.22.2012
A simple apple crisp with nuts in the topping and some low fat vanilla ice cream is such a treat! I have been wanting a cherry pitter for so long !
Rachelle Kruse 08.22.2012
Apple crisp is my FAVORITE mostly because it reminds me of my grandma :) But Ill pretty much eat any fruit crisp, especially if it’s on top of ice cream!
Megan 08.22.2012
I love apple rhubarb crisp! And I have to say, now every time I hear the word crisp, I think of Will Ferrell on SNL this past year playing John Timberly Crisp, a wannabe Broadway performer who keeps singing songs for women. HI-larious!
Kristiann 08.22.2012
For me, apple crisp all the way, but I’ve been ogling a peach crisp at a local market.
Kari 08.22.2012
It’s a toss between Apple-Raspberry and good ol’ Peach!
Kelcie Warren 08.22.2012
I love apple, strawberry-rhubarb, and peach! But a Crisp of any kind is yumbolini! :)
Julia 08.22.2012
I would have to say my favorite crisps would have to be a 3 way tie between the peach crisp, the cherry of course, & the blackberry crisp which I made for my in-laws last fall & which turned out to be a big hit :) They have to be with a nice smooth cold scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, that’s the best way to go!
Thank you for doing the giveaway, we all really appreciate it! :)
Katie Moser 08.22.2012
Peach and raspberry crisp!! It’s summer perfection!
Colleen D. 08.22.2012
Apple Crisp!!! I put it in a bowl and smother it with milk! I make it look like cereal so i dont feel so quilty eatting it in the morning for breakfast and later for a dessert!!!
Jan Walker 08.22.2012
When fall rolls around, we can hardly wait for our first trip to the orchard for apples to make apple crisp. This recipe with cherries is irresistible, however, and it may climb to the top of the fruit crisp charts at our house! Thank you for the opportunity to win the cherry pitter…smart little gadget!!
Lisa Taffe 08.22.2012
I would have to say that my favorite is warm apple crisp with ice cream! I can’t wait to try this cherry crisp….looks amazing!!!
Hillary 08.22.2012
Blueberry!
Robin 08.22.2012
Cherry/apple crisp is great. So is blueberry – or peach. Like them all.
Nicole @ Curly Mommy 08.22.2012
Apple Crisp!! Oh man, is it fall yet??!
Christine 08.22.2012
Raspberry Crisp.
michaela 08.22.2012
fresh peach crisp. with homemade granola for the crisp!
Jennifer 08.22.2012
Peach crisp, but I will be making this one this weekend!