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Skillet Apple Pie Brownies with melting ice cream

Decadent Skillet Apple Crumble Brownies

A rich and fudgy brownie base topped with a zesty, spiced apple pie filling and a buttery, crispy crumble, all baked to perfection in a cast-iron skillet.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings 10 pieces
Calories 500 kcal

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Large bowl
  • Small bowl
  • 10-inch cast-iron skillet
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Pastry blender

Ingredients
  

For the Fudgy Brownie Base

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

For the Zesty Apple Pie Topping

  • 3 medium apples (e.g., Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji), peeled, cored, and diced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • A pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice

For the Crispy Crumble Topping

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cubed

Instructions
 

Prepare the Spiced Apple Filling

  • Dice apples after peeling and coring.
  • Melt butter in a saucepan, then add diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; cook for 8-10 minutes until apples soften.
  • Stir in lemon juice and cornstarch, cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened, then remove from heat and cool.

Mix the Rich Brownie Batter

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
  • Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl or saucepan.
  • Whisk melted butter with granulated and light brown sugar in a large bowl until smooth.
  • Beat in eggs one by one, then stir in vanilla extract.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  • Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients with a spatula until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  • Gently fold in chocolate chips if desired.

Prepare the Crispy Crumble Topping

  • Combine flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
  • Cut cold, cubed butter into the dry ingredients using fingertips or a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form.

Assemble and Bake in Your Skillet

  • Spread brownie batter evenly into the greased skillet.
  • Spoon the apple pie filling evenly over the brownie base.
  • Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple filling.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes until the crumble is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the brownie layer comes out with moist crumbs.

Cool and Serve

  • Let the brownies cool in the skillet for 15-20 minutes to set properly.
  • Serve warm, optionally with vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce.

Notes

Serve warm with vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra decadent treat.