A “crisp” is a simple baked fruit dessert covered with a slightly crunchy topping. They are super easy to make, light & absolutely deliciously. Just perfect for entertaining, my healthy Peach Almond Crisp (served simply with a dollop of whipped cream, gelato or ice cream) is the ideal way to end any meal.

My healthier version of a traditional crisp contains much less carbs & is thus, not as heavy. All the more reason to eat another helping! Now the secret to this recipe lies in the fresh peach filling, the addition of warm aromatic allspice powder along with a subtle hint of freshly grated ginger makes this dish just simply irresistible!

You could basically use any fruit or a combination of various fruits – I highly recommend using whatever fresh seasonal fruit is available in your area. I just happen to adore peaches & when they are in season, I buy them by the bushel & use them in every yummy way possible ☺.


PEACH ALMOND CRISP

Ingredients: 


4-5 large peaches, pitted & sliced
2 tbsp honey or sugar, to taste (this depends upon how sweet the peaches are naturally)
1 tsp cornstarch
juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1 tsp fresh lemon zest
½ tsp freshly grated ginger, optional
½ tsp allspice powder
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cardamom powder
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

For the Topping
2 tbsp all purpose flour (maida)
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
pinch of ground cinnamon
1 cup quick cooking oats
¼ cup toasted unsalted sliced almonds
¼ cup golden raisins
3 tbsp lightly toasted, unsweetened coconut flakes
¼ cup cold butter, cut into small cubes

a few mint leaves for garnish

METHOD:

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a medium size baking dish or 6-8 individual ramekins (depending on the amount of sliced peaches). Then add the sliced peaches.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the honey along with the cornstarch, 1-2 tbsp water (as needed), lemon juice & the vanilla extract. Mix until just smooth, adding only a little more water if needed. Do not add too much water. Pour this mixture over the sliced peaches. Now stir in the lemon zest, grated ginger, allspice, ground cinnamon, cardamom powder and freshly grated nutmeg. Mix gently to combine all of the ingredients.

Now in a medium size mixing bowl, combine the all purpose flour with the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, oats, sliced almonds, golden raisins & coconut flakes. Then add the butter cubes and mix well until coarse and crumbly. Sprinkle the topping mixture liberally over sliced peaches and bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes or until the topping is lightly browned and the filling is bubbly. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes and serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla gelato or ice cream. Garnish with a few mint leaves and enjoy!

VARIATIONS:

The combinations and possibilities are endless here! Try making this dish with raspberries, cherries, blueberries, pears, apples….

Do peel the fruit if needed (such as the apples or pears). The berries tend to cook quickly (20-25 minutes) but if you are using apples or pears, the baking time may be 45-50 minutes.