Toasting The Season: 5 Perfect Fall Recipes

It's that time of year - apple pie time. Not a pastry chef?  Stick to the below for a fun dessert canapé that's easy to make and sure to impress. WHAT YOU'LL NEED Apples and Streusel 2 Granny Smith apples (or other crisp-tart apples), peeled, cored, and chopped into ½-inch pieces 4 tablespoons dried cranberries 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon kosher salt 6 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons heavy (double) cream ⅔ cup all-purpose (plain) flour 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 2 teaspoons cornmeal Toast Four ¾-inch thick slices country-style bread Unsalted butter, softened, for the bread Confectioners’ (icing) sugar INSTRUCTIONS 1. Make the apples and streusel: In a medium bowl, stir together the apples, cranberries, 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, the lemon juice, cinnamon, and ⅛ teaspoon of the salt. 2. In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the apple mixture, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the juices from the apples have mostly evaporated, about 8 minutes. Stir in the cream and continue to cook until the apples are very soft and can be easily mashed, 4–5 minutes. Remove from the heat and using a fork, smash about half of the apples. 3. While the apples simmer, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. 4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cornmeal, and remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and ⅛ teaspoon salt. Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) butter and drizzle it over the flour mixture, using a fork to stir until the streusel forms knobby bits. Transfer the streusel to the baking sheet and bake until it is golden brown, 8–10 minutes. Remove the streusel from the oven. 5. Make the toast: Toast the bread. To serve, spoon the apples over the toast and top with a handful of streusel, pressing down on the streusel to get it to stick. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve.