Another Favorite Fallish Dessert

I grew up in Michigan, so come September, I always think of apples. There was an apple orchard and cider mill just outside of the little town I grew up in. They had the best cider. And paired with one of their fresh cider doughnuts... It was a match made in heaven.

So there's no better way for this former Michigander to celebrate fall--which won't officially arrive until 9/23, but it's fall in my heart--than by putting a twist on a fall favorite, apple crisp, by making it an apple-cherry crisp.

I love fruit desserts, though they vary from season to season. Spring and summer I think of cakes and cobblers, winter is usually pies, but I always associate crisps with autumn. And because there's no crust to worry about, they're so easy.

Here's what you'll need for the filling:

• 2 1/2 lbs. apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes (I used Honeycrisp)
• 1 1/2 cups pitted cherries (frozen works best, but you can also use canned)
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

For the topping:

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans (or nut of your choice)
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Okay, let's start with our filling. Mix together the apples and cherries.

Now add the dark brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg.

And stir to combine.

Look at those glorious fall colors.

Pour into greased baking dish.

Now for the topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, pecans, oats, cinnamon and salt.

Add melted butter

And stir until clumps form.

If you're like me, this is where restraint comes in. I could eat this mixture by itself. But then there would be no crisp to my apple crisp.

So go ahead and sprinkle the clumps over the apple/cherry mixture.

Bake 45-55 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.

Yes, the heathens got to it before I could take a pic. But then it is oh-so-good while it's piping hot, especially with a melting scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Now that's what I'm talking about. I love the crunch of the topping, the sweetness of the apples and the tart cherries. A perfect combination. Mmm... Can it stay fall forever? Of course, it doesn't feel like fall here in Texas. It's still hot, it's still steamy...yes, summer is lingering. Just like it does every other year. So why not make the most of it by enjoying a fave fall dessert.

Now it's your turn. What's your favorite fall dessert?

Three time Carol Award finalist Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more a mindyobenhaus.com.