Old Fashioned Oat Nut Apple Crisp (2024)

A recipe for Old Fashioned Oat Nut Apple Crisp and the story of Johnny Appleseed

In 1801 John Chapman, the man we’ve come to know as Johnny Appleseed, began his barefoot westward journey from Massachusetts. A tall man with pioneering aspirations, John set out for western Pennsylvania at age 23 to stake his claim on land by planting apple seedlings. In popular culture John is often depicted as an eccentric man in threadbare clothes and a soup pot hat, wandering and leaving a random trail of apple trees in his wake. He is said to have preferred sleeping outside and never owned a home. While there is likely some truth to his eccentricities, there was also an economic strategy to his seed-sowing method. He would plant nurseries and return a few years later to sell off the orchards, which helped him to establish claimed land along the frontier. Along the way he spread the word of his Christian Swedenborg faith (inspired by Swedish scientist and philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg); he considered himself a missionary, and would often preach in the areas where he was planting.

H. S. Knapp – A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. (1862). Source: Wikimedia Commons

Johnny planted and sold apple seeds and started tree seedling nurseries in areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and parts of what is now considered West Virginia. By the time of his death circa 1845 (the exact year is a common topic of dispute), Johnny had covered an area of about ten thousand square miles, all the while promoting his beloved apples. Many of his original apple trees still grow in the orchards he planted. His birthday, September 26, 1774, is now celebrated each year as Johnny Appleseed Day.

Because Johnny’s apple trees were grown from seeds (rather than grafted), their fruit was quite tart and only suitable for making applejack and hard cider. This sweetly spiced Old Fashioned Oat Nut Apple Crisp is the opposite of tart; I can just imagine Johnny in his soup pot hat sitting down to a warm serving topped with cool, rich vanilla ice cream. Apple season is in full swing now, which means it’s a great time to find affordable, quality fruit at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. For the filling I use green apples, which hold up well to baking. I also use minute tapioca as a thickener for a better texture and to soak up the excess liquid that collects in the bottom of the baking dish. The tapioca is optional, but I do recommend it for best results. The topping is hearty with a light crunch thanks to the addition of oats and nuts. It can be made gluten free by omitting the flour and using gluten free certified oats. This old fashioned dessert is so easy to make and extremely satisfying.

Recommended Products:

Mixing Bowls

Food Processor

Glass Baking Dish

Research Sources:

Means, Howard B. Johnny Appleseed: The Man, the Myth, the American Story. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. Print.

Rich, Chris. In Praise of Apples: A Harvest of History, Horticulture and Recipes. Asheville, North Carolina: Lark Books, 1996.