National Apple Brown Betty Day & National Be Kind Day

This morning, as I was going through the holidays and seeing what I could share with my family, I noticed it’s National Apple Brown Betty Day and it is also National Be Kind Day. But my question is shouldn’t we be kind everyday? And do you know something? I don’t remember ever having an Apple Brown Betty. Do you?

Even though I’m over 60 years old, I don’t remember my parents making one. I don’t remember my grandparents making one. And honestly, I don’t even know if they ever did. I don’t know if David’s family made Apple Brown Betty either. I also don’t remember ever seeing it at a restaurant when we would go out to eat.

I guess this evening we’ll be discussing Apple Brown Betty in our home. Then Charlie and I may just have to get in the kitchen and make one. Because now I’m curious. What exactly is an Apple Brown Betty? When did people start making them?

Why was it a dessert people made back in the day, but something that doesn’t seem to show up on our tables very often anymore? And most importantly, what did it taste like? think we may make one and take some over to David’s mom. Then we’ll ask her if she ever had Apple Brown Betty growing up.

Did her mother make it? Did she make it for her family? Did she like it? And maybe we’ll even ask her, “Did Pa like it?” Because we all know he loved his desserts and maybe she knows. Maybe she doesn’t. And unfortunately, we can’t ask Pa anymore because he’s not here.

But isn’t that how family history works sometimes? There are questions we think about only after the people who could answer them are gone. And maybe that’s one more reason why today is a good day to slow down and talk to somebody.

Since today is also National Be Kind Day, why not make an extra Apple Brown Betty? Do you have an older neighbor? Someone who lives alone? Someone you wave to when you’re getting the mail but don’t really know? Make an extra dessert and take it over to them.

But don’t just leave it on the porch. Sit down. Take a little time to get to know them. Ask them if they have ever had Apple Brown Betty. Ask who made it in their family. Ask what they remember about it. And then listen to the stories they have to share.

Because you may be surprised by what you learn. You may discover a recipe you’ve never heard of. You may hear a story about someone’s mother or grandmother. You may learn what dessert was always on their family’s table in the fall. Or you may simply give someone something that can be much harder to find than a homemade dessert: your time.

Because you may be the only person they’ve had the opportunity to sit down and talk with today. And a little kindness can go a long way. Especially today. Especially when we’re celebrating National Be Kind Day. So before we start talking about the history of Apple Brown Betty, let’s start with the reason I think this old-fashioned dessert might be worth bringing back:

Sometimes the best part of making a recipe isn’t eating it. Sometimes it’s who you make it for, who you share it with, and the stories you hear while you’re sitting around the table. And that’s exactly what we’re going to find out with our first Apple Brown Betty.

Old-Fashioned Apple Brown Betty

Ingredients

5–6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
2 cups fresh breadcrumbs — day-old bread works wonderfully
¾ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ cup water or apple juice
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Butter an 8-inch or 9-inch baking dish.
Peel, core, and thinly slice the apples. Toss them with the lemon juice.
In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Put about one-third of the breadcrumb mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
Add about half of the apples.
Add another layer of breadcrumbs, followed by the remaining apples.
Finish with the remaining breadcrumb mixture.
Drizzle the melted butter evenly over the top.
Pour the water or apple juice around the edges of the dish.
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20–30 minutes, until the apples are tender and the top is nicely browned.
Let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.

Serve warm, either by itself or with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a little milk.

A little retro tip

If you want this to feel like something Mom or Grandma might actually have made, use leftover homemade or sandwich bread for the crumbs instead of buying packaged breadcrumbs. You can tear the bread into pieces and pulse it in a food processor, or simply let it dry out and crumble it by hand.

And I think the fun part will be telling Charlie: We’re not just making dessert tonight. We’re making something we’ve never made before so we can find out what our parents and grandparents may have been eating.

National Apple Brown Betty Day Printable

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Happy National Apple Betty Day!

Celebrate October 5 with a warm, old-fashioned Apple Brown Betty.

🍎 Apple Brown Betty Recipe

Serves: 6–8 Prep Time: 15 minutes Bake Time: 40–45 minutes

Ingredients

6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
4 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch or similar baking dish.
Place the sliced apples in a bowl. Toss with lemon juice, water, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
In another bowl, combine the bread crumbs and brown sugar.
Stir the vanilla into the melted butter.
Place a layer of bread crumb mixture in the bottom of the baking dish.
Add a layer of apples.
Continue alternating layers, ending with the bread crumb mixture.
Drizzle the melted butter mixture evenly over the top.
Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and the top is golden brown.
Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Serving Tip: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra-special fall dessert.

🍎 5 Fun Facts About Apple Brown Betty

1. It is an old-fashioned American dessert.
Apple Brown Betty is a traditional baked dessert made with apples and sweetened bread crumbs.

2. The “brown” comes from the delicious topping.
As the bread crumbs, butter, and sugar bake, they become golden brown and wonderfully crisp.

3. It is similar to a fruit crisp—but different.
A crisp usually has an oat-based topping, while Brown Betty traditionally uses bread crumbs.

4. It is a great way to use apples.
This dessert is perfect when you have extra apples that need to be used before they go bad.

5. Brown Betty can be made with other fruit.
Although apple is one of the most popular versions, Brown Betty can also be prepared with fruits such as berries or peaches.

🍎 Family Fun Question

If you could make an Apple Brown Betty with any kind of apple, which apple would you choose?

My choice: _______________________________

Do Something Nice Day Printable

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Do Something Nice Day!

October 5 • A little kindness can make a big difference.

You don’t need a special reason to be kind.
Today, choose one small thing you can do to make someone else’s day a little brighter.

☐ Give someone a sincere compliment
☐ Help someone without being asked
☐ Leave a kind note for someone
☐ Call someone you love
☐ Say “Thank You”
☐ Let someone go ahead of you
☐ Make someone smile
☐ Do something unexpected for a family member
☐ Encourage someone who needs it
☐ Pray for someone who could use encouragement

Today I am going to do something nice for:

What I will do:

GreatfulMoments.com

Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates