OATMEAL CRUMB TOPPING FOR APPLE PIE RECIPES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl combine all the ingredients except the butter.
• Cut butter into mixture with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs.
• Spread crumbs over prepared fruit mixture of your favorite fruit pie.
• Do NOT add top crust.
• Bake as directed in your fruit pie recipe.
• If crumbs become too dark while baking, cover loosely with foil, but remove foil the last few minutes of bakings so the topping will crisp.
• Note: when using this topping there is no need to dot the fruit with butter, if your recipe calls for that.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Refrigerate while preparing topping and filling., For topping, in a small bowl, mix sugar and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. For filling, in a large bowl, mix sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add apples and toss to coat. Transfer to crust. Sprinkle with topping., Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 375°. Bake until topping is browned and apples are tender, 40-45 minutes. Cover edge loosely with foil during the last 15 minutes if needed to prevent overbrowning. Cool on a wire rack.