Gamble Apple Crisp

Ok, I almost have no words for how delicious this apple crisp is.  I was totally speechless while I inhaled it.    As some of you know, I don't bake.  I don't have much of a sweet tooth either.  This is so totally simple and utterly amazing that I had to make it and share it....the recipe that is...I wasn't sharing the crisp.  Maybe a little with my kids but that's it!
One of my best friends Sarah (I'm lucky I have two) and her mom Kathy were more then happy to share this with me.  This recipe was made by Kathy's Mom and her Grandmother Gamble.  It's an oldie but a goodie.  Don't mess with a good thing.
When Sarah was giving me the recipe, she mentioned you can drizzle a little Maple Syrup, which Kathy likes to do, over the apples or sprinkle with cinnamon.  Sarah leaves hers as is.  I opted for the Maple Syrup and I used maybe 2 tbsp.  It was deliciously divine.
This is not for the faint of heart.  There is butter in this and lot's of it.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  It's not something you'll eat all the time, although you may want to.  I figure the apples counteract the fat content in the butter and the calories in the sugar.  Let's just go with that.  Don't skimp on any one ingredient.  You may think that there is way too much topping but it's just enough.  Mound it up (look at the second picture) and some of it will fall through the apple cracks and create heaven.  It will all cook down.  The topping is super crunchy with the perfect sweetness and the apples melt in your mouth.  Make this.  Don't argue with me about it.  Do it.
p.s. I picked these apples with the help of my main squeeze and my little squeezes.

Gamble Apple Crisp


Serves 6 (if you insist on sharing)

10-12 apples, peeled and sliced (I used Cortlands)
Maple Syrup or cinnamon, optional
Topping
1 cup of white flour
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
5 tbsp room temperature butter

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Place the sliced and peeled apples in a buttered 8x8 baking dish.  Drizzle with  Maple Syrup and/or cinnamon if you'd like.  In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients.  Using your fingers, drop bits of butter into the dry mixture and pinch the mixture until the butter is combined.  It will look like tiny little balls of sugar flour.  Pile, and I mean pile that butter mixture onto the apples.  All of it.  Bake it in the oven for 1 hour.  Let it cool slightly before serving.