Go to any farmer's market this time of year, and one thing will be clear: It's a great time to love apples. Late September and early October bring the peak harvesting of many varieties, and there's something perfectly fall about the crunch, tart and sweetness of fresh apples.

Of course, with the bounty of the fall harvest also comes the desire to do something with the piles of apples we tend to accumulate, whether from our own trees, those of a generous neighbor, or the market down the street. Enter apple crisp, the simple but never tired classic desert that many of us enjoy this time of year. This apple crisp recipe adds a variety of citrus to give the tart a little extra zest (literally!). And when the temperatures start falling, the warmth of the stove and the smell of this crisp cooking within it are all but certain to brighten your home. Enjoy, and let us know what you think in the comments!

Bright & Spiced Citrus Apple Crisp

Apple Filling

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6 medium apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), peeled, cored and sliced

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons orange zest

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Pinch of salt

Crisp Topping

3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 teaspoon orange zest

Optional: 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.

In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with orange juice and lemon juice.

In a small bowl, mix together the sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, citrus zests, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and salt. Sprinkle over the apples and toss until evenly coated.

Spread the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish.

For the topping: In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and orange zest. Add the cold butter pieces and work them into the dry ingredients using your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts if using.

Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.

Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a perfect dessert experience!

Tip: For extra citrus flavor, add a small splash of orange liqueur to the apple mixture before baking.