Amazing Apple Crisp

With some extra apples in the fridge that tasted more like cooking apples I decided to make some apple crisp. I had seen a few recipes using cake mixes so I decided to try my own. It was delicious! I love the texture of the topping and the flavor of the apples is amazing after adding a can of sparkling apple soda. Here is the recipe...

Ingredients for the Apples:

5-6 small gala apples (or 4 large)

2 Tablespoons sugar

3/4 cup sparkling apple soda (I used Izze brand sparkling apple)

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions for the Apples:

1. Peel and core apples, then cut them into about 1/2inch slices.

2. Mix together the apples sugar and cinnamon.

3. Pour soda over apples and toss together.

Ingredients for the Topping:

1 box yellow cake mix

3/4 cup oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 stick butter

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground ginger

Directions for the Topping:

1. Mix together cake mix, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a medium bowl.

2. Using a pastry blender or large fork cut solid butter into cake mix mixture until crumbly and well combine (there should not be any large chunks of butter left in the mixture).

Putting it all together:

1. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Spread apple mixture in the bottom of the pan.

4. Pour topping over apples, spreading it out to make sure it covers all of the apples.

5. Slowly drizzle about 1/4 cup of remaining sparkling apple soda over topping, do not stir!

6. Bake for 5o minutes. Topping should be golden brown.

Our favorite is to enjoy it warm, straight from the oven with a scoop of Breyers vanilla bean ice cream!

If you have leftovers, pop a bowl-full in the microwave for about 1 minute... it reheats really well and makes a great breakfast with a cup of coffee!

I think the key to this recipe is the sparkling apple soda it really amps up the flavor of the apples and the cake mix makes one of the best apple crisp toppings I have ever tasted!