World's BEST Apple Crisp

8 c peeled and sliced apples*
1/3 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 c flour
1/2 c rolled oats
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c butter, softened


Grease a 9x13" pan. Put in the apples. Mix the sugar, cinnamon, and 2 tbsp butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle (as much as possible--this is a paste!) over the apples as evenly as you can.  Mix the flour, rolled oats, baking powder, soda, and salt thoroughly. Add the brown sugar and mix well. Finally, add the 1/2 c butter and  mix well.  Sprinkle/spread this over the apples.  Bake 40-45 minutes at 350.

*You really can use any kind of apples in this recipe, even (gasp!) Red Delicious.  HOWEVER, granny smith are the best tasting in this recipe. Many, many recipes recommend you mix varieties of apples in this kind of dessert, with a favorite combination being yellow delicious and granny smith. You can do this, but I don't recommend it because different varieties of apples have different cooking times, and different textures when done. If you mix granny smith (or any other firm, tart apple like fuji or braeburn) and yellow delicious (or any other soft apple like red delicious or jonathan), cut the firmer apples thinner than the firm apples or you will end up with some just right and some unbelievably mushy in the final product.