I was supposed to go to a wreath-making get-together up in New Hampshire but had to bail out because of family commitments. I was supposed to bring a treat and since the hostess loves Louisa as I do, I thought I’d make Apple Slump as I had found the recipe online.
I decided, what the hey, I’ll try it on my family. Louisa was right – it’s not a particularly glamorous looking treat, but it sure looks good! Especially the dough! 🙂
I got recipe from Miss Party’s blog – she says it’s the actual recipe Louisa used – here’s what she wrote:
Louisa May Alcott’s delicious autumn dessert!
Miss Party loves a strong-willed, 19th century woman who can stand on her own two lace-up boots –’cause she paid for them herself! Louisa May Alcott, was just that kind of plain-speaking, hard-working woman and writer. Due to ongoing financial troubles and her own nature, she also spent the better part of her life as the primary caretaker for her beloved parents and sisters.
During her years at the Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, where Little Women and many other fine books were written, Louisa often made her delicious Apple Slump dessert from their own apples gathered in the fall. The Alcott family routinely held philosophy discussions over dessert with open-minded friends, philosophers and writers. Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne were all regulars at their dining table. Later in the evening, with the dining room as their stage, Louisa and her sisters performed poetry readings or melodramas written by Louisa, as guests watched from the adjoining parlor.
Miss Party’s loves the imagery of those great thinkers, writers, and poets, men and women, sitting around the table sharing a simple dessert together discussing their lofty thoughts and ideas. She imagines Louisa in some lively discussion with her good friend, Thoreau, every time she prepares her Apple Slump. Perhaps this perfect autumn dessert will have you espousing something witty at your next dinner party, too!
“Good books, like good friends, are few and chosen; the more select, the more enjoyable.” ~ Louisa May Alcott
Go to Miss Party’s site for the receipt and enjoy!
(permanent link can also be found on the Other Sites of Interest page)
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So…how was the Apple Slump? 🙂
It was delicious! And fun to make too. And there was something very special about making and eating something Louisa had made and had eaten. I kept thinking about the different ingredients I put in and how easy it was because I could just buy everything at the store. The only real labor was pealing and coring the apples. It must have taken hours to do it in Louisa’s day, which in a sense, would probably make it even more special (especially considering their sparse diet!). Question though: considering Bronson’s vegetarian diet, how is it the family would have chickens for the eggs needed? 🙂
Thank you for finding and posting the recipe!
I would like to use your picture of the finished dessert in my slide show about LMA. Since she called the house “apple slump” it would be fun to show the viewers what she meant by that. To me, it’s a favorable association.
Sure, be my guest!
I made Apple Slump on Thanksgiving last year…it came out kinda so-so. Come to find out there’s something wrong with our oven! Glad yours came out good!
It’s a little tricky with baking the dough – I wanted to make sure it was done but I think I might have slightly overcooked it because the dough was a little dry. Still, it was a great dessert to pick at during the week. 🙂
Miss Party’s loves the imagery of those great thinkers, writers, and poets, men and women, sitting around the table sharing a simple dessert together discussing their lofty thoughts and ideas. She imagines Louisa in some lively discussion with her good friend, Thoreau, every time she prepares her Apple Slump. Perhaps this perfect autumn dessert will have you espousing something witty at your next dinner party, too!
That would be cool. 🙂
I made Louisa’s Apple Slump too. It’s so good. Mine was half devoured in one night after an unexpected visit from my brother and family. It’s best served warm with whipped cream on top!
Yum! It’s the perfect dessert for the Fall.