The Brown Betty, yet another New England original!
The origin of the name Brown Betty is in dispute. Some say it is from an English teapot, while others have other ideas. Again, this is one of those simple names with an equally simple beginning.
The term brown obviously refers to the color of both the apples, when baked and the breaded topping. Bread in colonial America was brown because of the wheat that was used. So when you add them to this dessert, it goes without saying that the brown color seen throughout is only natural.
As for the name Betty, there can only be one answer. Like the dish itself, it came from whoever first made it, with the word, along with the recipe itself, being shared and passed on! Simple, delicious and a great dessert that has withstood time and palates.