Monday, 10 March 2008

Apple Crumble

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I love British puddings. Having grown up in Germany I was used to mainly having cold desserts, serving something warm for pudding is pretty unheard of over there. I've been wrecking my brain and can't really think of any German dessert that's served warm. I'm sure there must be one, so if you can think of one please let me know!

Anyways, back to British puddings...

Since moving to England ten years ago, I have come to love all the different warm desserts here. Yes, sometimes they are bit stodgy, but I guess that's what also makes them so comforting. Sticky Toffee Pudding, Jam Roly Poly, Bread and Butter Pudding and of course all the various crumbles - rhubarb, apple or cherry - I could eat them anytime, not just after a meal. To make it perfect I need some custard or sometimes I like the hot/cold thing and have them with some ice cream.

Yesterday, I never got around to post the Apple Crumble I made for pudding on Saturday. I got the recipe from a Farmer's Market cookbook last autumn. I had been picking Blackberries and was looking for different ways of using them, so the original recipe has a mixture of apples and blackberries, but of course you can use just about any fruit or combination thereof. It's really all about the crumble topping and this is the one I have come to use all the time.

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Apple Crumble (for 6-8 people)

5 large Bramley or other cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3-4tbsp dark brown sugar
1tsp cinnamon
1 lemon, juice off
1 cup + 2tbsp (= 18tbsp) brown sugar
9tbsp flour
1 cup + 2tbsp (= 18tbsp) porridge oates
1 cup +2tbsp (=18tbsp) sliced almonds
1tsp vanilla extract or almond extract
175gr butter, cut into cubes

Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 5.

Place the chopped apples in a large rectangular oven dish.

Drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with dark brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix well so all the apples are coated.

In a bowl mix the rest of the ingredients with your hands. Cutting the butter into the mixture until you get a crumble topping.

Spread the topping fairly evenly over the apples.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the fruit is bubbling and the top is golden.

Serve hot with custard or vanilla ice cream.



14 comments:

Nic said...

That's a great idea to put almonds in the topping. I'm a sucker for a hot pud, you'd better be inviting me over next time!

Jules said...

I adore British puddings. Your crumble looks so good and I like the almond idea.
Is strudel eaten hot in Germany?

Sylvie said...

Nic, let me know when you're free and the invite will be on its way.

Jules, I forgot about strudel as it's a Southern German thing (I love it though). It is often served hot, but usually with a cup of coffee in the afternoon rather than as a pudding.

test it comm said...

Apple crumble with vanilla ice cream is one of my favorite desserts! I like the use of the almonds in your topping. They would add a nice crunch in addition to the flavour.

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

You can't beat a good crumble! I like the addition here, though, of vanilla extract and one or two other added extras, such as the almonds.

Jules said...

Totally random comment but you mentined on my blog how much you loved the gold tunnocks wafers, well I spotted them for sale in Morrisons today :)

Sylvie said...

Did you get some?! The ones with the crispy stuff in the coating?! I'm excited now, might have to do my next shop at Morrisons. It's a little further away than Tesco and Sainsbury, but if they have the golden Tunnocks, I'll have to go!

Jules said...

I didn't buy any as we have quite a few sweet things in the house at the moment, but I'll probably buy some next week. There was loads of them and it was the mass of gold that caught my eye and I thought of you!

Marie Rayner said...

Mmm...there's nothing like a good crumble! Yours looks delicious!

Suzana said...

Sylvie, your crumble looks rather delicious! Almonds sound like a nice addition to go along with apple.

Thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving a nice note. :)

Anonymous said...

there is no way to go wrong with a fruit crumble, no way at all. i love the nets in the topping.

african vanielje said...

I love crumble, and well done you for embracing English puds!

The Fruity Cook said...

A great pudding.

We have a grand old Bramley in our garden, so shall try your recipe when the time comes.

I was also recently impressed to hear about the great British rhubarb triangle which has produced some of the finest recipes of our age.

Abitofafoodie said...

Yummy looking crumble! I hadn't realised that hot puddings was a peculiarly British thing, but now that I come to think about it, I think you are right. I just love a hot pud on a cold blustery day and apple crumble is my number one favourite. Your looks absolutely delicious!