This Oaty Apple Crumble is everything that is good about British desserts. Find out how to make this classic pudding below.
British puddings
Sticky toffee pudding, spotted dick and the humble apple crumble are all examples of what we do best in the UK - hearty, warm puddings! They stick to your ribs, fill you up and keep you warm. What more could you want in the cold winter months?
The origins of the crumble aren't well known. There's no dramatic love story or a tale of heroism, not even a celebrity name in sight. But, perhaps that's because it's an incredibly simple dish made up of ingredients many people have in their kitchens at any given time. You'll need apples, butter (or a plant based alternative), sugar and flour.
What makes this Apple Crumble extra crispy and delicious is oatmeal. Just one extra ingredient takes the humble crumble from good to great.
How to make a simple Apple Crumble
Making this delicious dessert couldn't be easier. To make the crumble top you just need to rub the fat into the flour and oatmeal until it resembles breadcrumbs. This doesn't have to be done by hand, you can easily do this by pulsing it in a food processor.
As fun as it is getting your hands messy in the kitchen, I don't feel there's any real benefit to doing it the "old fashioned" way and I regularly use my food processor to save me time. Once you've rubbed together the fat, flour and oatmeal you just stir through the sugar.
This crumbly mix is then spooned over apples that have been peeled, sliced and arranged in the base of a pie dish. The whole lot gets baked in the oven until the fruit is cooked and the crumble top is crisp!
Which apples are best for an Apple Crumble?
You can make apple pie with any apples you wish. I make mine from the apple trees in my garden. We inherited them when we moved in and we aren't sure what variety they are. They eat well straight off of the tree but they also hold their shape well when cooked. So who knows if they are an eating variety or a cooking apple.
Some of the apples that work well in apple crumbles are:
- Granny Smith;
- Gala;
- Pink Lady;
- Golden Delicious;
- Braeburn; and
- Honey Crisp.
You shouldn't have any issues sourcing these. They are available in most supermarkets across the UK!
As a general rule, cooking apples keep their shape better when they cook. As I cut my apples into thin slices it's important to use an apple that is firm.
If you use an eating apple variety it will breakdown much quicker. In that situation I recommend slicing the apples quite thick or even cutting them into cubes.
Adding oats to your Apple Crumble
There are lots of good reasons to add oatmeal to your Apple Crumble. But the only reason I really care about is that they turn a simple Apple Crumble into an extra special dessert.
Oats not only taste good but they are fantastic for adding extra texture to your crumble. Some people add rolled oats to their crumble top (and I often do).
If you do decide to add rolled oats as well as oatmeal, add them to the top rather than mixing them into the crumble. This means that they toast, rather than turn into porridge as the crumble cooks.
How to make sure your topping stays crisp
I stumbled on this tip by accident. I always make a big batch of crumble topping and then keep it in the fridge. If you pop it in an air tight container it last for ages. But, it turns out that making sure the crumble top is really cold when it goes into the oven is actually essential for getting a crunchy crumble top.
When you make your crumble top, rubbing the fat and flour together increases it's temperature. There's nothing you can do about this, it's a side effect of the process. If you want to use the crumble top straight away, pop it in the freezer for 10 - 15 minutes to make the fat firm up again. Alternatively, do as I do and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to use it.
Serving suggestions
Although this Oaty Apple Crumble is delicious on its own I love to serve mine with something cold and creamy like:
- double cream (Elmlea do a fantastic plant based alternative!)
- vanilla ice cream; or
- custard (Coconut Collaborative do my favourite vegan custard, find it in the refrigerated section of the supermarket).
The recipe
Oaty Apple Crumble
Ingredients
For the crumble top
- 75 g plain flour
- 75 g oatmeal
- 125 g butter chilled and cut into cubes
- 75 g demerera sugar
- 2 tablespoon rolled oats optional
For the apple filling
- 750 g apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon cornflour
- 1 tablespoon caster sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200C / 400 F / gas mark 6.
- Combine the flour, oatmeal, and butter in a food processor or large bowl, and pulse briefly, or rub with your fingertips, until the mixture resembles very coarse breadcrumbs with a few larger lumps.
- Add the sugar and stir through.
- Put this in the freezer for 10 minutes, or if making ahead, in the fridge until you're ready to bake.
- Meanwhile, toss the apple slices with the cornflour and caster sugar until all coated.
- Add a splash of water (25 - 50ml) to the bottom of your baking dish then layer in the apple slices.
- Spoon the crumble over the apple slices and sprinkle with the rolled oats.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the apples are just soft and the crumble top is golden and crunchy.
Nutrition
Got leftovers?
Don't worry! This crumble reheats really well. I often make this Oaty Apple Crumble for me and my husband. We then enjoy it over a couple of days. You can reheat it in the microwave for just 3-4 minutes or in the oven for 15 minutes.
More delicious desserts
Why not try one of these other delicious desserts.
For the full range of pudding recipes, check out the recipe archive.
Did you know: on my Recipe Index page you can search by course, cuisine, diet and more!
Jesss says
I swear the main reason my housemates love me is apple crumble! Haha.I always put oats in too, good for you and yummy!xo
Emmyw says
Haha it is definitely the way to any housemates heart! Especially when you don't have enough money for the heating!!!