The Best Ever Apple Crumble

Obviously any sort of fruit can be used here. I love it with berries or apricots in summer, in spring it’s good with rhubarb, and in autumn I use half blackberries and half apples. Whatever fruit you use, though, the great thing about the topping is that it bakes to a lovely short, crumbly crispness, which, combined with the toasted almonds, makes it the best ever.

• Add to favourites
• Add to shopping list
• Email a friend
• Print

Recipe adapted from Delia’s Complete How to Cook

Method

Begin by preparing the apples. I always find the best way to do this is to cut them first into quarters, then pare off the peel with a potato peeler (or leave it on, whichever you prefer) and slice out the cores. Now cut them into thickish slices and toss them in a bowl with the sugar, cinnamon and ground cloves, then place them in the baking dish.

For the crumble all you do is place the butter, sifted flour, cinnamon and sugar in a processor and give it a whiz till it resembles crumbs. Next add the almonds and pulse, until they are roughly chopped and chunky. If you don’t have a food processor, in a large bowl, rub the butter into the sifted flour until it resembles crumbs, then stir in the cinnamon, sugar and almonds, which should be roughly chopped by hand.

Now spoon the crumble mixture all over the apples, spreading it right up to the edges of the dish, and, using the flat of your hands, press it down quite firmly all over; the more tightly it is packed together the crisper it will be. Then finish off by lightly running a fork all over the surface. Bake the crumble on the centre shelf of the oven for 40–45 minutes, until the topping is well browned and crisp. Leave it to rest for 10 minutes before serving with well-chilled crème fraîche or clotted cream.

Nutrition 561kcals/54.3g carbohydrate/35.0g sugars/37.0g fat/18.5g saturated fat/0.4g salt per serving