How to Make the Best Apple Crumble (Easy & Impressive), by Good Food on YouTube. 13 min 8 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 8 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan, gas 6). Rub the 125g cold diced butter into the 200g plain flour until it looks like rough breadcrumbs.
Stir in the 100g soft brown sugar, 30g custard powder and 50g oats. Keep the mix chunky rather than fine.
Spread the crumble on a baking tray and freeze for 10 minutes, then toast in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Set aside.
Melt the 100g butter with 150g caster sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until it bubbles into a caramel.
Pour in the 200ml apple juice, add the bay leaf and cinnamon stick, then tip in the 800g peeled, diced Bramleys. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until soft and saucy.
Mix the spice mix: 1 tsp each ground ginger, allspice and cinnamon, ½ tsp nutmeg, 2 tbsp golden caster sugar and ½ tsp sea salt.
Spoon the cooked Bramley base into the baking dish. Layer the thinly sliced Gala apples on top for texture.
Scatter the pre-toasted crumble over the fruit in an even layer. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the fruit bubbles at the edges and the top is deep golden.
Rest for 5 minutes, sprinkle with the spice mix and serve hot with custard.
Tips and common mistakes
Freezing the crumble before toasting stops it melting into one solid slab and keeps the chunks crisp.
Use Bramleys for the soft base and Galas for the slices, since all-Bramley crumble turns to mush.
Taste the caramel before adding the apples; if it looks pale, let it bubble a little longer for a deeper toffee flavour.
Put the dish on a baking tray in the oven so bubbling juice does not burn on the oven floor.
Questions
Can I make apple crumble ahead of time?
Yes. Make the base and topping separately, chill both, then assemble and bake when needed. The toasted topping stays crisp for a day in an airtight tin.
What can I use instead of custard powder?
Use the same amount of cornflour for a similar crisp texture, or leave it out and add 20g more flour. The topping will be slightly less rich.
Why are my apples watery?
Bramleys release a lot of juice when simmered. Cook them until the caramel thickens around them, and do not add extra liquid beyond the apple juice.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
