Classic but oh-so-amazing apple crumble!

Yeah yeah I know what you're thinking - phaw apple crumble, there too many recipes for that, it's nothing new. And yes, I admit that this is classic, old fashioned apple crumble with no modern, fashionable twists to it but isn't that we want sometimes, when the wind is howling outside and work seems to stretch interminably ahead of us? Certainly what we like in our house with dollops of custard!


This crumble recipe is from my friend Ben Knell, the head pastry chef at Pearl Restaurant in London, and it's the only crumble recipe I use - it gets the right mixture of that sweet, crunchy, buttery taste. I also use his method of cooking the crumble - I spread it out on a baking tray and bake it separately from the apples and then reassemble the crumble when they're both cooked. Might seem a faff but this way you can ensure that the apple (or whatever fruit you want to use) isn't all gooey and icky with flour and the crumble is perfectly crisp. Just try it and see (and it's not that much more effort!). I just hope he doesn't mind me sharing his cheffy secrets :P

For the crumble:

125g butter, cubed

125g sugar

125g ground almonds

150g plain flour

1. Preheat the oven to 180'C. Put the flour, ground almonds and the sugar in a large bowl and mix until combined. Add the butter and then rub it in with your fingertips until you can't see any large bits of butter. 

2. Spread this mixture out evenly on a baking tray line with baking parchment and put it in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until its golden and crispy. 

3. Leave to cool and then break the crumble into bitesize chunks (I swear my friends and I eat more crumble at this stage and actually with the apples!)

For the apples:

6 Bramley/eating apples or whatever fruit you fancy (pear, rhubarb etc)

2-3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinammon

Handful dried raisins or cranberries (optional)

1. Peel, core and chop up the apples into chunks and put in a baking dish. Sprinkle over the sugar and cinammon and toss to combine evenly. 

2. Put it in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the apples are soft and the juices are bubbling. 

3. When the apples are done, sprinkle over the cooked crumble and serve with custard! (There, told you this way was easy!)