This Mary Berry Apple Crumble is a classic and comforting recipe, which is made with tender cooking apples and a buttery crumble topping. It’s a foolproof recipe, perfect for a cozy family dessert.
Mary Berry Apple Crumble Ingredients
For the Apple Filling:
- 1.5kg (3lb 5oz) cooking apples (such as Bramley), peeled, cored and roughly chopped
- 30g (1oz) butter
- 175g (6oz) light muscovado sugar
For the Crumble Topping:
- 175g (6oz) plain flour
- 115g (4oz) butter, cold and cut into cubes
- 55g (2oz) demerara sugar, plus a little extra for sprinkling
How To Make Mary Berry’s Apple Crumble
- Prepare the apples: Place the chopped apples in a wide-based pan with 2 tablespoons of water and the 30g of butter. Cook over a gentle heat for about 6 minutes, stirring regularly, until the apples are tender but still holding their shape. Remove from the heat, stir in the light muscovado sugar, and set the mixture aside to cool.
- Make the crumble topping: In a large bowl, place the flour and the cold, cubed butter. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the demerara sugar.
- Assemble the crumble: Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/Gas 6. Spoon the cooled apple mixture into a 25cm (10in) round shallow ovenproof pie dish and level the surface.
- Top and bake: Sprinkle an even layer of the crumble topping over the apples, then sprinkle with a little extra demerara sugar for a crunchy finish. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Finish baking and serve: Lower the oven temperature to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas 4 and cook for a further 20 minutes, until the top is golden and the fruit filling is bubbling around the edges. Serve hot.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the perfect crumble topping? The secret is to use cold butter and not to overwork the mixture. Rub the butter in with your fingertips only until it resembles breadcrumbs. This ensures a light and crumbly texture, not a dense paste.
- What are the best apples for a crumble? Cooking apples, like Bramley apples, are ideal because they break down into a soft, fluffy puree while still retaining some texture. If you can’t find them, you can use a tart eating apple like a Granny Smith.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Yes. You can assemble the entire crumble up to 6 hours ahead and keep it in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the unbaked crumble. Bake from chilled or frozen, adding 10-15 minutes to the baking time if cooking from frozen.
- Can I add oats to the crumble? Absolutely. For extra texture and a nuttier flavor, you can replace about 50g of the flour with an equal amount of rolled oats.
What To Serve With Apple Crumble
This classic British dessert is the ultimate comfort food and is traditionally served with something creamy and warm or cold.
- A generous pouring of hot custard
- A scoop of good-quality vanilla bean ice cream
- A dollop of clotted cream or a drizzle of heavy cream
- A spoonful of crème fraîche
How To Store Apple Crumble
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes to help re-crisp the topping.
- Freeze: The unbaked crumble freezes very well for up to 3 months. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and then foil.
Apple Crumble Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Protein: 4g
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
This can happen if the butter was too soft or if the mixture was overworked, creating a paste rather than a crumble. Use cold butter and a light touch.
Demerara sugar is recommended for its large crystals, which give the topping a lovely crunch. You can substitute it with light brown sugar or granulated sugar if needed.
Cooking the apples briefly on the stovetop first, as Mary Berry suggests, helps to cook off some of the initial moisture. Also, ensure you are using a starchy cooking apple like a Bramley, which breaks down into a thicker puree.
Try More Recipes:
- Mary Berry Sugar-Free Carrot Cake Recipe
- Mary Berry Carrot Cake with Pineapple Recipe
- Mary Berry Carrot Cake Cupcakes Recipe
Mary Berry Apple Crumble Recipe
Description
The ultimate classic comfort food dessert, featuring soft, sweet apples baked under a simple, buttery, and crunchy crumble topping.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C Fan.
- In a pan, gently cook the chopped apples with 2 tbsp of water and 30g of butter for about 6 minutes until tender. Stir in the muscovado sugar and let it cool.
- For the topping, rub the 115g of cold, cubed butter into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the demerara sugar.
- Spoon the cooled apple mixture into a shallow ovenproof dish.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/160°C Fan and bake for another 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Serve hot with custard, cream, or ice cream.
Notes
- Using cold butter for the crumble is the key to a light, crumbly texture.
- Pre-cooking the apples ensures they are perfectly soft and tender under the crisp topping.
- This is a fantastic make-ahead dessert that can be assembled in advance and baked just before serving.
- For an extra-special touch, add a pinch of cinnamon or mixed spice to the apple filling.
