Cook Well for Less

Apple Crumble

Soft baked apples under a classic golden crumble topping, ideal for using apples that are becoming soft.

Prep
15 mins
Cook
40 mins
Total
55 mins
Difficulty
easy
Serves
2
Illustration: Golden apple crumble with sliced apples visible through an open corner
Cook Well for Less · AI-generated pencil and watercolour illustration

Get ready

Ingredients for 2 portions

  • 350 g prepared applespeeled, cored and sliced about 5 mm thick
  • 40g buttercold and cut into small cubes

Optional extras

  • 20 g rolled oats, for a more textured topping
  • Ground cinnamon
Equipment
  • small ovenproof dish
  • mixing bowl
  • chopping board
  • knife

Cook

Method

  1. Prepare the apples

    Heat the oven to 190°C / 170°C fan / Gas 5. Put the sliced apples in a small ovenproof dish. Sprinkle over the sugar measured for the apples and the cinnamon if using, then toss gently. Taste a small piece first and use a little less sugar if the apples are already sweet.

  2. Make the crumble topping

    Put the flour in a bowl and rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until most of the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs, with a few small lumps. Stir in the sugar measured for the topping and the oats if using. Do not press the mixture into a dough.

    New to this?How to make a crumble topping

  3. Assemble

    Scatter the crumble loosely and evenly over the fruit. Do not press it down, because the gaps help the topping become crisp.

  4. Bake

    Bake for 35–40 minutes until the topping is golden and the fruit juices are bubbling at the edges. Push a small knife through the centre; the apple slices should feel tender rather than hard. Rest for 10 minutes before serving because the fruit will be very hot.

Use what you've got

Easy swaps

  • ApplesEating apples hold their shape and may need less sugar; sharper cooking apples soften more and may need the full amount.

For later

Storing and using leftovers

Storage

Cool any leftover crumble, cover it and get it into the fridge within 2 hours. Use within 48 hours. Eat cold or reheat once until steaming hot throughout.

Freezing

Freeze cooled portions if you will not use them within 48 hours. Defrost in the fridge and reheat once until steaming hot throughout.

Practical guide:How to freeze leftovers safely

Ideas

Use apples that have become soft or wrinkled but have no mould, rot or other spoilage.

Community

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