Cook Well for Less

Chocolate Apple Betty

Soft baked apples under crisp, syrupy breadcrumbs with dark chocolate.

Prep
20 mins
Cook
45 mins
Total
65 mins
Difficulty
easy
Serves
2
Illustration: Baked apple layered with buttery breadcrumbs and dark chocolate
Cook Well for Less · AI-generated pencil and watercolour illustration

Get ready

Ingredients for 2 portions

  • 500 g prepared Bramley or other cooking applespeeled, cored and cut into large chunks
  • 15 g for the apples and 40 g for the drizzleThe apple-softening butter is rounded up to a practical weight; the drizzle retains its reviewed proportion.
  • 65 g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 50g dark chocolateroughly chopped
  • 50 g light soft brown sugar
Equipment
  • saucepan
  • small saucepan
  • mixing bowl
  • small ovenproof dish of about 750 ml capacity
  • wooden spoon
  • chopping board
  • knife

Cook

Method

  1. Soften the apples

    Heat the oven to 190°C / 170°C fan / Gas 5. Put the apple chunks, the butter measured for the apples and the water in a saucepan over a medium heat. Cook for 5–8 minutes, turning the fruit gently, until the edges are beginning to soften but the chunks still hold their shape.

  2. Fill the dish

    Tip the apples and any buttery juices into a small ovenproof dish of about 750 ml capacity and spread them evenly.

  3. Add the crumb topping

    Mix the fresh breadcrumbs, light soft brown sugar and chopped dark chocolate in a bowl. Scatter the mixture loosely and evenly over the apples without pressing it down.

    New to this?How to use and store stale bread safely

  4. Make the syrup drizzle

    Melt the butter measured for the drizzle with the golden syrup in a small saucepan over a low heat. Stir until smooth, then drizzle it slowly over the whole crumb topping so it is evenly moistened.

  5. Bake

    Bake uncovered for about 35 minutes, until a knife slides easily into the apples and the topping is golden and crisp. Leave the pudding to stand for 10 minutes before serving because the fruit, syrup and chocolate will be very hot.

Use what you've got

Easy swaps

  • ApplesUse another sharp cooking apple that softens well.

For later

Storing and using leftovers

Storage

Cool leftovers, cover and refrigerate within 2 hours. Use within 48 hours. Reheat once until steaming hot throughout.

Freezing

Freeze cooled portions in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat once until steaming hot throughout.

Practical guide:How to freeze leftovers safely

Ideas

Use dry but sound bread for the fresh breadcrumbs, or replace the apples with pears or plums that need using, discarding any fruit with mould, rot or other spoilage.

Community

Ratings and comments

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