Best Ever Apple Crumble and Custard

Best Ever Apple Crumble and Custard - This apple crumble and custard recipe is the most comforting dessert. It is easy to make with plenty of crumble to complement the delicious cooked Apples underneath. Serve with warm Custard or Vanilla Ice Cream for the most comforting treat.

Apple Crumble

This Apple Crumble or Apple Crisp recipe is the best dessert for using up surplus apples. Made with chopped warmly spiced apples and a crunchy Crumble Topping, it comes together very easily, can be made ahead, and can be scaled up or down.

In this Apple Crumble recipe, the Apples become tender and the topping turns golden brown and crisp. The contrast between the delicious warming apple filling and the crispy crumble topping is what makes this crumble dessert so irresistible.    

Why I love this Recipe

The reason that I love this particular recipe is that:

• It has a toasty, buttery, crispy, golden delicious crust.
• It has a filling of juicy cinnamon spiced apples.
• Served with Custard, it is the best dessert ever. Second only to my fave - Victoria Sponge.
• The smell when you crack open that oven door is worth the chopping, peeling and crumble making.

Best apples for Apple Crumble

I like to use Bramley Apples or Granny Smith apples. I like that they are slightly tart and that I get to then add sugar to sweeten it according to my preference. I have used Braeburn which are slightly sweeter because my kids love them. They work fine but I did have to adjust the quantity of sugar in the crumble mix.

Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients

This apple crumble recipe has all the warmth of any Autumn dessert such as Apple and Blueberry Crumble Cake, Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake or Easy Pear Crumble with Cinnamon and Ginger. 

You can find the full printable recipe with ingredient quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here is what you will need to make it:

Plain Flour/All-purpose flour This thickens the juices but it also makes the topping crumbly and light. You can use Corn Flour/Corn Starch if you prefer or a bit of both.

Oats

Instant Oats or Rolled Oats for added texture and a crunchy topping. This is optional. If you skip it, add a little extra flour.

Light Brown Sugar  and Caster Sugar

For sweetness and moisture. You can use light or dark brown sugar in this recipe.

Caster Sugar

We add some to make the topping Crispy.

Apples 

Peeled and cored fresh Apples such as Bramley Apples, Cox, Braeburns are good options.

Personally I find Granny Smith apples a tad too tart. You can also use Gala, Honeycrisp or Pink Lady Apples. Peel and cut into small chunks/1 cm cubes or as evenly as possible.

Vanilla Extract

This is optional but adds a lovely flavour to the fruit.

Spices

Ground Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves.

Adds aroma, warmth, and is the perfect spice that goes with this fruit filling.

Butter 

This makes a rich golden crumble that is is simply irresistible!

Corn Flour

Add 1 tablespoon Corn Flour to the Apples for a thicker consistency.

Pinch Salt

This brings everything together.

Thick Creamy Custard

Sugar, Vanilla, Cornflour, Egg Yolks and Milk. 

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Apple Crumble

Make the Crumble Mix 

Add Flour and Oats to a bowl. Mix in the Sugar and Spices.

Rub Cold Butter into Flour to create a coarse crumble.

Make the Apple Filling 

Combine Apples, Cinnamon, Sugar and Vanilla and place apple mixture in dish.

Add the Apple Crumble Topping

Place the Fruit in an oven dish and top with crumble. 

Bake the Apple Crumble

Cook in a preheated oven at 190 C/Gas Mark 5 for 40 - 45 minutes.

Make the Custard

Put the double cream and milk into a pan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then turn off the heat.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Sugar, Cornflour, Egg Yolks and Vanilla. Pour the hot milk onto the egg mixture while whisking the eggs so lumps don’t form.

Once smooth, return to the pan and cook on a low heat, stirring with the whisk constantly. It will take a few minutes for the sauce the thicken up. Don’t let it come to a boil.

Once thickened, pour into a warmed serving jug. Cover the top of the custard with clingfilm to keep the heat in and stop a skin forming.

Serve with Crumble.

Hint: top tip for making this delicious sweet crumble

Use cold butter for the crumble. This will make for a crunchier topping. 

Substitutions/Variations

Crumble Toppings

Add texture  to the crumble topping via chopped Nuts or Seeds, Granola, Desiccated Coconut, flaked Almonds for a crisp topping.

Use some Almond Flour in the topping for a nutty flavour.

Fruit

Add a handful of Berries for a different flavour. 

Gluten Free

You can use Gluten Free Plain Flour in the crumble topping and in the dish for the fruit. Or Corn Flour works well too.

Spices

Add other Spices such as Ground cardamom or Ground Nutmeg.

How to serve

Serve with the hot or even cold Custard recipe included ( i prefer hot custard) or a drizzle of heavy cream/double cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Storage

Unbaked

This easy apple crumble recipe can be stored in the fridge for 24 hours before baking.

Baked

Once the crumble is baked, it can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can save it whole but leftover crumble can also be stored covered in the fridge in the dish it was in or an airtight container for up to 3 days.

 More Fruit Dessert Recipes:

Apple and Blackberry Crumble

Easy and Cosy Spelt Apple Crumble

Cherry and Raspberry Crumble Breakfast Bars

Passionfruit Cheesecake  

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