Why is my apple crumble not crunchy?
Some recipes require patience and technique. Crumble toppings - like scones - are best if you’re a bit ham-fisted. Don’t rub the butter into the flour too thoroughly. Rather than looking like fine breadcrumbs you want the top of the apple crumble recipe to look a bit lumpy. Also, make sure your butter is cold. If you feel the butter may have warmed up a bit too much, pop the crumble mixture into the fridge for a while. If it hits the oven already warm, your apple crumble is less likely to become crisp and achieve that golden brown hue.
What else can I do with “crumble”?
This classic apple crumble recipe topping is quite versatile and works well scattered over a cake, muffins or fruit tart before baking. You can also bake it separately on a tray and sprinkle it over ice cream with caramel sauce or serve it with fruit and yoghurt for breakfast.
Can I make an apple crumble recipe without oats?
Oats can be replaced with other dry ingredients such as almond meal, desiccated coconut, nuts and flour to make the crumble topping. And you can easily make a few simple swaps to create a gluten-free apple crumble. Check out our ready-to-bake gluten-free apple crumble recipe and oat free crumble recipes. You can also use coconut oil instead of butter, if you like.
In some countries, apple crumble is known as simply as apple crisp. Whether you call it an apple crisp or an apple crumble recipe, one thing is certain: it's always delicious, and is always made even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (and even a sprinkling of ground cinnamon, if you fancy it). An easy and delicious dessert filled with soft apple and a crumbly topping? Count us in.
What is an apple crumble topping made of?
Apple crumble recipe topping is typically made of butter, sugar and flour which gets topped on the cooked fruit filling. To add an extra element of texture and flavour, oats, coconut, nuts and cinnamon can be added to the crumble mix.
How can I make apple crumble healthier?
Make a healthier apple crumble topping by using wholewheat flour, oats, quinoa flakes, nuts and coconut. To fill your baking dish, swap out butter and sugar for healthier fats and sweeteners such as rice malt syrup and coconut oil. Don't be shy with cinnamon as it adds a mild sweetness. The leftover juices from the stewed apples can also be used as a natural sweetener. And of course, you can omit a side-serve of vanilla ice cream if you're seeking a healthier dessert (or even a breakfast!).
FAQs
❓FAQ
- Use cold butter. This will help to create a crumbly texture that will not stick together when baking.
- Use a mix of flour and oats. The oats will add a bit of crunch and texture to the topping.
- Don't overmix the ingredients. The crumble topping should be made with a "coarse" crumb.
Sauteing the apples prevents a soggy topping
If you've ever had an apple crumble that wasn't crunchy, it's because the fruit was not pre-cooked before baking. Adding the apples raw to the baking pan will steam and release too much moisture.
Why add lemon juice to apple crumble? ›
This is known as oxidation and occurs when the cells within the fruit are exposed to air. Lemon juice helps with this, acting to coat the flesh and protecting it. It also adds extra flavour to your apple crumble recipe and offsets the sweetness of the sugar.
How do you make Aunt Bessie apple crumble mix? ›
Cooking Guidelines
- Place fruit / filling into an ovenproof dish (if using fresh fruit, also add the water and sugar).
- Sprinkle the crumble mix over the fruit / filling and rake with a fork to even out any lumps and level the top.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven for 30-40 mins until the crumble is golden brown.
Use a shallowish dish if you've got a wet fruit mixture, otherwise the crumble will start to dissolve before it's baked.
What happens if you put too much butter in crumble? ›
If you use more butter than the recipe calls for, the crumb topping will be melted and greasy. If you don't use enough butter it will be dry and floury.
How to tell when apple crumble is done? ›
Set on a baking tray and put in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and the apples feel very soft when you insert a small, sharp knife. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
How do you thicken apple crumble filling? ›
Cornstarch has thickening power similar to Instant ClearJel. Like flour, it lends a cloudy, semi-transparent look to filling. It can also give filling a starchy taste. For full effectiveness, make sure the pie filling is bubbling up through the crust before removing your pie from the oven.
Why put baking powder in crumble topping? ›
A crisp contains oats in the topping, while a crumble does not. Baking powder can also be added to a crumble topping (like it is here) to ensure it's extra light and tender.
What is the apple lemon juice trick? ›
To use this method to prevent apples from turning brown, create a water bath for your apple slices with a ratio of 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to 1 cup of water. Soak the apple slices for 3 to 5 minutes, then drain and rinse them. This simple step should keep your apples from browning for several hours.
The main reason your crumble topping isn't crunchy is probably because you haven't used Demerara sugar. Although, it could also be that you've got your topping ingredient quantities wrong: either too much or not enough flour and butter alongside the sugar.
What is crumble topping made of? ›
Crumble topping is a combination of only 3 simple ingredients: butter, flour, and sugar. It adds the perfect sweetness and crunch to any muffin, quick bread, or pie!
What is the difference between apple cobbler and apple crumble? ›
Cobbler: A fruit dessert made with a top crust of pie dough or biscuit dough but no bottom crust. Crisp/crumble: In Alberta, the terms are mostly interchangeable. Both refer to fruit desserts similar to cobbler but made with a brown sugar streusel topping sometimes containing old-fashioned rolled oats.
Is Apple Brown Betty the same as apple crumble? ›
Both are very similar apple desserts, but the difference mainly comes down to the crumble topping: Instead of the flour and oat mixture used in an apple crisp, an apple brown betty uses breadcrumbs for its crumbly, delicious topping.
Is apple crumble better with custard or ice cream? ›
What is best to serve with Apple crumble? Vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream are both good alternatives, especially if the apple crumble is hot. Do you prefer custard sauce, ice cream, whipped cream or thick cream with your Apple pie? Vanilla ice cream.
Why is my crumble not crumbling? ›
Often this happens if the crumb topping is over-mixed or if the butter was much too hot. Over-mixing will leave you with a pasty, batter-like mixture rather than the crumbly topping you are aiming for. Using very hot butter can cause the sugars to melt, leaving you with a greasy and not crumbly mixture.
What does cornstarch do in a crumble? ›
Then, make sure to bake the crumble long enough so that the fruit filling comes to a profuse simmer at the edges of the pan. This shows that the cornstarch has been activated enough to thicken the juices, turning them supple and silky.
