Apple crumble

[warpig3]

Grrrrr.......darn internet recipies. Have just made apple crumble from an internet recipe and it said mix 4oz of flour with 4oz of butter until a breadcrumb consistency. Yeah right! Ended up like putty so I added another 4oz of flour and it looked fine, is now cooking so fingers crossed. Anyway, rant over.

Question: Does anyone have a proper recipe for apple crumble, I just used sliced apples, cinnamon and sugar for the apple base but I was thinking maybe raisons or sultanas could be added too.

Any suggestions and/or recipes gratefully accepted.

Thanks warpig

[masterchef]

I usually put a few cloves in with the cooked apple rather than the cinnamon.
For the crumble I use 6oz plain flour, 3oz margarine and 2oz caster sugar this should end up like a breadcrumb consistency,I spread this mixture evenly onto the apple and then press it down with my knuckles.
masterchef

[nickmo]

Hi W - No quantities cos you can judge the feel of the mix easily enough. You want toget a dry crumb...

flour, butter (must be cold diced, not warm and sticky to start with), brown sugar, add oatmeal as well for crunch effect. Season with cinnamon and nutmeg. Slice apples, Place in baking dish. Top with crumble mix. Bake 30 mins.

Eat warm with creme fraiche, double cream, frozen yoghurt, custard, creme anglaise, whatever. Do not share......

Adding anything else? Use cranberries, use raspberries, use plums, use apricots, use rhubarb, use gooseberries, etc etc Raisins? I don't think so.....best thing to do with them is soak in sherry, dip in melted chocolate and leave to cool, then eat them all in one go....

[thugulike]

I make up a double load of Jamie Olivers recipe in the magimix and keep it in the fridge. I add oats to the mix too. Try my famous banana crumble.
slice banana in ovenproof dish and layer with crumble mix, demerara sugar and dessicated coconut, repeated several times. Drizzle evaporated milk into the mixture and bake in oven for 20 minutes at 200.
Plum crumble is historic at this time of year but you can use anything. I've recently used pears and ginger, or rhubarb and strawberry.

[warpig3]

Oh yum yum, thank you all for the lovely suggestions, I am drooling! I am not really a 'sweet' person but I could really get into this.

I have just had a look at it and its not half bad, but as they say 'the proof of the pudding'!

Many thanks
warpig

[pastafreak]

Use a combination of apples and pears, most recipes ask for equal amounts of flour,sugar and butter(MUST be butter)...but I find that adding a bit more flour takes away some of the stickieness. I sprinkle the crumble on and don't press it in then i sprinkle a bit of water over-this is a suggestion from Nigel Slater to make the topping a bit more crisp. You can also use plums-great this time of year.

[Kleiber]

Everyone's given lovely recipes & I'm going to try them, too (thanks, all), but warpig love, no-one mentioned (because, like me, they probably assumed that you'd done it anyway) that you don't just mix the butter & flour, you have to rub it in together, with your fingers, till it's like breadcrumbs. Maybe you did & it just turned out wrong, so forgive me if that's the case!! :0)

[warpig3]

Hi Kleiber, yep I did rub it in but to no avail then I consulted the Holy Grail (Delia - don't know why I didnt look there first!) and she gave 8oz flour to 3oz butter hence me adding more flour. Anyhoo, Mrwarpig had two helpings and no ill effects, he did say it didn't taste like his mums though, which is a total compliment as she cant cook for nuts....................meow.....................!

[grasscarp]

I cheat and buy Tesco crumble topping!

[warpig3]

Tee hee grasscarp, we won't tell, which aisle?

[grasscarp]

Around the baking products, flour, custard powder etc.

[TheWinner]

Crumble Mix

6 ozs Self Raising Flour
3 ozs Butter

6 ozs Caster Suger

(plus a little extra sugar as mentioned below)

1. Mix the butter and flour together with your fingers, until it resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Stir in the Sugar

3. Slice fruit thinly in your baking dish, add a little sugar if needed, and add a sprinkle of water.

4. Pour over the crumble mix, don't smooth out, roughen the surface. The rough points make it crispy. Sprinkle the top with just a little bit of sugar.

Bake at Gas 4 360F 180C for approx. 40-45 mins. until golden brown

[Kleiber]

Glad Mr. W liked it!! K xx

[lilacben]

When I make a crumble it tends to be stciky when cooked rather sponge like not crumble what am I doing wrong.?

[warpig3]

I am not sure lilacben (not being an expert, ha ha) but mine was crunchy and crumbly. Have a look at the Winners recipe as it is pretty much the same ratio that I used and as pastafreak says, sprinkle with some water over the top- I know my mum used to do this. Failing that nip down to Tesco's! Happy crumbling.