There’s something comforting about the flavours and aroma of this crumble. Crumbles or crisp are traditional desserts that have been made since pioneer days. Why are they still popular? Because they taste as good now as they did then.
Yield: Serves 6 – 7
Preparation Time: About 20 minutes
Baking Time: About 45 minutes @ 175 C (350 F)
INGREDIENT LIST
PAN PREPARATION
- 1 Tbsp (15mL) butter, to grease the pan
FRUIT FILLING
- 4 apples, cored and sliced 1 cm thick
- 1 cup (250mL) fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 Tbsp (15mL) lemon juice (half of small lemon)
- 1/4 cup (50mL) sugar
- 1 Tbsp. (15mL) flour
CRUMBLE TOPPING
- ½ cup (125mL) all purpose flour, or whole wheat pastry flour
- ½ cup (125mL) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (125mL) rolled oats
- ½ tsp (2mL) baking powder
- 1 tsp (5mL) cinnamon
- ¼ tsp (1mL) salt
- 1/3 cup (75mL) soft butter
EQUIPMENT LIST
- measuring cups and spoons
- pastry scraper (“Fred”), or dinner knife, to cut the butter
- melon baller (Parisian scoop)
- small sharp knife
- large spoon
- 20 cm (8″) square baking dish
- 1 large-sized bowl
- 1 medium-sized bowl
- 1 small-sized bowl
- fork
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F)
2. Grease the baking dish with 1 Tbsp (15mL) butter.
3. Cut apples in half. Remove the core with a melon baller. Cut apples into quarters. Cut apple pieces into 1 cm wide slices. Add to a large bowl.
4. Add blueberries to the apple bowl. (If using frozen berries, add to bowl when frozen.)
5. Juice lemon into bowl and toss with apples and berries.
6. Combine ¼ cup (50mL) sugar and 1 Tbsp (15mL) flour in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the apples and berries. Toss together.
7. Spread apple mixture evenly in baking dish.
8. Measure ½ cup (125mL) flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Mix together with a fork.
9. Add the butter to the bowl, breaking it into little pieces as you add it. Mix the butter into the dry mixture by rubbing it with your fingertips until the dry ingredients look like moist crumbs.
10. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the fruit.
11. Place the crumble into the oven for about 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown, the fruit is bubbly and the apples are soft when poked with a small knife.
12. Remove the apple-berry crumble from the oven and place on a cooling rack.
13. Serve warm or cool. This is also very nice with a dollop of yogurt (or ice cream if you are feeling fancy).
TASTY TIP
- Instead of apples, try making the crumble with different BC fruit when in season such as peaches, plums, nectarines, pears or rhubarb.
- Instead of blueberries, try other BC berries when in season such as raspberries, blackberries or cranberries.
SKILLS
STEP-BY-STEP – APPLE BERRY CRUMBLE!
STEP 1
Grease baking dish. Gather and measure blueberries, half lemon, apples, sugar and flour.
STEP 2
Cut apples into thin slices. We like to leave the peel on the apples for more nutrition, fibre and colour.
STEP 3
Add blueberries, lemon juice and a mixture of flour and sugar.
STEP 4
Toss together.
STEP 5
Add fruity mixture to greased baking dish. Gather and measure dry crumble topping ingredients and place in a bowl.
STEP 6
Mix ingredients together with a fork or clean hands. Add soft butter, cut up into smaller pieces.
STEP 7
Mix the butter into the dry mixture by rubbing it with your fingertips until the dry mixture looks like moist crumbs.
STEP 8
Sprinkle the crumble mixture over the fruit.
STEP 9
Bake in 350 F oven for about 45 minutes or until the fruit is bubbly and the apples are soft when poked with a small knife.
Serve warm or cool. Top with a dollop of yogurt, whipped or ice cream, if you wish.
©ProjectCHEF2020 All rights reserved
Not to be copied or reproduced without express permission from the author
