This year we had a bumper crop of fruit on our apple tree. Thanks to the late September sunshine, within the space of two weeks the apples transformed from green and small to red and huge! We must have picked at least a hundred apples so far. And with this amazing bounty, we’ve been able to indulge in lots of delicious apple treats.
For this month’s Suma entry, I thought I’d share one of our all-time favourite Autumnal desserts – Apple Crumble ♥ I’ve lost count of the number of crumbles I’ve made this past month, but it could be getting on for ten!
As well as oats and wholegrain flour, I love to add some pecans and almonds into the crumble, which gives it a delicious crunch. Traditionally, this dessert has a fair amount of cane sugar and dairy butter in it. However, instead of cane sugar, I prefer to use coconut sugar and maple syrup as they add a delicious, caramel-like sweetness and beautiful golden hue to the crumble.
Instead of dairy butter, I use coconut butter (the aroma-free kind) or a non dairy spread. Through Suma, I discovered the Tiana Organic Coconut Cooking Butter and I’m loving it! It’s really versatile and you can use it for all kinds of cooking and baking. I made some scrumptious pasties with it last week. Unfortunately they were devoured before I could take any pics, so I’ll re-create them soon and post the recipe.
BTW, those lidded Pyrex glass dishes are really handy for cooking, storing and transporting the crumbles. I took a couple with me to Essex recently to share with our relatives. Stored in a thermal bag, six hours after I’d baked them they were still warm!
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This healthy twist on the classic Apple Crumble is packed with delicious flavours and crunchy texture. We love to serve it in colourful ramekins, either on its own or with a drizzle of non dairy cream, yogurt or custard. It’s delicious eaten warm or cold. Lil’ L and I actually prefer it cold as the topping firms up in the fridge for extra crunchiness!
Serves 6
Hands on time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 35 minutes
Ready in: 45 minutes
Ingredients
1 kg / 35 oz cooking apples (e.g. Bramleys), peeled, cored and sliced (about 7 medium apples)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
60g / 2 oz / 1/3 cup sultanas
3 TBSP fruit juice (or water)
3 TBSP maple syrup (or agave syrup)
Crumble Topping:
100g / 3½ oz / ¾ cup fine wholemeal (whole wheat) or chapatti flour (use a GF flour mix, if needed)
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp ground cinnamon
60g / 2 oz / 4 TBSP aroma-free coconut butter (e.g. Tiana) or non dairy spread (e.g. Pure)
75g / 2½ oz / ¾ cup rolled oats (use certified GF oats, if needed)
4 TBSP coconut sugar (or unrefined caster sugar)
2 TBSP maple syrup (or agave syrup)
30g / 1 oz / ¼ cup pecans, chopped
40g / 1½ oz / ¼ cup almonds, chopped
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan) / 350F / Gas 4.
Place the sliced apples, cinnamon, sultanas, juice and syrup in a large saucepan. Partially cover with a lid and simmer for 15 minutes until the apples are soft and fluffy. Taste test and add more sweetener, if needed.
Meanwhile, prepare the topping: Place the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and coconut butter in a food processor and pulse until the butter is fully incorporated. Tip into a bowl and stir in the oats, sugar, syrup and nuts.
Spoon the apples into a 1.5 litre / 1½ quart ovenproof dish. Sprinkle the crumble on top. Bake for 20 minutes or so, until the topping is golden.
Stored in an airtight container, it will last up to a week in the fridge, or for weeks in the freezer.
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Products used in this recipe (UK stockists)
Pyrex Rectangular Lidded Dish, available from Amazon (currently discounted to £3.50)
Magimix Food Processor
Tiana Coconut Cooking Butter, available from Suma, health food shops and online
Biona Organic Coconut Sugar, available from Suma, health food shops and online
Suma Organic Sultanas, available direct from Suma, via Amazon, and independent health food shops (love that they come in recyclable packaging!)
Clarks Original Maple Syrup, available from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons
What’s your favourite fruit crumble? For me, it’s a close call between apple and plum 🙂
Have you made any crumbles this Autumn/Fall? If you’ve posted any recipes, please do share below xx
I’ve never used coconut butter. Did your pasties taste of coconut? We didn’t do very well with our apple crop this year, usually we have loads of apples.
I love crumbles, this looks perfect, I could just eat a bowlful now!
Crumble is yummy isn’t it? I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it 😉
The Tiana Coconut Butter is aroma-free, so perfect for use in savoury dishes & pastries. It behaves similar to shortening, so needs a little extra water compared to vegetable spreads, but gives the pastry a lovely texture and crisp bite. I’ve made the mistake of using virgin coconut oil in pastry making before and I really don’t like the coconuty flavour, even in sweet pastries.
Delicious like all you cook !!
Thanks dear Sharon to share with us your great recipes !
It’s a pleasure Maria ♥ I’m so pleased you’re enjoying the recipes xx
Delicious. Apple Crumble. I’m going back up the tree at the weekend to pick the last few. Remember to leave a small child under the tree who can catch any falling apples. T.x.
There’s still a few on the top most branches that I can’t reach… might have to send the small boy up the tree 😉
This is a perfect autumn dish 🙂 It reminds me of the sorts of crumbles my Mum made for us as children too – classic comfort food done well!
Thanks Kari ♥ Apple Crumble reminds me of my childhood too. The funny thing is, I used to love the stewed apples best, and my sister loved the topping most. Some things never change 😉
Wow that is quite an apple haul! I love coconut butter, it’s too good!
I’ve used coconut oil and creamed coconut for years, so I can’t believe it took me this long to discover coconut butter! I’m loving the aroma-free Tiana butter… it’s fantastic for savoury & sweet baking.
Wow, Sharon, these apples are gorgeous – I remember picking apples when I was a kid and it was pretty fun, I would like to do some apple picking someday! You’ve created a yummy crumble and I’ve never made a crumble before, but I love apple crumbles – they look splendid and crunchy! I love apple and berries crumble, I’m not a huge fan of rhubarb crumble.
Mmmm apple crumble!! A Fall must-have! And your recipe sounds delicious… Especially with that non dairy cream on top! I think apple crumble is my favourite. I’m missing out this year, though- we have an apple tree in our backyard that always produces enough for a few pies and tarts and crumbles!
Wow, so impressed with your apple crop? Did you have to climb the tree to pick them all or did you wait for them to fall? Really like the idea of using coconut butter instead of dairy. Will have to get the Suma canteen chefs to give it a try. Proper wholesome food, well done 🙂
It was a fantastic crop of apples this year! Here in the South West we seemed to have the perfect weather for fruit. The berries were amazing too! We had to use a ladder to get to the apples, then we dropped them down to Lil’ L. Luckily he’s good at catching 😉
Apple crumble will always be one of my top desserts. I grew up with the traditional unhealthier version but love the healthier interpretations these days 🙂