Apple Crumble

After a hard day at work (and I've been having a lot of those lately), I just want to go home where it is warm and relaxing, and eat something yummy. The other day, I was about to leave work when I heard some ladies talk about apple crumble. And that was it. I wanted apple crumble and I wanted it BAD.

Apple crumble or apple pie have been one of my all time favourite desserts since I was a wee little thing. Warm, with ice cream, it is the ultimate in comfort food for me. To satisfy that craving, I decided to make apple crumble this weekend, and it was meant to be as apples are in season at the moment and ridiculously cheap - I saw them today at the local green grocers for less than $2 a kilogram!

A short period later, I turned my craving into a reality. Hot apple crumble, warm from the oven, with a scoop of ice cream. Perfect.

Ingredients

6 apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges
1/4 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
100g butter, chilled
1/2 cup loosely filled (i.e. not packed in) brown sugar
1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup dessicated coconut

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. In a saucepan, place the apple, sugar and cinnamon. Fill with enough water to just cover the apple, and then place on the stove over medium heat.
3. Bring the apple to the boil and then turn off the heat and drain immediately. Leave the apple to cool while you prepare the crumble.

4. Cut the butter into tiny cubes - this will make it easier when you rub it in with the other ingredients - and place in a mixing bowl.
5. Add the flour, brown sugar, oats and coconut, and then using your hands, rub the butter into the dry ingredients using your fingertips. This will take a few minutes and you want to get it to a crumb / small bits.

6. In your ovenproof dish, spread out the apple - you can also toss in some frozen blueberries if you have any - and then spoon the crumble over the top. It may seem like you have too much crumble, but layer it on thick - you'll wish for it later if you don't!
7. Place it into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes - keep your eye on it, you'll want it to be a lovely golden brown on the top.

8. Remove from the oven and let it cool for about 5-10 minutes before spooning it out, adding some ice-cream, and then indulge your craving!

In a pinch, if you badly want apple crumble and don't want to go to the trouble of stewing your own apples (even though it only takes a few minutes), then you can use tinned apple pie filling - go for a 800g tin. The rest of the ingredients you should normally have around the house - I do in mine!

Is there anything better than satisfying a craving that has been lingering for days? I think not!

thesuzchef x