Apple and blackberry crumble
Apple and blackberry crumble is the most comforting of desserts. A simple fruity filling with a sweet crunchy topping, it’s so easy it’s the perfect pudding for kids and beginner bakers to try.
Apple and blackberry crumble is a delicious autumnal dessert (although that’s not to stop you enjoying it all year round or whenever you can find blackberries). The addition of blackberries takes a plain apple crumble to the next level and is a great way of using up beautiful fresh blackberries (or brambles as they’re known in our house).
There’s no easier dessert to make than a delicious crumble. With a simple fruity filling and crunchy crumble topping, kids and beginner bakers can have this dessert ready in no time.
How can kids help to make apple and blackberry crumble?
A crumble really is the easiest of desserts to make so is a great dish for kids to help with. In fact, it was probably one of the first things I ever made with my kids when they were younger.
Making a crumble topping is very simple and doesn’t need any special equipment. Your kids can measure the ingredients out and then rub them together with their fingers until you’ve made the crumble topping. It’s that easy.
Children can also help to prepare the fruit. Older children will be able to peel and chop the apples. But even younger children can help with this: if you start and cut the apples into quarters or smaller even toddlers can cut the apples into chunks with a blunt knife.
Finally, kids can also arrange the fruit and crumble topping in the dish.
What apples are best for apple crumble?
I like an apple with a slight tartness to it to balance the sweetness of the crumble topping. Granny Smith apples, Bramley apples or even Braeburn apples all work well in a crumble.
Do I have to peel the apples for the crumble?
It’s entirely up to you whether you peel the apples or no. You can leave the apple peels on for added texture and nutrition, or peel them, like we have, if you prefer a smoother filling.
Can I use frozen blackberries and apples for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen fruits if fresh ones are not available, or if you have a glut of fruit in autumn, pop it in the freezer to make crumble later in the year. Just be sure to thaw and drain them before using them.
Why is my crumble topping not crunchy?
Crumbles can end up a bit dry if you don’t use enough butter. If your crumble is too crumbly, simply try adding a little bit more butter. Either rub it in, or melt it and add it in that way. Also ensure when you add your crumble topping, you do it evenly, and don’t press down too firmly.
What do you serve apple and blackberry crumble with?
Crumbles are delicious on their own, but if you want to really treat yourself add a serving of custard or vanilla ice cream.
Can you freeze a blackberry and apple crumble?
Yes. Once the crumble has been baked and cooled, you can wrap it well and put it in the freezer. It will keep in the freezer for a few months. To serve it, defrost it and reheat it in the oven until the filling is piping hot.
Can you reheat a cooked crumble?
Yes. We never finish a crumble in one sitting. You can reheat it in the oven the next day on a medium heat i the oven for about 20 minutes.
How do you store a fruit crumble?
We always keep our crumble in the fridge, but if don’t have any space you can keep it out overnight, covered at room temperature.
Other crumble recipes
If you like this apple and blackberry crumble, why not try one of our other easy crumble recipes:
Apple crumble
Peach crumble
Rhubarb crumble
Caramel apple crumble
Plum and apple crumble
Strawberry crumble
Pear crumble
Or if you have more blackberries needing used up, why not try one of these recipes:
Apple and blackberry crumble
Blackberry scones
Blackberry muffins
Useful equipment
You might need the following baking tools/gadgets to make this apple and blackberry crumble:
Digital scales
Mixing bowl
Food processor
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Pie dish
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Ingredients
For the filling
2 large apples
150g (1 cup) blackberries
3 tbsp demerara sugar
1 tsp cornflour
For the crumble
150g (1 cup) plain flour
75g (1/3 cup) butter
75g (rounded 1/3 cup) demerara sugar
How to make apple and blackberry crumble
Preheat your oven to 190C / 170C / 375F
Make the crumble topping
Get your kids to measure out the flour and butter and add them to a large mixing bowl or food processor. Using your fingers, rub the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. It’s alright to leave a few chunks of butter rather than making it very fine as it will add to the texture of the crumble.
Alternatively, you can pulse the butter and flour together in a food processor until you have your breadcrumb mixture, just be sure not to do it too much.
Measure the sugar and add that to your mixing bowl then mix it in.
Set the crumble aside for now.
Prepare the apple and blackberry filling
Get your kids to help peel and chop the apples. If you core and quarter the apples, your kids should be able to cut the apples into smaller pieces with a blunt knife. Or use an apple slicer, then get your kids to cut the apple slices into chunks.
Put the apples into a pan with the blackberries, sugar and cornflour. Heat everything for five minutes or so until the fruit has just started to soften and some of the juices have come out.
Make the apple and blackberry crumble
Pour the apples and blackberries into an oven proof dish (we use a large pie dish). Spread the fruit around so it’s nicely spread over the base of the dish.
Now get your kids to add the crumble on top. Add it so that you get even coverage over the fruit.
Bake the apple and blackberry crumble
Bake the crumble for about 40 minutes. It’s ready when the crumble has turned a nice golden brown colour. Any fruit you can see should be bubbling.
Serve and enjoy.
Apple and blackberry crumble
Equipment
- Digital scales
- Mixing bowl
- Food processor
- Measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Pie dish
Ingredients
For the filling
- 2 large apples
- 150 g (1 cup) blackberries
- 3 tbsp demerara sugar
- 1 tsp cornflour
For the crumble
- 150 g (1 cup) plain flour
- 75 g (⅓ cup) butter
- 75 g (rounded ⅓ cup) demerara sugar
Instructions
Make the crumble topping
- Measure out the flour and butter and add them to a large mixing bowl or food processor. Using your fingers, rub the flour and butter together until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.
- Alternatively, you can pulse the butter and flour together in a food processor until you have your breadcrumb mixture, just be sure not to do it too much.
- Measure the sugar and add that to your mixing bowl then mix it in.
Prepare the apple and blackberry filling
- Peel and chop the apples into chunks.
- Put the apples into a pan with the blackberries, sugar and cornflour. Heat everything for five minutes or so until the fruit has just started to soften and some of the juices have come out.
Make the apple and blackberry crumble
- Pour the apples and blackberries into an oven proof dish. Spread the fruit around so it's nicely spread over the base of the dish. Add the crumble on top so that you get even coverage over the fruit.
Bake the apple and blackberry crumble
- Bake the crumble for about 40 minutes. It's ready when the crumble has turned a nice golden brown colour. Any fruit you can see should be bubbling.
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If you liked this apple and blackberry crumble you’ll love our blackberry scones other easy desserts as well as our favourite easy recipes for kids.
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