Apple Crumble (Crisp)

Cozy comfort, and nutritious, too!

Total Time30

Keyword: Breakfasts, Convalescent/Comfort Food, Desserts & Treats, Gluten-Free (or can be), Quick & Easy, Vegetarian (or can be)

Servings:

Calories: 229kcal

Equipment

one 8 x 8 inch oven- and microwave-proof ceramic or glass dish

Ingredients

Fruit layer

2½ lbs apples (about 7-8 medium-sized apples) peeled, cored, cut into 8 segments (I use this gizmo) and then into ¼-inch (or thinner) chunks.
1 tbsp granulated sugar or a little more if your fruits are tart
1 tbsp potato or corn starch
a pinch of ground ginger, cinnamon or cardamom optional; I love using ginger with peaches and rhubarb, cinnamon with apples & plums, and cardamom with pears
2 tbsp lemon juice freshly pressed
⅓ cup orange juice freshly pressed
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 oz fresh blackberries optional; they add a lovely color and are rich in polyphenols

Crumble (Crisp) Topping

⅓ cup traditional rolled oats
⅓ cup sliced almonds
⅓ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour blend (I use King Arthur Mills' Measure for Measure blend)
¼ cup brown sugar
finely grated zest of ½ lemon untreated
½ tsp ground ginger or cinnamon optional
½ stick butter
a pinch of salt

Serve with

Greek yogurt, sour cream, heavy cream, egg custard, cashew cream, or ice cream optional

Instructions

Prepare the fruit: In a microwave- and oven-proof baking dish, combine apple segments, sugar, corn starch, lemon & orange juice, cinnamon and/or ginger, and salt. Mix well so all the ingredients are evenly distributed. If you have time, set aside for ½ hour or so to draw out some juice from the apples.
Cover dish with a plate or plastic wrap (cling film) and microwave on HIGH for 8 minutes; the apples should be cooked through and the juices should be bubbling and slightly thickened. If not, return to the microwave for another 2 minutes, or as often as you need to soften the apples (this depends on the varieties of apples you're using (see post above) and the size of the apple pieces.) Add the blackberries (if using), stir gently to mix, and set aside.
While you are microwaving the apples, preheat the oven to 425℉.
While the apples are in the microwave, make the crumble topping: Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse for about 20-30 seconds, or until the mixture starts to get crumbly. Transfer to a container, cover, and refrigerate until needed. If you don't have a food processor, combine all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl (you may want to chop the almond slices with a chef knife to break them down a little) and rub the butter in with your fingertips. (You can prepare the topping several days ahead of time and refrigerate/freeze it in a Ziploc bag or tightly sealed container).
Once the fruits are cooked to your liking, sprinkle the crumble (crisp) topping evenly over the cooked fruit in the dish. Slide into the preheated oven.
Bake until topping is golden and the fruit juices are bubbling up the sides of the dish -- around 10-12 minutes (set timer).
Serve warm or at room temperature. Leftovers taste great for breakfast, accompanied with a generous serving of Greek yogurt.

Nutrition