When cooking apples are plentiful then be sure to make apple crumble and baked apples to make a welcome change from apple pie and pureed apple. These recipes are a great way to encourage children to eat fruit! Serve apple crumble and baked apples with custard, cream or ice cream, if you wish.
Apple Crumble
(Serves four)
Whole meal flour makes this pudding healthier and gives the crumble topping a more interesting flavor. No need to add sugar to the apple puree as the sharp taste of the apple is a delicious contrast to the buttery sweet crumble topping. If you have a glut of apples in the autumn then use a food dehydrator to preserve slices of apple for use throughout the year. Rehydrated with hot water, dried apple slices make a very good substitute for fresh apples.
Apple Crumble Ingredients
- Six good sized cooking apples
- 4oz (125g) light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 5oz (150g) butter
- 8oz (225g) whole meal flour
How to Make Apple Crumble
- Peel and core the apples and chop roughly.
- Place in a saucepan with a little water and cook on a gentle heat, stirring regularly, until pureed.
- While the apple is cooking, mix together the flour, allspice, baking powder and sugar in a bowl.
- Chop the butter into small pieces then blend into the flour mixture with your fingertips, until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Pour the hot apple puree into a deep ovenproof dish.
- Sprinkle the crumble over the apple.
- Cook at gas mark 5, 190°C, 375°F for 35 minutes.
Baked Apples
(Serves four)
You will be amazed how sour cooking apples are transformed to have a sweet caramel flavored dessert with no sweetening other than a little honey, spice and dried fruit! Rich in fibre and low in fat, baked apples are a great way to enjoy a comfort food without unhealthy ingredients!
Baked Apple Ingredients
- Four good sized cooking apples
- 7oz (200 g) sultanas
- One table spoon honey
- A little strong hot black tea
- A little ground nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon
How to Make Baked Apples
- Pour a little strong hot tea over the sultanas and leave for a few minutes to plump up.
- Drain the sultanas and mix in a bowl with the spices and honey.
- Wash and core the apples using a long sharp knife, and make a shallow cut around the circumference of each apple, just under the skin.
- Spoon the spiced sultana mixture into the centre of each apple.
- Place the apples into a shallow, buttered oven dish.
- Bake at gas mark 5, 190°C, 375°F for 45 minutes.
- If the sultanas on the very top of the apples are a little burnt, discard a few.
- Serve hot with a little of the caramel flavored liquid from the baking dish.
Wholesome, comforting baked apples and apple crumble are special enough for a casual dinner when you invite friends.
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