OK so this is a teensy bit of a cheat in the ‘The Boy Makes’ series. Oscar did indeed help me make this, but only parts of it (for reasons that will become clear). However, this is my first foray into a completely new, throw it together and see what happens recipe and as such I couldn’t not include it here. Plus once you taste it, you’ll thank me forever more!
So a crumble you say. Usually the reserve of Autumnal feasts and its true it does have a taste of the colder weather about it, but it came about because I had a load of fruit that was lying bruised in my fruit bowl. Apples and Pears were what I had so Apple and Pear something it had to be. I chose a crumble because although Ben loves a crumble (as do I) what with one thing and a Slimming World I haven’t made one for ages. It’s not exactly a health food now is it, but I can tell you now making nothing else makes me feel as mumly or wifely or as god damn gorgeous in the kitchen!
Ingredients
- Three ripe pears
- Two large ripe eating apples
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 100ml maple syrup
- 50g cold hard unsalted butter
- 100g plain flour
- 100g caster sugar
- 100g almonds (I used whole ones blitzed in the processor but you could use ready chopped ones)
For the fruit filling
- Peel and chop the fruit into quarters. Core and slice each quarter thinly. This is difficult to have a three year old help with so I did this before he joined in
- Put the fruit into a mixing bowl and add cinnamon and maple syrup. Stir well
- Pour the contents into a suitably homely pie dish
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool
For the topping
- Cube the cold butter and add to the flour
- Rub the butter and flour between the pads of your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs (or as near as damned). Remember as you rub the butter and flour together, to lift it out of the bowl. This adds air and a crispness later. Again this was tricky for the boy to be involved with but he enjoyed watching me!
- Stir through the sugar
- If you are using whole almonds, blitz them in the food processor until evenly chopped. If using chopped almonds open the packet!
- Stir the almonds through the crumb mixture
- Tip the crumb mixture over cooled fruit and bake at 200C or Gas Mark 6 for 30 minutes
Serve as you see fit. I like to serve mine with vanilla ice cream (something about the contrast between hot and cold is just mouth watering), but you could use cream, custard or nothing at all!
Et voila. The very best crumble I have ever eaten. I’m sorry Mum and I’m sorry to both of my Nanna’s, but it really is that good.
I leave the recipe with you, jealous that you get to try it for the first time and hope you love it as much as I do.
You’re very welcome 😉