Dessert

Apple and pear crumble

Summer

Nothing is better than homemade crumble

At a Glance

Servings:

Serves 8

Difficulty:

Easy

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cooking Time:

45 mins

What you'll need:

For the crumble topping
100g butter, cut into small pieces
125g plain flour
75g demerara sugar
75g roughly chopped nuts (optional)

For the filling

500g royal gala apples
400g snacking pears
½ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp runny honey
yoghurt, custard or cream, to serve

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5.
To make the crumble topping, put the butter in a large mixing bowl and add the flour. Use the tips of your fingers to rub the butter into the flour until you have a texture like large breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and the chopped nuts, if using.
To make the filling, peel, quarter and core the apples and cut into 1cm. Quarter and core the pears and cut into 3cm chunks crosswise (no need to peel). Spread the fruit in a shallow ovenproof dish about 30x20cm/12x8in and about 5cm/2in deep. Sprinkle over the cinnamon, drizzle over the honey (dip the spoon in just-boiled water first and the honey will slide off), pour over 120ml/4fl oz of water and mix. Cover the fruit with the crumble topping, but do not press it down.
Bake the crumble for 45–55 minutes, or until the top is lightly brown and the liquid in the bottom is oozing up around the outside. Serve warm or hot with yoghurt, custard or, best of all, cold cream.