Salted Caramel Apple Crumble | Greedy Gourmet

Question 1

Crisp, crumble or cobbler… what’s the difference?

Accepted Answer

There is very little difference between them actually! It’s all in the details.

Apple crumble

The apple is normally sauteed in butter before being baked. The topping traditionally consists of flour, sugar and butter.

Apple crisp

While in the UK, the terms apple crisp and apple crumble are used to mean the same thing, in America they differ. Apple crisp has the addition of oats in the topping, much like this recipe. Check out this Apple Crisp if thats what you're looking for.

So, if you’re in the US, feel free to think of this as an apple crisp recipe!

Interestingly, the origins of apple crisp actually predate apple crumble. The first mention of apple crisp is way back in 1924, in an everyday US cookbook.

Apple cobbler

Cobblers usually have a deeper filling with a thick crust, often made from biscuits or pie dough. They originated in British American colonies as a cheaper way to make puddings in the autumn/fall.

A popular US variation on an apple cobbler is a Brown Betty, made with alternating layers of apple filling and crumbs.

Question 2

Why add salted caramel to apple crumble?

Accepted Answer

Baked apple crumbles can sometimes taste too sour. This is because the tartness of the apple needs to be sweetened and, oftentimes, isn’t sweetened enough.

While most apple crumble recipes call for a certain amount of sugar, this doesn’t always add up to a satisfying taste. That’s why I’ve gone for something that’s not just sweet, but brings a more complex flavour to bring some harmony to the flavour of the apple.

With hints of sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness and an umami quality, salted caramel brings a completely different dimension to this classic recipe.

Question 3

What salted caramel sauce should I use?

Accepted Answer

For this salted caramel apple crumble recipe, I’ve gone for Bad Brownie's Salted Caramel Sauce. Of course, if you’ve got the time, you can make your own homemade salted caramel sauce for an extra special apple crumble.

Question 4

What are the best apples to use for this recipe?

Accepted Answer

There are a variety of different cooking apples you can use in this recipe. Here are some of my favourites:

Granny Smith
Crisp and hard with a very sharp taste, these tart cooking apples are the best for this recipe.

Bramley

This robust apple is perfect for cooking with, as it holds its texture. Large in size and tangy in taste, Bramley apples are more popular in the UK and Ireland than Granny Smith.

Golden Delicious

They have a sweeter, more mellow flavour than Granny Smith or Bramley apples.

Pink lady

A good all-rounder, Pink Lady apples are on the sweeter side, although they don’t hold up as well as Granny Smith or Bramley when baked.

Question 5

Is this salted caramel apple crumble gluten free?

Accepted Answer

No, it’s not, as plain flour is used for the crumble topping and the salted caramel sauce contains gluten.

Question 6

What do you do with leftover salted caramel apple crumble?

Accepted Answer

If you summon up the ability to resist scoffing the lot in one go, you can keep your apple crumble leftovers fresh for up to four days. Just place the leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.

Question 7

Can you freeze it?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can! Store apple crumble in a freezer safe airtight container and keep it in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Question 8

How do I reheat the leftovers?

Accepted Answer

The easiest way is to pop your apple crumble onto a microwaveable plate, loosely cover and microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.

You can also reheat your leftovers in the oven. Just place it in an oven dish and heat at 180°C/356°F for 5 to 10 minutes.

Question 9

Why is my apple crumble not crunchy?

Accepted Answer

The most common reason for this is the type of sugar used. Brown demerrera sugar gets the best results, ensuring your crumble is golden brown and crunchy.

Another reason could be that the ratio of flour to butter is off. You need just the right balance to achieve that perfect crunch.

So, follow the recipe precisely and you should be fine.

Description

Ingredients

Apple Filling

Crumble Topping

Decoration

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition