Freshly Picked Blackberry and Apple Crumble

Apple and Blackberry Crumble

I have been meaning for quite a while to blog a recipe which uses blackberries – we have a whole ice cream tub full left over from last year, and the blackberry season is already upon us! Blackberry and apple crumble being one of my favourite desserts I felt I couldn’t justify not doing this recipe first. Since this is a blog about frugal food and blackberries are free for almost everyone, they are everywhere after all, this seems like an ideal ingredient to use.

Everyone should really be going blackberry picking at this time of year, I can almost guarantee that just around the corner from most people’s houses, even if you live in a city, is a blackberry bush in some form. They really are ridiculously common, and there isn’t anything quite like freshly picked fruit!

I was wondering what everyone’s preference for crumble topping was? Usually we have a basic flour, sugar and butter mix – which is amazing – but this time I thought I’d try the increasingly popular oat version. It’s healthier, more filling and tastier yet it is only a smidge more expensive than what one would otherwise pay. However, there are so many more toppings to be had, so what are the preferences of my readers?

Blackberry and Apple Crumble

Serves 10-12

Ingredients:

• Two large Bramley apples

• Several handfuls of freshly picked blackberries

• 1-2 tablespoons of golden caster sugar

For the oat topping:

• 200g flour, self-raising or plain

• 100g porridge or rolled oats

• 150g golden caster sugar

• 150g butter, I used clover

Method:

1. To make the filling, peel and chop up the apples into slices around 1cm thick. Add these to a splash of water and the sugar in a sauce pan. Cook for a few minutes on a medium heat before adding the blackberries and cooking for a further 2 minutes.

2. Pre-heat the oven to 180C. To make the topping rub together the butter, sugar and flour until it can form a ball as pictured. Add the oats and mix together thoroughly until they look like large breadcrumbs.

3. Layer the ingredients in a large oven dish, fruit first with the crumble topping unsurprisingly on top. Do this as evenly as possible. Cook in the oven until golden, this should take 10-15 minutes.

Cost: This recipe makes a very large crumble and will cost a very reasonable £1.70. Of course if you have to buy blackberries, which I advise against, this will cost a little more – hence the advice.

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By Admin | August 6, 2011 | Baking, British, Recipes, Vegetarian | 55 Comments |

55 thoughts on “Freshly Picked Blackberry and Apple Crumble”

  1. bitsandbreadcrumbs

    I love crumbles and crisps, and this one looks lovely! You have a very nice, and well thought out blog and I really like the apple header, did you draw it? I’m enjoying reading and will continue to pop back in, plus, I do believe in good doses of frugality in life and feel it makes one think and eat more creatively!

    Reply ↓
  2. freshsheetnutrition

    Blackberries are one of my favourite things and I love that anyone can just pick them (provided they grow in your area!) Vancouver is loaded with blackberry bushes. And by substituting honey for sugar (with a bit of know how), this can be a totally local food recipe too. Eating well CAN be frugal…thanks for the great post!

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