In this crumble, the cooking apples collapse to a purée that is a nice contrast to chunks of cooked pear. Use any kind of pear; windfalls and firm ones are fine. Demerara sugar adds a good crunch to the topping, as well as flavour.
Ingredients
For the crumble topping
100g/3½oz cold butter, cut into small pieces
125g/4½oz plain flour
75g/2½oz demerara sugar
75g/2½oz roughly chopped nuts (optional)
For the filling
500g/1lb 2oz cooking apples (2 medium–large)
400g/14oz pears (2 medium–large)
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/½in pieces. Quarter and core the pears and cut into 3cm/1¼in 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 together. 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.
In other news – Banana and chocolate brownie pudding – Recipe
This decadent pudding is a great way to use up leftover bananas. Leave out the rum if making with children. Learn more
Source: BBC FOODS
