Blackberry and Apple Crumble – A Nutty Ginger Twist On An Old Classic
The season of mellow fruitfulness is now upon us. I have a bag full of apples from my mother’s garden and blackberries abound in our Cornish hedgerows. Inevitably, a blackberry and apple crumble will make its way onto our early autumn dinner table. In truth, this time of year is just not complete without one.
The Humble Crumble
The humble crumble, is really the king of puds. It’s easy to make and can turn pretty much any seasonal fruit into a melting, comforting bowl of deliciousness. A dollop of Cornish clotted cream or a spoonful of warm homemade custard completes this most classic of British puddings. This blackberry and apple crumble is our first of the season. It’s spiced with warming ginger and includes walnuts in the crumble topping for additional taste and texture.
Freezing Blackberries
I used blackberries from a foraging expedition last week, which I’d frozen for just such an occasion. I’ve only recently figured out the secret to freezing berries. I used to just bung all my berries in a bag and stick them in the freezer. They always come out a gungey mess. To be honest, that doesn’t really matter for puddings such as blackberry and apple crumble or for jam making, but recently, I’ve just been wanting a few individual berries to add to my smoothies. I now, freeze the blackberries on a tray in a single layer for just half an hour, before placing them in a bag. This way they remain as individual berries – much more aesthetically pleasing.
Blackberry & Apple Crumble
It should come as no surprise, but I always use wholemeal or spelt flour for my crumble topping. This not only ups the nutritional content of the pudding, but it gives an additional nutty flavour which I really like. Even my friend Andy, who considers himself something of a crumble expert, reckons my crumbles are up there with the best. I like my fruit to err on the sweet rather than tart side, but only just. You may need a bit more sugar if your apples are very acidic or a bit less if you prefer more tartness in your tart.
If the apples are organic and in good condition, I like to keep the peel on. As long as the blackberry and apple crumble is well cooked, the peel isn’t that obvious and it’s a shame to waste such a nutritious part of the fruit. This recipe can easily be scaled up to feed more people.
Blackberry & Apple Crumble – The Recipe
- 80 g wholemeal spelt flour
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 40 g salted butter
- 40 g demerara sugar 2 x 20g
- 20 g walnuts - roughly chopped
- 15 g crystallised ginger - finely chopped
- 1 large cooking apple or 2 small ones - I used an unidentified Cornish variety
- handful of blackberries - fresh or frozen
- splash of water
- Rub the butter into the flour and ground ginger until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Stir in 20g of the sugar, the walnuts and crystallised ginger.
- Wash, quarter and core the apple, but leave the peel on if it's organic and in good condition. Slice finely and lay in the bottom of a small buttered pie dish.
- Scatter the blackberries over the top followed by the remaining sugar.
- Spoon the crumble topping over the top and bake for 25 minutes at 180℃ or until the top has browned and the fruit is cooked. You will need more time if you are making larger quantities.
More sugar may be required if the apples are particularly tart.
Best accompanied by clotted cream or warm custard.
Scale up the recipe for larger quantities.
Link-ups
I’m sending this blackberry and apple crumble off to Katie at Feeding Boys for Simple and in Season.
This blackberry and apple crumble is one of several organic recipes I’m posting for #OrganicSeptember, which is all about making small changes this year.
The apple I used was a windfall and needed using quickly before it bruised and spoiled, so this goes to the No Waste Food Challenge at Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary.
Other recipes for fruit crumble you might like
- Blackberry and rose crumble via Baking Queen
- Chocolate chip apple crumble via Tin and Thyme
- Plum and orange oat crumble via Farmersgirl Kitchen
- Rhubarb and gingey crumble via Gingey Bites
Keep in Touch
If you make this blackberry & apple crumble, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or via social media. A photo is always good too. For more delicious and nutritious recipes, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Gingey Bites
16th September 2016 at 10:51 amYum, just love crumble and the addition of ginger is perfect!
Choclette
16th September 2016 at 9:14 pmHaha yes, how could you not approve?
Lucy
16th September 2016 at 10:56 amMmm the topping looks wonderful with the spelt flour, walnuts and ginger, this sounds delicious. I need to get foraging!
Choclette
16th September 2016 at 9:14 pmOh yes, don’t miss the bramble season Lucy 🙂
Sarah, Maison Cupcake
16th September 2016 at 11:04 amWho doesn’t love a humble crumble? I often keep bags of crumble mix and fruit in my freezer so I can chuck one in the oven any moment for easy home made comfort pudding.
Choclette
16th September 2016 at 9:13 pmNow that is an excellent idea Sarah. I do wish I could get more organised.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
16th September 2016 at 11:18 amWe are fans of crumble :-)) Love the addition of crystallised ginger in awesome recipe.
Choclette
16th September 2016 at 9:12 pmThanks Angie. Crumbles are such perfect comfort food.
Katie Bryson
16th September 2016 at 11:21 amOh how I love autumn and a steaming bowl of crumble drizzled with lots and lots of custard! I love how you’ve customised the topping with nuts and ginger, I bet that’s super tasty 🙂 Thanks so much for hooking up with this month’s round of Simple and in Season xxx
Choclette
16th September 2016 at 9:11 pmThanks Katie. I can’t resist adding extras to my crumble toppings.
Dom
18th September 2016 at 1:20 pmoh I love this time of year for berries and crumbles… LOVE the ginger twist here. Beautiful stuff
Choclette
20th September 2016 at 4:36 pmThanks Dom. Autumn most certainly has its compensations 🙂
nadia
19th September 2016 at 11:31 amOh yum! Its funny I never used to like fruity desserts but now I can’t get enough of them! Strange how your taste buds change over time. This looks so delicious and comforting with a generous serving of homemade custard 😀
Choclette
20th September 2016 at 4:33 pmThanks Nadia. Fruity desserts weren’t my favourite when I was young either, so a maturing palate must surely be a “thing”.
Jill @ MadAboutMacarons
20th September 2016 at 3:36 pmI adore the look of this crumble. Lovely crunch with the toasted walnuts and the crystallised ginger just adds that lovely warm punch. I’d even just eat this on its own, without any ice cream or custard 🙂
Choclette
20th September 2016 at 4:31 pmOr even clotted cream Jill? Thank you, there’s a reason why crumble is such a favourite pud.
Kate - gluten free alchemist
20th September 2016 at 9:44 pmIf there’s crumble to be had, then it MUST be Autumn! The most comforting pud on the planet…. for sure. Nice addition of ginger and walnut…. I have a real thing for walnuts right now…. in fact I get a real thing for walnuts this time every year!
Freezing blackberries (and other fruit) in a single layer on a tray is definitely the way to go….. or so my mother taught me many (many many) years ago! x
Choclette
23rd September 2016 at 8:07 amAh, you were lucky Kate. We used to freeze masses of fruit when I was young, but we never discovered this method. Much more elegant. Now autumn I’ve accepted that Autumn is actually here, I’m embracing it – just need to find some fresh walnuts.
Nayna Kanabar
25th September 2016 at 10:19 pmI adore the idea of adding ginger I am going to try this as I love ginger spice very much.
Choclette
26th September 2016 at 10:09 pmI often add ginger to my crumbles. It goes brilliantly with rhubarb too.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
26th September 2016 at 11:35 amO that’s lovely! The ginger adds that perfect spice and I just love fruit crumbles!
Choclette
26th September 2016 at 10:10 pmThere’s nothing quite like a crumble at this time of year Rebecca and the ginger adds a nice bit of extra heat 🙂
Elizabeth
7th October 2016 at 7:49 amMmm I’m loving the sound of this! So wonderful to have wild fruit to use too. Thank you for sharing with the No Waste Food Challenge!
Choclette
7th October 2016 at 7:56 amThanks Elizabeth. I grew up with blackberries all around in the hedgerows (and our garden) and sometimes forget not everyone has such easy access to them.