Apple Crumble Bars | Vegan Apple Recipes | Two Spoons (2024)

FAQs

Can I use eating apples instead of cooking apples in a crumble? ›

Cooking notes

I use eating rather than cooking apples for this recipe as they are sweeter and do not need cooking before they are put in the crumble.

Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

In a large bowl, toss together apples, granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; transfer to prepared dish. In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter with brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in 1 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt until large pieces form. Scatter over filling.

Dessert-wise, in this case, specifically apple centric, pie would be the apple filling encased in upper and lower pastry sheets with a nice decorative crimp at the join. A crumble is most usually the Apple filling directly in the dish with a crumble topping, most often basically made up of sugar, butter and flour.

If you can't find cooking apples then a sharp green eating/regular apple is the best alternative and we usually suggest using Granny Smith apples. You should use the same amount of apple, regardless of the type.

I usually give them a short blast in the microwave; not long enough to send them to mush, but just enough to keep their shape and texture and the oven will do the rest. I usually slice the apples quite thinly then put the crumble mixture on top and put the dish on a baking sheet. I part cook the apples.

This has led some historians to believe that Betty was the name of the cook and creator of the recipe and that brown was in reference to her skin color.

An apple brown betty is a variation on the classic apple crisp or apple crumble, but with some slight differences. In this traditional dessert, fruit—usually apples, but others can be used—is baked in layers with sweetened, toasted crumbs that turns into a golden, crumbly finish when done.

Best Apple Crumble Recipe Tips

For this recipe, you'll need excellent baking apples. They should have a firm texture and hold their shape when cooked. Some of my favorite types of apples for baking include Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith apples. Choose just one, or use a mix!

However, we also love adding porridge oats for extra chewiness, as in these recipes for very-berry oat crumble and American-style apple crisp. Chopped and toasted nuts such as pecans, almonds or hazelnuts also make a lovely addition to a traditional crumble, for taste as well as an extra-crunchy texture.

How do you make Aunt Bessie apple crumble mix? ›

There is no difference, crumble and streusel can sometimes be different but in this case they are the same. The streusel or crumble is made from butter, flour, sugar, and vanilla.

Yes, peeling the apples needs to be done before making an apple crisp. Unlike the flesh of the apple, baking the skin won't make it tender and delicious. Sure, it'll be less crisp, but more like soggy fish skin than crisp inviting apple skin. A crisp bake with the skin on the apples would be gross.

Apple crisp is a dessert made with a streusel topping. In the US, it is also called apple crumble, a word which refers to a different dessert in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Ingredients usually include cooked apples, butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and often oats and brown sugar, ginger, and/or nutmeg.

Truly the only difference between your traditional pie and a Dutch Apple Pie is the topping. Dutch Apple or Apple Crumble Pie is simply an apple pie with a crumb or streusel topping as opposed to a pastry crust topping.

You can use any eating apples that are in season, or any that you have to hand, but my favourites are Cox's Orange Pippins and Braeburn apples for flavour.

For the best pies, crisps, and other baked treats, apples need to be firm enough to hold their own during the cooking process. We call these apples “baking apples” and to namedrop, they include Braeburn, Cortland, Honey Gold, Jonathan, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Haralson, and Newtown Pippin.

A cooking apple such as the Bramley apple or Granny Smith can be eaten like eating apples, or dessert apples, however their sharp taste means these apples are generally best enjoyed as a baked apple within a dessert or apple sauce.