Individual Apple Crumbles

These Individual Apple Crumbles are an easy, no fuss delicious dessert with its own built-in portion control! I'm a BIG fan of individual desserts - they look cute, guarantee that you don't run short before serving the final person and mean that by the time you get to dessert, your work is done … not even any spooning out required! Two of my favourites are Mini Banoffee Trifles and Easy Lemon and Raspberry Cheesecakes but I'm about to add these simple apple crumbles to that collection of true loves.

These mini desserts were inspired by a bunch of sad, old apples winking at me from the fruit bowl. I hate waste and wanted to use them up rather than throwing them away. And I'm SO glad that I did!

The apples are prepared simply with cinnamon and a touch of brown sugar and are topped with an oaty, crunchy crumble topping which is oh, so good.

What exactly do you need to make these Individual Apple Crumbles?

For the crumble topping

• Butter - I used unsalted and used a little extra for greasing the ramekins. It's easiest to work with the butter if it's chilled and cut into small cubes.
• Plain flour - this forms half of the crumble mixture.
• Oats - the oats provide the other half of the crumble mixture and deliver a delicious texture.
• Soft brown sugar

For the apple mixture

• Apples - You need 3 large (or 4 medium) apples for this recipe. Firmer apples are more likely to keep their shape when baked so varieties such as Granny Smith, Jazz and Pink Lady would be ideal. I prefer to peel the apples but you might prefer to leave the skin on.
• Soft brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon

You will also need 6 ovenproof ramekins (the standard 6oz size ie a diameter of 8 ½ cm/3 inches) and a solid baking tray which is large enough to hold all of the ramekins.

How do you make these Individual Apple Crumbles?

This is an easy method which begins with preparing the apple mixture.

1. Peel the apples, chopping them into small pieces and tossing them in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon.
2. Divide the apples between the greased ramekins.

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3. Now prepare the crumble topping - tip the cubed and chilled butter into the flour and lightly rub it together with your fingers until you have 'breadcrumbs'. Add the oats and brown sugar and mix well.
4. Top the apples with enough crumble mixture to almost reach the top of each ramekin. Transfer the filled ramekins onto the baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until a little golden on top.

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FAQs about these Individual Apple Crumbles

Can I prepare the crumbles in advance?
Yes, they store very nicely in the fridge for a couple of days, both uncooked and cooked.
How small should I cut the apples?
Make the pieces quite small (1cm cubes) so that they will pack nicely into the ramekins and will cook quickly and evenly.
Can I reheat the baked crumbles?
Yes, cover with foil (to prevent browning too much) and reheat at 180ºC/160ºC Fan/350ºF (gas mark 4) for about 15 minutes.
How can I make it easier to manoeuvre the little ramekins in and out of the oven?
Definitely use a baking tray to transfer the ramekins to and from the oven.
What if I have leftover crumble mixture?
Any leftover crumble mixture can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Perfect for making a couple of individual crumbles perhaps using another fruit … The crumble topping can also be used for a crunchy trifle garnish.

What do you recommend to serve with the crumbles?
I like mine with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top but you could also try Greek yoghurt, crème fraîche, custard or double cream.

Why will you love this recipe?

• It's easy and quick to prepare and requires no special skills ♡
• The ingredients are ones that you probably already have in the kitchen ♡
• The crumble mixture is basically 'equal quantities of butter, flour, oats and sugar'. You're welcome ♡
• It's a useful recipe for using up those sad, wrinkly apples in the fruit bowl ♡
• It's a dish of simple flavours and will appeal across the generations ♡
• It's a perfect dish for preparing ahead, perhaps for a Sunday lunch or a family gathering ♡
• Leftovers are never wasted and make tasty snacks for the next day ♡

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