Irish Apple Crumble
The smell of an apple crumble baking in the oven is both comforting and drool-worthy!
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I love a good crumble and today, I’m making one of my favorites. Apple crumbles are a delicious dessert made with baked apples topped with oats and sugar, then baked until soft, warm, and gooey. Why stop there? A dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of cool vanilla ice cream to melt over the top is an even better way to enjoy a warm apple crumble. Oh, maybe a little bit of caramel sauce, too…
My apple crumble is a delightful end to a beautiful meal, especially my St. Patrick’s Day menu. I start with sliced Granny Smith apples; they’re firm and tart, making them ideal for baking. The apples are tossed with cinnamon, brown sugar, and lemon juice. I scoop the apples into the awaiting ramekins and then prepare the crumble topping.
Rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and unsalted butter are mixed with the two best kitchen tools – a pair of clean hands. I kind of pinch and mash the ingredients until it reaches a roughly pea-sized chunkiness. I evenly distribute the crumble topping over the apples and then place them into the oven to bake for about 30 minutes. The smell of an apple crumble baking in the oven is both comforting and drool-worthy!
I could stop here but why? I want to serve these warm apple crumbles with a homemade caramel sauce flavored with the familiar taste of Baileys Irish Cream. As always when dealing with hot sugar on a stove, use caution! Sugar and water are the base of the caramel sauce, followed by room-temperature heavy cream (room temperature is important to avoid risky splatters of boiling sugar). I’m adding a touch of Baileys Irish Cream; it’s a rich and smooth liquor with a kind of boozy chocolate and cream flavor that works deliciously with the fresh caramel sauce.
Ok, time to serve! A scoop of vanilla ice cream over each ramekin along with a very generous drizzle of Baileys caramel sauce, and the last “ingredient” you’ll need is a spoon! An Irish Apple Crumble is a delicious end to a delightful meal, a treat that can be enjoyed anytime but seems even more so on a festive occasion. My Lucky Irish menu also included Irish Cheddar Scallion Biscuits, Gaelic Irish Steaks with Whiskey Cream and Colcannon, and Roasted Root Vegetables and Burnt Honey.
Irish Apple Crumble
Yield(s): Serves 6
15m prep time
30m cook time
you're making mealtime meaningful.
Ingredients
- 8 granny smith apples, peeled, cored & sliced
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 lemon, juice
- Vanilla bean ice cream, for serving
For crumble:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup butter, cubed
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
For Baileys caramel:
- 1 1/3 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup Baileys Irish cream
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. and prepare a sheet tray with ramekins.
- In a large bowl, toss the apples with cinnamon and lemon juice, then pack apples into each ramekin.
- Make the crumble topping using another large bowl, dump all ingredients into the bowl and using your finger tips, work the butter into the flour mixture until little pea size pieces start to form.
- Top mixture on top of apples and bake for 30 - 40 minutes or until golden brown on top.
- Make the caramel with a small saucepan over medium high heat. Stir together the sugar and water until it dissolves.
- Stop whisking the caramel until it starts to turn golden, then gently move the pan to evenly brown the sugar. Add in the heavy cream, baileys cream, and salt, then turn off the heat.
- Add butter one tablespoon at a time until incorporated.
- Finish apple crumbles with ice cream and a drizzle of baileys caramel. Enjoy!