Apple crumble slice with caramel sauce

This apple crumble slice with caramel sauce features a buttery shortcrust crumble enriched with rolled oats and served with a luscious homemade caramel sauce. A wonderful autumn dessert packed with apples. Although it’s not especially tall or showy, I’m certain you’ll fall in love with every bite.

Ingredients for the pastry:

• 150 g cold butter
• ⅓ cup caster sugar
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 1½ cups plain flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup rolled oats
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cut the butter into cubes and place it into a large bowl. Add both sugars, the flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract. Rub everything together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.)

Measure out 2 loosely filled cups of the crumble mixture and set aside. Mix the remaining crumble with the rolled oats and cinnamon – this will become the topping.

Line a 23 cm square baking tin with baking paper. Scatter the reserved 2 cups of crumble over the base, pressing it down lightly into an even layer.

Bake at 180°C for about 18 minutes, or until lightly golden. Meanwhile, prepare the apple filling.

Ingredients for the apple filling:

• 4 large cooking apples*
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Peel, core and quarter the apples, then slice them thinly. Toss with the flour, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice.

To assemble:

Remove the partially baked base from the oven. Spread the apple filling evenly over it, then sprinkle with the oat and cinnamon crumble.

Return to the oven and bake at 180°C for 30–35 minutes, or until golden brown. Leave to cool before serving.

Serve with homemade caramel sauce.

* Popular cooking apples include Bramley in the UK. Other suitable varieties include Cox, Russet and Golden Delicious.

Enjoy!

Recipe source: Celebrating Sweets.