Mary Berry Apple Crumble Recipe

Mary Berry Apple Crumble is a classic British dessert made with tender baked apples topped with a golden, buttery crumble. The filling is soft, fruity, and lightly sweet, while the topping delivers a delicious crisp texture that contrasts beautifully with the apples underneath. This recipe is simple enough for beginners and makes a comforting dessert for family dinners, holidays, or weekend baking. With just a few everyday ingredients, you can have this traditional apple crumble ready in about 1 hour.

Ingredients

For the Apple Filling

• 900g cooking apples (such as Bramley), peeled, cored, and sliced
• 75g caster sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp water

For the Crumble Topping

• 175g plain flour
• 110g unsalted butter, chilled and diced
• 75g light brown sugar
• 25g rolled oats (optional)

How to Make Mary Berry Apple Crumble Recipe

• Prepare the oven: Preheat the oven to 200°C or 180°C fan. Place a shelf in the middle of the oven so the crumble cooks evenly and develops a golden topping.
• Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and slice the apples into even pieces. Place them in a saucepan with the caster sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and water.
• Cook the filling: Cook the apples over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes until they begin to soften but still hold their shape. Transfer the mixture to a medium baking dish.
• Make the crumble topping: Place the flour in a large bowl and rub in the chilled butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
• Add the sugar: Stir in the brown sugar and rolled oats until evenly combined.
• Assemble the crumble: Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apple filling without pressing it down.
• Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling around the edges.
• Cool slightly: Remove from the oven and allow the crumble to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Tips for the Best Mary Berry Apple Crumble

How do I keep the crumble topping crunchy?

Use cold butter and avoid overmixing the topping. A coarse breadcrumb texture creates the best crunch.

Which apples work best for apple crumble?

Bramley apples are traditional because they soften beautifully and provide a pleasant tart flavor.

Can I make the crumble topping ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the topping up to 2 days ahead and keep it refrigerated until needed.

How do I prevent a watery filling?

Cook the apples briefly before baking and avoid adding too much liquid.

Can I add extra flavor?

A pinch of nutmeg, mixed spice, or a handful of chopped nuts can add extra depth and texture.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve warm with vanilla custard.
• Enjoy with pouring cream.
• Pair with vanilla ice cream.
• Serve with whipped cream for special occasions.
• Add a sprinkle of cinnamon before serving.

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature

Allow the crumble to cool completely and keep covered for up to 12 hours.

Refrigerator

Store in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly. It will keep well for up to 4 days.

Freezing

Freeze baked apple crumble for up to 3 months. Wrap securely and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition Information

• Calories: 320 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Sodium: 40mg

Nutrition values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and serving sizes used.

FAQs

Mary Berry Apple Crumble Recipe

Recipe by Milli RoseCourse: DessertCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

Traditional Mary Berry Apple Crumble with soft cinnamon-spiced apples and a crisp buttery crumble topping. A comforting British dessert perfect with custard, cream, or ice cream.

Ingredients

• 900g cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced

• 75g caster sugar

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 2 tbsp water

• 175g plain flour

• 110g unsalted butter, chilled and diced

• 75g light brown sugar

Directions

• Preheat oven to 200°C or 180°C fan.
• Prepare and slice the apples.
• Cook apples with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and water until slightly softened.
• Transfer apples to a baking dish.
• Rub butter into flour until breadcrumb texture forms.
• Stir in brown sugar and oats if using.
• Sprinkle topping evenly over the apples.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden and bubbling.
• Cool slightly before serving.

Notes

• Use Bramley apples for the most authentic flavor.
• Cold butter creates the crunchiest crumble topping.
• Serve warm with custard, cream, or vanilla ice cream.