Brown Butter Apple Crumble
There's regular apple crumble, and then there's brown butter apple crumble. And once you've tried this version, there's no going back. The filling starts with tart Granny Smith apples tossed in cinnamon, a touch of cardamom, and a squeeze of lemon, then baked until they collapse into a bubbling, jammy layer that's sweet without being cloying.
The crumble topping is where the real magic happens. Browning the butter before mixing it into the oat-flour-sugar mixture creates these nutty, toffee-scented clusters that bake into a shattering golden crust. It's the kind of topping you'll catch yourself eating straight off the baking sheet.
Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a generous pour of cold heavy cream. This is a dessert that fills the whole house with the kind of smell that makes everyone wander into the kitchen asking when it'll be ready.
Ingredients
- ● 6 medium Granny Smith apples
- ● 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- ● 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- ● 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats
- ● 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- ● 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- ● 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- ● 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- ● 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ● 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ● 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ● 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- 1Preheat your oven to 375°F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish or a 10-inch cast iron skillet.
- 2Brown the butter: melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat, swirling occasionally. Cook until the milk solids turn deep golden and smell nutty, about 5-6 minutes. Immediately pour into a heatproof bowl and let cool for 10 minutes.
- 3Toss the apple slices with the granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, cardamom, lemon juice, cornstarch, and vanilla in a large bowl. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- 4Make the crumble by combining the flour, oats, brown sugar, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Pour the cooled brown butter over the mixture and toss with a fork until clumpy and well combined.
- 5Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the apples, squeezing some of the mixture into larger clumps for texture.
- 6Bake for 35-40 minutes until the topping is deep golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- 7Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving - the filling needs time to thicken. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or cold cream.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 310 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3g |
| Carbohydrates | 48g |
| Fat | 13g |
