Description
A festive and comforting Christmas crumble featuring spiced apples, mincemeat, and cranberry sauce, topped with a buttery almond crumble. Served warm with brandy-spiked whipped cream, it’s the perfect holiday dessert to share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Topping
- 200g plain flour
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
- 125g unsalted butter, cold
- 2 tbsp golden caster sugar
- 25g flaked almonds
Filling
- 8 Bramley apples (about 700g), peeled, cored, and sliced
- 200g mincemeat
- 50g cranberry sauce
- 50g light brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 6 tbsp brandy, divided
To Serve
- 300ml double cream
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and crumble topping: Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark 4. In a mixing bowl, combine the plain flour with a little freshly grated nutmeg. Using cold hands, rub the unsalted butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Alternatively, pulse briefly in a food processor for an even crumbly texture. Stir in the golden caster sugar and flaked almonds, then set the topping mixture aside.
- Prepare the fruit filling: Peel, core, and slice the Bramley apples into wedges. Transfer the apple slices to a 25cm ovenproof dish. Add the mincemeat, cranberry sauce, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, mixed spice, and 4 tablespoons of brandy. Stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly with the fruit.
- Assemble and bake: Evenly sprinkle the prepared crumble topping over the fruit mixture in the dish. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling around the edges.
- Prepare the brandy cream: While the crumble is baking, combine the double cream with the remaining 2 tablespoons of brandy in a mixing bowl. Whisk until soft peaks form, creating a light and aromatic whipped cream.
- Serve: Once baked, remove the crumble from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes to settle. Serve warm with the brandy cream on the side for a rich and festive finishing touch.
Notes
- Use Bramley apples for their tartness and ability to hold shape when baked.
- You can substitute brandy with rum or whiskey if preferred.
- For a nut-free version, omit the flaked almonds in the topping.
- Double cream can be replaced with whipping cream, but double cream yields a richer texture.
- Ensure butter is cold when making the crumble topping for best crumbly texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/8 of crumble with cream)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Christmas crumble, spiced apple dessert, mincemeat crumble, festive dessert, holiday crumble, brandy cream
