autumn berry crumble

Preparation time 10 minutes

Cooking time 10 minutes

Finishing time 20 minutes

Serves 4

300 g (10 oz) cranberries

150 g (5 oz) blackberries

150 g (5 oz) blueberries

4 tablespoons water

75 g (3 oz) caster sugar

Crumble

75 g (3 oz) fresh breadcrumbs

75 g (3 oz) ground almonds

75 g (3 oz) butter, diced

50 g (2 oz) caster sugar

25 g (1 oz) flaked almonds

Put the fruits into a saucepan with the measured water, cover and cook over a gentle heat for 10 minutes or until just tender. Stir in the sugar then tip into a shallow ovenproof dish, leaving room for the crumble. Allow to cool, then cover and chill until required.

To make the crumble, put the breadcrumbs, ground almonds, butter and sugar into a bowl and rub the butter in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Cover and chill until required.

When ready to serve, break up the crumble and sprinkle over the top of the fruit. Sprinkle with the flaked almonds, then bake in a preheated oven, 190°C (375°F), Gas Mark 5, for 20–25 minutes until crisp and golden. Cover with foil after 15 minutes if it is getting too brown. Spoon into bowls and serve with just-melting scoops of vanilla ice cream or hot vanilla custard.

For apple & coconut crumble, peel, core and slice 625 g (1¼ lb) cooking apples, and use instead of the berries. Use desiccated coconut in place of the ground almonds in the crumble and omit the flaked almonds.

 

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