Äppelsmulpaj

Ingredients

• 5applepeeled, cored, cut into thin wedges
• 3½ ozbutterfor the crumble, a little extra for greasing the dish
• 3½ ozflourfor the crumble
• 1¾ ozrolled oatsfor the crumble
• 3½ ozsugarpartly over the apples, partly in the crumble
• 1 tspcinnamonsprinkled over the apples
• 1 pinchsaltin the crumble
• 1¾ oznutsroughly chopped, over the apples or in the crumble (optional)
• ½ tspgingerover the fruit alongside the cinnamon (optional)

Method

1. Prepare the oven and dishHeat the oven to 200–435 °F and grease an ovenproof dish with a little butter.
2. Slice the applesPeel and core the apples, then cut them into thin wedges.
3. Season and layer the applesPut the apple wedges in the dish, sprinkle with part of the sugar and the cinnamon, and toss well. If you like, add ground ginger and the chopped pecans or almonds over the apples as well.
4. Make the crumbleFor the crumble, put the butter, plain flour, rolled oats, the rest of the sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl and rub everything together with your fingertips into coarse crumbs. The nuts can go in here instead, if you prefer.
5. Top the apples with crumbleScatter the crumble evenly over the apples.
6. Bake until goldenBake the äppelsmulpaj on the middle shelf of the oven for about 25–35 minutes, until the crumble is golden brown.
7. Cool briefly and serveLet it cool for a few minutes, then serve warm with vanilla sauce or vanilla ice cream.

Tips and variations

Pears or berries can be added alongside the apples. For a richer version, pour a homemade salted caramel sauce made from glucose, sugar, cream, butter and flaky salt over the apples, and add pecans and vanilla sugar. For a wholefood take, use spelt flour, ground almonds or nuts, desiccated coconut or seeds in the crumble along with cane sugar; the butter can be swapped for coconut oil. If you want the fruit especially soft, bake it on its own for 20 minutes first and chill the crumble briefly in the meantime. Instead of vanilla sauce or ice cream, cream, soured cream or Greek yoghurt are good too.