Toffee apple crumble (aka caramel apple crisp)

What could be better than toffee apples at this time of year? Why, toffee apple crumble of course!

Toffee apple crumble is as good as it sounds. Tart apples, creamy sweet toffee sauce and a perfectly crunchy crumble topping.

The filling is made with crisp Bramley apples and sweet dates in an indulgent caramel. 

Bramley apples are perfect for this recipe because they have a higher malic acid content and lower sugar levels, so produce a stronger tangier tasting apple after cooking, with a melt in the mouth moist texture. No chewiness here, just YUM!

The dates act like little toffee pieces in the gorgeous filling, and then the whole thing is topped with a warm, ultra-crunchy crumble topping.

Here's the full recipe.

Instructions

To make the filling

Put the cream, butter and sugar in a non-stick pan over a medium heat

Stir until the butter has melted, then continue to heat until you have a thickness resembling thick gravy. It might take up to 10 minutes. Pour into a bowl to cool.

Place the apples in the pan you were using for the sauce and stir in a couple of tablespoons of the toffee sauce.

Cook the apples over a medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly until just soft.

Tip into a greased oven dish.

Pour in the toffee sauce.

Add the dates.

Make the topping

Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan, 400F). Rub the flour and butter together.

Stir in the sugar and cinnamon.

Sprinkle on top of the apples – don't press down.

Time to bake! Put the whole crumble in the oven for 20 minutes until lightly browned and bubbling.

Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving – it will be HOT!

Fancy trying it? Let me know if you do!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect toffee apple crumble

Is toffee apple crumble easy to make?

Yes, this toffee apple crumble is really simple to make, using ingredients you likely have in the cupboard.

It really takes the humble apple crumble to the next level with rich and delicious caramel sauce and the added texture and burst of toffee flavour from the dates.

I’ve kept the crumble topping easy, just using butter flour and sugar with a little cinnamon to add some spice, that lovely warming Autumn aroma will fill the kitchen as the crumble cooks. 

Will I need any special equipment for this toffee apple crumble?

Everything you need to make this recipe should be easy to find in most kitchens. Even if you don’t do a lot of baking you should be able to find everything you need. There is a full list of suggested equipment on the recipe card at the bottom of this page. 

Where can I buy dates?

For this recipe we’re using dried dates, which are the dried sweet fruit from a date palm tree. You should be able to easily find them in the baking aisle of the supermarket with the other dried fruits and nuts, or online.

Dates often come with the stones still in or you can get them with the stones already removed. As we need to cut the dates in half anyway you can remove the stones at this point if you need to.

Dates are a perfect addition to this recipe because of their natural sweetness and toffee like flavour. They soften beautifully as they cook into the apple and caramel sauce, yum. 

How can I tell if butter has gone off?

Butter usually has a fairly long Best Before End date, you can check this as the first step to seeing if your butter has gone off. Check how the butter smells, and taste a small bit if you’re not sure, if it's gone off it will smell and taste rancid or sour and should be fairly obvious. It's also a good idea to check for discolouration and though unlikely, mould may have developed on the butter and this is a sure sign it needs to be thrown out. 

As with all foods butter will go off over time, but if it's not stored correctly this will happen much quicker.

To keep your butter fresher for longer it's best to keep it in the fridge, you can keep it out on the counter but it will go off much quicker, especially if your kitchen is quite warm. Try and keep the wrapper on the butter too, this helps protect it from exposure to light and air which speeds up the spoiling process. It’s a good idea to also keep butter in a sealed container to help protect it. 

Is toffee apple crumble suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this recipe is totally vegetarian as it doesn’t contain any meat or fish products. 

Is toffee apple crumble suitable for vegans?

If this recipe is followed to the letter it is not suitable for vegans as it contains quite a lot of dairy butter and cream.

I haven’t tested this recipe using vegan alternatives yet but you should be able to recreate a vegan version of this recipe if you like.

Instead of dairy butter, you can use a plant-based vegan butter, try and find one with a high-fat content, around 80% is similar to the amount of fats in dairy butter. The cream can also be replaced with a plant-based cream, try and find a thick one similar to double cream if you can. 

Make sure to check anything you might be serving with your crumble is also suitable for vegans. 

Is toffee apple crumble gluten-free?

For the crumble topping I’ve used wheat-based plain flour, so if the recipe is followed it will not be gluten-free. 

That said, you can easily use a gluten-free alternative to make the crumble topping if you want to make this gluten-free.

Whenever baking with gluten-free flour I would recommend using a good quality brand that will most likely be a blend of different gluten-free flours like rice and oats, mixed with a binding agent like xanthan gum to help with the texture. 

When cooking for someone with allergies and intolerances make sure to check all ingredients are suitable, and anything else you might be serving with this crumble. 

Is toffee apple crumble keto-friendly?

As this crumble is made with sugar and flour it's unfortunately too high in carbohydrates to be considered keto-friendly. 

Is toffee apple crumble healthy?

Though this crumble contains the nutrients and vitamins from the apples and dates they are combined with quite a bit of butter, cream, and sugar so this recipe shouldn’t be considered particularly healthy. This is a lovely warming dessert that can be enjoyed on occasion in sensible portions as part of a balanced diet. 

Is toffee apple crumble safe to eat while pregnant?

There is nothing in this recipe that would usually pose a risk to a pregnant woman. Make sure all the ingredients are in good condition and the crumble is prepared hygienically and safely. 

If you have any worries or concerns please speak to a qualified health professional, A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. 

Is toffee apple crumble ok to feed for babies and toddlers?

The NHS advises not to give babies and small children sugar, so this crumble should be saved for adults and older kids. 

As you make the apple filling for the crumble you could stew an extra chopped apple with a couple of dates chopped up in a separate small pan so the little ones can enjoy something similar with you. Allow the apple date sauce to cool before serving as it will be very hot. 

What goes well with toffee apple crumble?

Toffee apple crumble is the perfect dessert as the sauce is already in the crumble.

If you like, serve this crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some cold pouring cream.

Did you make a vegan version? Why not try making my yummy vegan custard to go with it too! 

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

You have a few options if you need to make this recipe dairy-free.

If lactose intolerance is the problem there are lactose-free butter and cream available that you could potentially use. It’s really important to make sure the person you’re making this for can eat these as some people with dairy allergies still have adverse reactions to lactose-free products. And obviously using lactose-free alternatives will just make the crumble lactose-free, not dairy-free so it would still not be suitable for vegans. 

To be completely dairy-free you can use vegan plant-based alternatives to replace the butter and cream. Try and find a vegan butter with a high-fat content that behaves in a similar way to butter, and a thick vegan cream if you can.

When cooking for someone with allergies and intolerances make sure to check the packaging on all ingredients to make sure they are safe to use and there is no risk of cross-contamination from production methods. 

I haven’t got dates, can I use different dried fruit?

This recipe uses dates because of their unique almost toffee flavour, so do try and use them if you can. If you don’t have dates to hand, other dried fruits will still add delicious bursts of flavour, raisins, figs or cranberries would all be tasty with the Bramley apples and caramel sauce. 

Can I add extra apples to this recipe?

This recipe has been worked out to give a good balance of all the different flavours and ingredients and makes enough to serve 8 people. 

If you have more apples you want to use up you could adjust the number of servings on the recipe card below to make more crumble. On the recipe card, the servings are set to 6, you can change the number by clicking on it and moving the slide bar up that comes up. You’ll see the ingredients updating automatically underneath so just move the slider until the number of apples matches how many you want to use and all the other ingredients will be adjusted accordingly. 

How should I store toffee apple crumble?

Any leftover crumble needs to be cooled and then kept in the fridge, or even frozen if you want to keep some for longer. Transfer the crumble into a suitable size container, use a large spoon so you can keep the layers intact. 

How long does toffee apple crumble keep?

When kept in the fridge this crumble will keep for up to 3 days, or when frozen it will keep for up to 2 months. 

Can I leave this toffee apple crumble out on the counter?

No, other than for serving and cooling this crumble needs to be kept in the fridge. It’s not a good idea to leave food out on the counter for long periods of time as there is a greatly increased risk of foodborne illnesses spreading on the food, and it will spoil much quicker than when kept in the fridge. 

Can I make toffee apple crumble ahead?

If you want to get ahead you can make the filling for this crumble earlier in the day or the day before and then add the topping to finish off in the oven just before serving. Allow the apple and caramel mix to cool before storing in the fridge until you’re ready to finish off to the crumble. This apple mix can also be frozen without the topping and will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before using. 

The topping can also be prepared ahead with the filling, keep this separately in an airtight container also in the fridge for up to a day. When you’re ready, pile the apple caramel mix into your tray and add the dates if you haven’t already, top with the crumble, and pop it in the oven. As this crumble will be being cooked from fridge-cold it might take a few minutes longer in the oven. 

Can I freeze this toffee apple crumble?

Yes if you like, this crumble freezes pretty well, keep in mind the crumble topping will likely become a bit soft as it absorbs some of the moisture from the filling so when you come to reheat frozen crumble it might be a bit cakey on top.

One way around this could be to freeze the completed filling on its own before the topping is added and then defrost this, adding the crumble top fresh before reheating.

However you choose to freeze your crumble, make sure it has cooled down, transfer it into a suitable size container, and add a label and date so you know what's inside. This finished crumble or filling on its own will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer.

When you want to use your crumble it's best to defrost overnight before reheating, simply pop the container from the freezer into the fridge to thaw out. Once defrosted this needs to be consumed within 24 hours, do not refreeze already frozen food. 

What is the best way to reheat my toffee apple crumble?

I find the best way to reheat crumble is in the oven, you can use the microwave but the topping has a tendency to go a bit moist and cakey in the microwave which you might like, but I prefer a bit of crunch. 

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F (160C fan), if you’ve been storing the crumble in a plastic container transfer it into an oven-proof dish. Try and use one that the crumble doesn't have too much space to spread out in as it will likely burn in the oven. Once the oven has come up to temperature put the crumble in for about 15 minutes until piping hot. 

Can I make this toffee apple crumble in a different quantity?

It’s really easy to make more or less of this toffee apple crumble if you need to.

When you head down to the recipe card below you’ll see the servings, set at 8 near the top left. Click or hover over this number and a slider will pop up that you can move up or down to get the number of servings you wish to make.

All the ingredients will update automatically so you’re ready to go. Remember you might need a different size oven tray to cook your crumble in. 

Can I make this toffee apple crumble into individual portions?

If you have enough small ovenproof dishes you can of course divide this into individual portions which can be nice if you're cooking a special dinner.

Grease your ramekins or small oven dishes well with butter, and layer up the apples equally between each dish. Then divide the caramel between them, adding a few pieces of chopped dates to each one, finally finish off with the crumble topping.

You might find it helpful to arrange your small dishes on a baking sheet or oven tray so you can get them in and out of the oven all together.

As these crumbles are smaller you may find they cook a little quicker than one large one so check them after about 15 minutes.

When serving make sure to let people know the dishes will still be hot from the oven, serve children's portions out into cold bowls. 

Can I make this toffee apple crumble in a different tin/tray?

I’ve used a deep-sided baking tray to cook my crumble, you can use any similar size oven dish you like really, just remember to grease it well. A medium size is good so you got a nice thick layer of apple, if the tray you use is too large the crumble will be spread very thinly and is more likely to burn in the oven. 

Can I make this toffee apple crumble in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

This recipe doesn’t call for much mixing so there's no need to get the stand mixer out for this one. 

Can I make this toffee apple crumble with a food processor?

The majority of this recipe is brought together in a pan on the hob, and in the oven tray.

I’ve mixed the butter and flour for the crumble together by hand, but if you find it easier you can use a food processor.

Put the cold butter and flour into your food processor with the blade attachment, and pulse in a few second intervals until you have a good crumb, make sure not to over mix as it will start to form a dough. Tip the crumb out into a bowl and stir through the sugar and cinnamon before topping your crumble. 

How can I make sure this toffee apple crumble is perfectly cooked?

There are a few steps to follow before the crumble is ready to put in the oven, you need to first make the caramel sauce, then soften the apples, and finally make the crumble topping. 

Once the crumble is in the oven you can sit back and wait for it to cook to perfection. As we’ve precooked the apples slightly they will become melted and delicious.

The crumble is done when the topping is crisp and golden brown, you will also be able to see the caramel sauce bubbling around the edge of the dish slightly, this will take about 20 minutes. Allow the crumble to cool for 5 minutes before serving, it will be very hot! 

Why did my toffee apple crumble turn out burned and dry?

There is quite a bit of moisture in this recipe from the caramel and apples, so for it to turn out dry and burnt it has probably been left in the oven too long, or perhaps the tray you used was too big.

Make sure to set a timer when the crumble goes in the oven so you know when to check on it, and take it out when it's ready. I used a medium-size baking tray to cook my crumble in, you want quite a thick layer of apple filling to make a satisfying crumble. If you use a really large tray the crumble will be spread out too thinly and will burn and dry out much more easily. 

Why did my toffee apple crumble turn out wet with soggy crumble?

When making the caramel keep going until it's become nice and thick, this can take about 10 minutes, or even a bit longer so be patient and keep stirring otherwise the crumble will turn out very wet. 

The topping of the crumble will go soggy if it's added to the apple filling and left to sit on the counter for a while before going into the oven as the crumble topping will start to absorb some of the moisture from the caramel and apples. Add the crumble as the last thing you do just before it goes into the oven. 

Why did my caramel burn and stick to the pan?

The caramel will thicken as some of the liquid from the cream evaporates so it does need to be hot enough for this to happen, but not so hot it burns and sticks. 

This is why it’s important to keep an eye on the caramel when you’re making it. You want it to be gently bubbling, not boiling vigorously. Use a heavy-bottomed pan if you can, this will help the cream not to burn, heat over a medium hob. If the caramel starts to bubble too rapidly take it off the heat for a minute to cool a bit before returning it to a lower heat.

You can stir the pan a couple of times every minute or so, or if you find it easier just gently stir it all the time. Use a wooden spoon or silicone whisk to stir your caramel, and make sure to run the spoon over the bottom of the pan to make sure everything is well mixed and moving around, not giving it a chance to sick or burn. 

How can I add/change the flavours in this toffee apple crumble?

One of the easiest ways to change the flavours in this apple crumble is adding different dried fruits, why not try some cranberries or figs.

Other fresh fruits can also replace some of the apple, apple and rhubarb perhaps, or add some gooseberries for some extra tartness.

You could use different spices in the crumble mix, cinnamon is a classic companion to apples but you could try using other spices like ginger or cardamom which are both delicious with apples too. 

What is the origin of fruit crumbles?

Fruit crumbles are a British dish consisting of various different stewed fruits with a crumble topping usually made with a mix of flour and butter, and sometimes oats for extra crunch.

They are similar to fruit pies or cobblers but made with crumbly crunchy topping rather than pastry or dumplings.

Crumbles became popular in Britain during WWII as the topping used rationed ingredients more economical than making a full pastry pie. Crumbles are also slightly easier to make than a pie as you simply need to crumb together the butter and flour, rather than making and rolling out pastry.

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