Irresistible Apple Crumble in a Jar: Your Perfect Fall & Winter Dessert Recipe
This delightful recipe for a creamy apple crunch, served conveniently in individual jars, is an absolute gem for fall and winter gatherings. It’s not just a wonderful treat; it’s also the ideal dessert for your Thanksgiving dinner, offering a charming and fuss-free serving solution.
As the leaves turn golden and the air grows crisp, there’s no fruit more emblematic of the season than the apple. Fall truly marks their bountiful harvest, and their excellent storage capabilities mean we can enjoy their crisp sweetness throughout the cooler months, even serving as a bright, welcome substitute for citrus when winter sets in.
Apples are incredibly versatile, transcending their raw form to create a myriad of delicious culinary masterpieces. From refreshing cold salads to comforting warm desserts, their potential is endless. Among these, a warm and creamy apple crumble holds a special place, particularly during holiday feasts. This specific rendition, meticulously crafted for Thanksgiving dinner, combines convenience with classic flavor by serving it in individual jars – a truly elegant and practical approach.
Why This Apple Crumble in a Jar is a Must-Try
Imagine a dessert that brings warmth, comfort, and a touch of rustic charm to your table, all while being incredibly simple to prepare and serve. That’s exactly what this apple crumble in a jar offers. It’s a dessert that speaks of cozy evenings, festive celebrations, and the wholesome goodness of seasonal ingredients. The individual portions eliminate the need for extra plates and serving utensils, making it perfect for entertaining or enjoying a personal treat.
The Convenience of Individual Portions
Serving desserts in jars is more than just a trend; it’s a brilliant way to ensure perfect portion control and effortless presentation. Each guest receives their own charming jar, filled with tender, spiced apples and a golden, crunchy topping. This method is particularly advantageous for larger gatherings like Thanksgiving, where ease of service is paramount. You can prepare these individual crumbles ahead of time, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your meal. Simply chill them in the refrigerator, and then, when dessert time approaches, pop them into the oven to warm through, ensuring a hot, comforting treat for everyone.
Apples: The Heart of Fall and Winter Desserts
The beauty of apples in baking lies in their ability to transform. When cooked, they become tender and sweet, releasing their aromatic juices to create a rich, flavorful filling. This recipe specifically calls for baking apples, which are essential for achieving the best texture and flavor. Varieties like Granny Smith are famous for their tartness and firm flesh, which hold up well during baking, preventing the filling from becoming mushy. Other excellent choices include Goudreinet (a Dutch favorite), Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or even a blend of a few different types to add complexity to the flavor profile.
Elevating Flavors with Spices and Sweetness
The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and gingerbread spices infuses the apple filling with a warm, inviting aroma that is synonymous with autumn and winter. Honey adds a natural sweetness and depth of flavor that complements the apples beautifully, while a touch of lemon juice brightens the overall taste and helps prevent the apples from browning. The buttery, oat-filled crumble topping provides a delightful contrast in texture, with its crispy, golden-brown bits complementing the soft, warm apple filling.
Essential Tips for a Perfect Apple Crumble in a Jar
To ensure your apple crumble in a jar turns out perfectly every time, keep these crucial tips in mind:
- Choose the Right Apples: Because apples contain a lot of juice and some are better for baking than others, make sure to use Granny Smith, Goudreinet, or another firm baking apple for a great result. Their tartness balances the sweetness, and their texture holds up well during baking, preventing a soggy filling.
- Prevent Browning: To keep your apples looking fresh and appetizing, especially if preparing ahead, coat them with a lemon mixture. This simple step ensures they won’t brown in the refrigerator, maintaining their vibrant appearance.
- Fill the Jars Generously: Apples tend to cook down and reduce in volume when heated. Therefore, it’s essential to fill your jars very full with the apple mixture. This ensures a hearty and satisfying dessert after baking.
- Achieve the Perfect Crumble: When mixing the topping ingredients, use your fingertips to combine the butter with the dry ingredients. This creates varied sizes of crumble, from fine sandy bits to larger clusters, which results in a wonderfully diverse texture once baked. Don’t overmix; a coarse, crumbly texture is what you’re aiming for.
- Pre-Bake for Extra Crispness (Optional): For an even crispier topping, you can lightly toast the crumble mixture on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes before adding it to the apples. This isn’t strictly necessary but can elevate the texture.
Recipe: Apple Crumble in a Jar
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📖 Recipe
RECIPE CARD
Andréa
Pin Recipe
Equipment
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A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
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4 jars
Ingredients
Crumble topping
- 40 gram whole wheat flour
- 30 gram oats
- 60 gram dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon gingerbread spices
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 75 grams butter , unsalted
apple filling
- 600 grams apples , baking apple like Goudreinet
- 30 grams butter , unsalted
- 30 grams flour
- 30 ml water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 60 ml honey
- ½ teaspoon gingerbread spices
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Crumble
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Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (approximately 350°F).
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In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients for the crumble topping: whole wheat flour, oats, dark brown sugar, baking powder, gingerbread spices, and salt.
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Add the cold, unsalted butter (cut into small cubes) to the dry ingredients. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pea-sized pieces. Avoid overworking the dough to keep it tender and crumbly.
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Place the crumble mixture in the refrigerator while you prepare the apple filling. Chilling helps the butter stay firm, resulting in a crispier topping when baked.
Apple filling
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In a separate large bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Whisk in the flour until smooth to create a roux-like base. Then, add the water, lemon juice, vanilla extract, honey, and gingerbread spices, mixing well until thoroughly combined and smooth. This creates a flavorful coating for the apples.
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Peel the baking apples, remove the core, and slice them into small, uniform cubes. Aim for pieces that are roughly ½ to ¾ inch (1.5-2 cm) in size for even cooking.
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Add the cubed apples to the butter mixture and toss gently until all the apple pieces are evenly coated. This ensures every bite is bursting with flavor.
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Carefully spoon the apple mixture into four small, oven-safe jars or ramekins. Pack the jars quite full, as the apples will soften and reduce slightly in volume during baking.
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Retrieve the chilled crumble topping and generously spread it evenly over the apple mixture in each jar. Place the jars on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly.
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Let the apple crumbles cool slightly before serving. They are best enjoyed warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence.
Nutrition
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Serving Suggestions to Elevate Your Crumble
While this apple crumble in a jar is absolutely delightful on its own, there are several ways to enhance its flavors and make it an even more indulgent experience. A classic pairing is a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, which melts beautifully into the warm apple filling, creating a luscious contrast. Alternatively, a dollop of freshly whipped cream adds a light and airy touch. For those who enjoy a richer dessert, a drizzle of warm caramel sauce or a sprinkle of toasted pecans on top can elevate the crumble to new heights.
Consider serving these individual crumbles with a hot cup of coffee, spiced tea, or even a glass of mulled wine for an ultimate cozy treat. They are also fantastic for brunches, potlucks, or simply as a comforting end to any meal.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
One of the best features of this recipe is its make-ahead potential. You can prepare the apple filling and the crumble topping a day in advance. Store the apple mixture in the jars (unbaked) covered in the refrigerator. Keep the crumble topping in a separate airtight container in the fridge as well. When you’re ready to bake, simply top the apple-filled jars with the crumble mixture and bake as directed. This significantly reduces prep time on the day of your event, making holiday entertaining much less stressful.
Baked apple crumbles can be stored in their jars, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. To reheat, simply warm them gently in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F) for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions for a quicker reheat, though the topping might lose some of its crispness.
The Ultimate Fall & Winter Comfort Dessert
This creamy apple crumble in a jar truly captures the essence of fall and winter. It’s a dessert that brings people together, evoking feelings of warmth, nostalgia, and delicious indulgence. Whether you’re serving it for a grand Thanksgiving feast, a festive Christmas dinner, or simply as a comforting treat on a chilly evening, its individual presentation and irresistible flavors are sure to be a hit. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, this recipe is bound to become a staple in your cold-weather baking repertoire. So go ahead, gather your apples, and get ready to bake some magic in a jar!