For all apple lovers, it’s a true guilty pleasure when warm apple crumble meets the cold creaminess of vanilla ice cream, melting on your tongue. A hint of lemon zest adds balance and an extra layer of flavour, cutting through the sweetness of the apples and sugar.

Apples

Use any apples you have, but adjust the amount of sugar depending on the variety. Naturally sweet apples will need less sugar, or even none at all if you don’t like overly sweet desserts. If you choose a more tart variety, like a reinette, you can add more sugar to taste. It’s best to start with a smaller amount, check the sweetness of the applesauce, and add more if needed. There are many versions of crumble, and they usually include large chunks of fruit. I personally prefer the texture of applesauce and its deep, rich colour. If you’re looking for a quicker way to make crumble, you can simply simmer the apples for about 10 minutes and place them in the dish without breaking them down too much.

Serving

It pairs best with vanilla ice cream, though you can experiment with other flavours as well. If you have some fresh mint on hand, you can sprinkle it on top for a refreshing touch. For me, the lemon zest is essential – it gives that distinctive taste, so I wouldn’t skip it.

Dish

If you don’t have a tart dish, small ovenproof ramekins will work perfectly too. This way, everyone gets their own portion – and there’s no arguing over who got the bigger slice! 😉