Description
A decadent Salted Caramel Apple Crumble combining tender, skillet-cooked apples coated in homemade salted caramel sauce, topped with a golden, buttery oat and flour crumble. This comforting dessert is baked until bubbling and perfect served warm with vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
Salted Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp orange blossom water (optional)
- 1/2 tsp rose water (optional)
Apples
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 apples, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick (about 16 slices per apple)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup flour
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 stick butter, cubed and softened (100 g)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set the oven to 180°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the crumble.
- Make Salted Caramel Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium-high heat. Cook without stirring until the sugar dissolves and turns a deep amber caramel color, about 10 minutes.
- Incorporate Cream and Butter: Remove from heat, slowly whisk in heavy cream; reheat gently while whisking until smooth. Add butter and whisk until combined. Stir in sea salt, rose water, and orange blossom water if using. Set aside to cool.
- Cook Apples: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp butter. Add apple slices and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until slightly softened but not fully cooked.
- Season Apples: Sprinkle cinnamon over cooked apples and stir. Pour in 1/2 cup of prepared salted caramel sauce and mix to thoroughly coat the apples.
- Prepare Crumble: In a bowl, mix flour, oats, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add softened butter cubes. Use fingertips to blend butter into dry ingredients until it resembles clumpy, wet sand.
- Assemble the Crumble: If using a cast iron skillet, spread crumble topping evenly over the caramel-coated apples. Otherwise, transfer the apples to an 8 or 9-inch square baking pan then cover with the crumble mixture.
- Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the topping is golden brown and apples are bubbling.
- Serve: Remove from oven and serve warm, optionally with extra salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- You can omit the rose water and orange blossom water if desired; they add subtle floral notes but are optional.
- The apples should be slightly soft after skillet cooking as they will continue to bake in the oven.
- Using a cast iron skillet simplifies assembly and baking, but a baking dish works equally well.
- For a deeper caramel flavor, cook the sugar until a rich amber but be cautious not to burn.
- Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for added indulgence.