Toffee Apple Crumble

'Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness,' It's the time of the year for one of my favourite Keats' poems.   Autumn is such a beautiful season, and I have been enjoying some autumnal walks with my son. We have collected lots of conkers ready for a family tournament on our half term holiday to Scotland, and autumn leaves and twigs. This week I have been loving wrapping up warm, and having snuggles in blankets.

My father-in-law gave us a veritable hoard of apples that he had been growing, so I have been busy making plenty of apple puree, as we are currently weaning our son onto solid food. With the kitchen full of delicious fruity scents, I thought it only fair that I made something for the rest of us. One of my husband's favourite puddings is an apple crumble (in fact he tells me he is a connoisseur), so I felt obliged to make one. I thought I would try something a bit different, and attempt to create a toffee apple crumble. I must admit I am not a fan of fruit in puddings, but the scent of spice and toffee in the air was magical.

Ingredients

Fruit filling

8 eating apples cored, peeled and chopped. (I used eating apples, but add more sugar if you use cooking)

3 tbsp Golden syrup

100g Caster sugar

1 and a half tbsp Mixed Spice

6 tbsp Water

Crumble topping

150g Butter

150g Flour

150g Sugar

1. Preheat oven to 190°C.

2. Add the sugar and water to a pan stir until the sugar is dissolved.

3. Add Golden syrup and bring to boil.

4. Add apple and mixed spice. Cook until fruit beginning to soften (Adjust water if going dry, but these apples had plenty of juice)

5. Put into ovenproof dish.

6. For crumble topping, rub butter, flour and sugar together then spoon onto top of fruit. (You can add oats for extra crunch)

7. Put in oven for 20 minutes. (I then put the grill on briefly- just to make the topping extra crunchy - be careful not to burn.)

Hope you have had a lovely weekend filled with autumnal treats. I'm just off for a long soak in the tub and a hot chocolate! I love getting warmed up after a bracing walk.