Apple Crumble Cake - Introduction
The apple crumble cake is one of the earliest desserts
known to the Americas. Colonial women used the bountiful fall crop of
apples to create this easy to make dessert in New England. Although it
is called cake, the fruit filling makes the apple crumble cake seem much
more like a pie or a cobbler. Whatever you call it, you will find this
decadent offering to be one of the best possible choices for a breakfast
or after dinner treat.
It is much easier to bake an apple crumble cake than it is
to bake a pie. The versatile treat requires no special equipment and
can be served warm or cold, with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of
ice cream.
Apple crumble cake is a great centerpiece for a traditional
New England style breakfast, or an after dinner confection table in
Georgia. Whether you serve it for breakfast or dessert, you and your
family are in for a wonderful treat.
More casual than pies, apple crumble cakes are so easy to
make, they are perfect for when you are in a hurry and want to serve a
fresh dessert. The basic apple crumble cake is made with sliced or
chopped apples covered with a mixture of oats, flour, butter and sugar
to create a crunchy topping, combined with sugar, cinnamon and butter
and baked until everything smells so delicious you want to jump dive
into it before it cools.
Don’t be afraid to use your fingers to combine the basic
crumble ingredients until the ingredients feel like moist sand. Just
remember to thoroughly wash your hands and remove your rings before
playing with your food.
In order to make clean-up easier, you may want to also
put your cake pan on a cookie sheet to catch any drippings while the
cake is baking.
There is a wide variety of apples to choose from for your
apple crumble cake, and each variety gives your cake a different taste.
Some are sweet and juicy and some are tart. But don’t be afraid to
experiment. The kind of apple you use for your apple crumble cake is
entirely up to you. Having said that, be advised that some apples stand
up to the baking process better than others. Some of the best apples
for baking are:
·
Cortland:
juicy and tart with dense flesh; holds its shape when cooked.
·
Granny Smith:
very tart; doesn't turn brown as quickly as other varieties.
·
Haralson:
softens more than other apples; releases a wonderful juice.
·
Golden Delicious:
delicious in pies and crisps and it's very easy to find.
·
Rome Beauty:
holds its shape perfectly when cooked; sweeter flesh than many other
baking apples.
Of course there are many other types of apples and you
may discover that a variety not listed here is perfect for you and your
personal tastes. So feel free to experiment until you find the apple
with all of the characteristics that you want and have fun!
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