Indulge in the comforting flavours of New Brunswick with our Apple Cranberry Crumble. This delightful dessert marries the tartness of cranberries with the sweetness of apples and is topped with a crunchy oat and walnut crumble. The warm spices of ginger, clove, and cinnamon infuse the fruit with cozy flavours, creating a perfect balance of sweet and tart. To elevate this dessert, we’ve paired it with a luxurious Maple Crème, adding a creamy and indulgent touch that complements the fruit crumble beautifully. This dessert is a celebration of our province’s bounty and is sure to become a favourite at your table!
Ingredients:
- 4 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup New Brunswick maple sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 pounds New Brunswick apples (like Gala or Honey Crisp)
- 1 cup fresh or frozen New Brunswick cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/8 tsp clove
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup walnut pieces
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3 tbsp packed light-brown sugar
Preparation:
- In a saucepan, scald the milk with the vanilla bean pod.
- In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla until frothy.
- Gradually add the hot milk in a thin stream while whisking, then place back in the saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickly coats the back of a spoon. Strain out the vanilla pod and refrigerate.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Peel, core, and dice the apples into large pieces. Toss them in a large bowl with the cranberries, granulated sugar, spices, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- Grease an 8-inch square baking dish or 6 mini cast iron pans and fill with the apple mixture.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, oats, nuts, brown sugar, and cold butter. Use your fingertips to work the mixture until it resembles pea-sized gravel.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apple mixture in the dish.
- Bake on a baking sheet until the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.
- Best served warm with cold crème poured over.