Delight in the warmth of a classic American dessert: apple crumble with rich vanilla custard. There’s something magical about custard—it just makes everything taste better. Picture this: a generous portion of apple crumble topped with a shower of hot vanilla custard, creating the ultimate cozy comfort dessert. Imagine apple pie filling at the base, a layer of shortbread crumble on top, all crowned with a generous drizzle of smooth vanilla custard. It’s like enjoying a deconstructed apple pie in every spoonful!
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
Apple Crumble with Custard
**For the Custard:**
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 vanilla bean pod (optional)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (cubed)
**For the Apple Pie:**
- 2 large Granny Smith apples (peeled and cubed)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
**For the Shortbread Crumble:**
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons old-fashioned oats
- Pinch of salt
**Making the Custard:**
- Start by whisking together cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the egg yolks and beat until the mixture lightens in color. Set aside.
- In a pot over medium heat, combine milk and vanilla extract (add vanilla bean if using). Heat until it just starts to bubble at the edges—be careful not to boil.
- Remove from heat and gradually add the warm milk to the egg mixture, whisking continuously to prevent the eggs from cooking.
- Transfer the mixture back to the pot and heat over medium-low, whisking constantly until it thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted and smooth. Transfer the custard to a bowl.
**Making the Shortbread Crumble:**
- Preheat your oven to 325°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, white sugar, flour, oats, and salt until it forms a dough.
- Spread the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden. Let it cool.
**Making the Apple Pie:**
- In a pan over medium heat, combine butter, apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Simmer for 6-8 minutes until the apples are soft.
- In a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch to create a slurry. Add it to the pan to thicken the filling, then remove from heat.
**Assembly:**
- In a large cup or bowl, layer the apple pie mix, followed by the shortbread crumble, and top it all off with the hot custard. Enjoy the cozy goodness!
