04 Jun Recipe: Apple and Oat Crumble Dessert for under $2 per serve
A warm, easy pudding using pantry basics and any tired fruit in the bowl
This is a good one for families because it feels like dessert, but it’s mostly fruit, oats and pantry staples. It is also forgiving — you can use apples, pears, frozen berries, tinned fruit or whatever is looking a bit sad in the fruit bowl.
Estimated cost: around $6–$9
Serves: 6
Approximate cost per serve: $1–$1.50
Best for: using up fruit, weekend dessert, lunchbox leftovers if made firmer
Ingredients
Fruit base
- 5–6 apples, peeled and sliced
- 1 tablespoon sugar or brown sugar, optional
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon water or lemon juice
Crumble topping
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup plain flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 75g butter or margarine, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Place the sliced apples in a baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and a little water or lemon juice.
- In a bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Rub in the butter or margarine with your fingers until the mixture looks crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping over the fruit.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the fruit is soft and the topping is golden.
- Serve warm on its own, with yoghurt, custard, or a small scoop of ice cream.
Why it works for families
It’s sweet enough to feel like a treat, but not as sugary as many bought desserts. It also uses ingredients many families already have: oats, flour, sugar, butter and fruit.
Kids usually like the soft fruit and crunchy topping, and parents can adjust the sweetness depending on taste.
Make it stretch and save more
Use home-brand oats and flour.
Use apples that are slightly bruised or past their best.
Mix apples with tinned peaches, pears or frozen berries if you do not have enough fresh fruit.
Add an extra handful of oats to make the topping go further.
Swaps and substitutions
No apples? Use pears, tinned peaches, tinned apples, frozen berries or a mix.
No butter? Margarine works.
Need it dairy-free? Use dairy-free spread.
Want it more filling? Add chopped nuts or seeds or sultanas/currents/dried cranberries to the topping, if suitable for your family.
Can you freeze it?
Yes. Freeze cooked crumble in portions for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or microwave until hot.
The topping may soften after freezing, but it still tastes good.
Can you make it ahead?
Yes. Assemble it earlier in the day and keep it covered in the fridge until ready to bake.
You can also make the crumble topping in bulk and freeze it in a container, then sprinkle it over fruit whenever you need a quick dessert.
A tip for busy parents
Keep a container of crumble topping in the freezer. On a busy night, tip tinned fruit or sliced apples into a dish, scatter over the frozen crumble mix and bake. It feels homemade with very little effort.
How we estimate recipe costs
Our Budget Meals recipes use approximate prices based on average Australian supermarket costs at the time of publishing (including major supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths and Aldi). Costs are calculated using standard-sized ingredients and divided by the number of serves. Prices can vary depending on where you shop, specials, seasonality, brands and whether you already have pantry staples at home. The estimates are intended as a general guide to help families compare meal ideas and plan affordable dinners.
