Inspired by the classic apple crumble and custard, this ice cream is incredibly delicious having been made with a custard based ice cream with caramelisd apple pieces and crumble!
I just adore apple crumble and custard. It’s simple, unpretentious and comforting. Just like a great big hug in a bowl! Mmm.
When apple crumble is married with ice cream, Oh. My. Goodness. It’s delicious. It’s irresistible. It’s a wonder there’s any left for Mr E to try it tasted so good! You know when you’re baking and enjoying the chef’s perks of tasting as you bake, well I have to admit there was a little too much of that going on!
I realise it’s not exactly ice cream weather being October, but it’s still quite mild out and I’m sure you’re going to love the combination of apple crumble and custard made as an ice cream as much as I did. There’s the creaminess from the custard, a slight tartness coming from the apples, a sweetness from the toffee sauce and texture from the crumble, all in an ice cream! I ask you, what’s not to like!
The ice cream base was made with custard and was chilled before being churned in the ice cream maker. Once it reached soft scoop stage (you know, like Mr Whippy), I then rippled in the apple which had been cooked in a toffee sauce, and the crumble pieces. As the ice cream would need to go into the freezer to firm up a little more, I added some liquid glucose to the apple & toffee sauce mixture to help prevent the formation of ice crystals. Some of the toffee sauce and crumble was held back to drizzle and scatter over the ice cream.
As a quick alternative, if you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own custard, why not try it with, dare I say, a shop bought custard or even a quality frozen vanilla ice cream and add the apple and crumble elements to it! (NB I’ve not tried making it like this but I’ve seen it mentioned and can imagine it would work well.)
So, let’s get to it and bake!
Apple Crumble Ice Cream Yum
Yield: just over 1/2 litre
Serves: 4 – 6 people
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Freezable: Yes
Time: about 30 minutes hands on; 10 – 12 minutes total bake time; plus chilling and freezing time
Adapted from: This recipe
You will need:
1 x heavy based Pan
1 x heavy based Frying Pan or larger Pan
Pyrex Jug (or similar)
Cling Film
Greaseproof Paper
Large Baking Tray
Balloon / Egg Whisk
Wooden Spoon
Baking Tray
Ice Cream Maker
Spatula
Plastic Freezer-safe oblong container with lid (about 1L capacity)
For the Custard Base
220ml Full Fat Milk
200ml Double Cream
4 medium Egg Yolks
80g Caster Sugar
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
For the Crumble
80g Plain Flour
40g Unsalted Butter, chilled, diced
40g Golden Caster Sugar
small handful of Rolled Oats
Apple & Toffee Sauce
60g Unsalted Butter
100g Golden Caster Sugar
20g Soft Light Brown Sugar
2 medium Bramley Apples (c180g once peeled & cored)
3 dessert spoons Liquid Glucose
How to make it:
1. Prepare your ice cream maker. Depending upon the type of ice cream maker you have, you may need to place the inner drum of the machine into the freezer the day before the ice cream is required. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Make the custard. Pour the milk and cream into a heavy based pan and slowly bring to the boil. Meanwhile, place the egg yolks into a good size bowl and whisk together with the sugar. Once the milk / cream has almost come to the boil pour half of the liquid over the egg mixture whilst whisking all of the time. Pour the egg mixture back into the pan and continue whisking. Place the pan on a very low heat to allow the eggs to cook without scrambling. Using a wooden spoon, constantly stir the mixture. It will gradually start to thicken. Remove the wooden spoon from the pan and run your finger in a straight line on the back of the spoon through the custard. If the mixture doesn’t run into the tracing the custard is ready. Pour into a Pyrex jug (or similar) and cover with cling film, ensuring the cling film is in direct contact with the surface of the custard. Set aside and once cool place in the fridge to chill.
3. Preheat the oven to 180 c / 160 Fan / Gas 4. Base line a baking tray with greaseproof paper, tacking down the corners with a little margarine / butter.
4. Make the crumble. Place the flour and chilled diced butter into a bowl. Rub the mixture between your thumb and finger tips until it resembles bread crumbs. Stir in the sugar and oats. Pour the crumble mixture onto the prepared baking tray and spread it out. Place in the oven and bake for 10 – 12 minutes. After 8 minutes fork through the mixture and return to the oven for a few more minutes. Once cooked, remove from the oven and pour into a bowl and set aside.
5. Make the apple and toffee sauce. Peel, core and dice the apples into cubes about 1.5 – 2cm. Cover the apples. Place the butter into a heavy based frying pan or pan, set it over a medium heat and allow to melt gently. Add the sugar, allowing it to dissolve into the melted butter. Eventually the mixture will become a fairly dark brown toffee like colour. Add the apples and liquid glucose and mix. Cook the apples for about 4 – 5 minutes. They need to be cooked through but not breaking down. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl to cool. Remember, the toffee sauce is very hot.
6. Make the ice cream. Once the custard is cold and toffee-apple sauce has cooled, set up your ice cream maker. Turn the machine on and pour the custard into it. Churn the ice cream until it reaches soft ‘Mr Whippy’ stage, the time duration for this will depend on each machine but as a guide ours took about 25 minutes. Using a spatula tip the ice cream into a plastic freezer safe oblong container.
7. Flavour the ice cream. Tip half of the crumble into the ice cream and mix gently. Add two thirds of the toffee-apple mixture to the ice cream and mix lightly to ripple it through. Replace the lid and freeze the ice cream for about 2 -3 hours to firm up.
Enjoy scattered with a little of the remaining crumble and toffee sauce!
Gillians Thompson
Love the idea of this combination 🙂
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thankyou Gillians, it was really very scrummy!
Angela x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thank you Keven 🙂
Clare Duguid
Hi Angela, I am so sorry I thought I had commented on this gorgeous recipe. Even on a cold day like today I would have to have this if it was on the menu. Apple crumble = yum. Custard = yum. Apple Crumble custard ice-cream = oh yes please!!! Lovely recipe and great photos
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
That's OK Clare, we're all so busy these days 🙂 x
Apple Crumble is just the bee's knees isn't it – amazing flavours and when I tried it in this ice cream I was completely blown away by how good it was.
Thank you so much for the kind comments especially regarding the images – it means a lot Clare x
Angela x
Helen at Casa Costello
Who cares if its October?! I'd eat Apple Crumble & Ice cream any day! I've made ice-cream with ready made custard and it works brilliantly. Thanks for joining in with #Bakeoftheweek x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
I was very pleasantly surprised by how delicious the ice cream was. It certainly didn't last long 😉 That's certainly good to know that ready made custard does work as an ice cream base.
Thanks for popping by and commenting Helen, and of course for hosting,
Angela x
Cuddle Fairy
Wow, this looks so delicious! And what a fabulous idea to have the apple & ice cream combined into one tasty dessert. Good tips to use shop bought ingredients as a short cut too for those less adventurous. Thanks so much for linking up with #foodpornthursdays.
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thank you Becky 🙂 It really exceeded our expectations on the taste front! I almost couldn't stop eating it 😉
Thanks for hosting and popping by Becky,
Angela x
Alison
Love this idea, I am always looking for new ice cream recipes so will have to try it
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Ooh you've to try it then Alison, especially if you love apple crumble! Do tweet me a pic if you make it and let me know how you get on 🙂
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x
Eb Gargano
Such a great idea! A great mix of two of my favourite foods!
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
You'll have to try it Eb, I'm sure you'll love it 🙂
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins
Oh WOW!!! I love apple crumble and custard and to have it in an ice cream is such a great idea. I'll have a tub please 🙂 Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Hahaha 🙂 I'd have sent you some Kirsty but we devoured it very quickly! It was incredibly delicious – actually exceeding my expectations!
Thanks for hosting Kirsty and popping by to comment,
Angela x
Steph Bauer
This looks so tasty!! I am going to have to try 🙂 Apple pie a la mode is a personal favorite and this sounds right up the same alley! #foodpornthursdays
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
🙂 Thank you Steph, we REALLY enjoyed it! If you try it, let me know how you got on with it.
I'm off to google Apple Pie a la Mode now – there's something in the back of my mind saying that I've heard of it before but can't quite place it.
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x
Madeline
Oh my word that looks so tasty! I think I would cheat and try the option of mixing the apple crumble bits in with a shop-bought vanilla ice cream though! x #foodpornthursdays
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
It really is very yummy Madeline 🙂 Yes, that's a much easier way to do it – especially if you have a favourite brand.
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x
Sarah James
Apple crumble in an ice cream, a match made in heaven. I love the sound of the apple cooked in the toffee sauce & a great idea to use glucose to stop the ice crystals forming. Thanks for sharing Angela x
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Thanks Sarah. There must be some science behind the liquid glucose preventing ice crystals forming – though I've no idea what it is! All I know is that it certainly works!
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x
MamaMummyMum
Love the sound of this, I always liked the Ben and Jerrys apple pie ice cream so this sounds like the perfect alternative #foodpornthursdays
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
Ah, I never knew B&Js did an apple pie ice cream – I shall have to make a visit to the cinema to try it 🙂
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x
Tracey Abrahams
Apple pie is the best food in the world, so the idea of putting it in icecream is genius. #Foodpornthursdays
Angela - Only Crumbs Remain
🙂 Thank you Tracey, I won't argue with it being the best food in the world – it's just so comforting,
Thanks for popping by and commenting,
Angela x