Apple crumble tray bake recipe

This apple crumble tray bake is so simple to make with a sweet cinnamon-infused crumble topping and a soft almond sponge.

This cake combines a classic apple crumble recipe (opens in new tab) with a nutty, moist sponge. While many traditional apple crumbles come in stoneware dishes or individual pots, this traybake recipe can be served in slices all by itself. This makes it a great afternoon snack, eaten alongside a cup of tea. If you're looking to turn it into an evening pudding then we suggest custard over the top.

Ingredients

For the sponge:

• 150g plain flour
• 1-2tsp baking powder
• 200g butter
• 200g caster sugar
• 4 med eggs
• 50g ground almonds

For the apple topping:

• 900g Bramley apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 75g caster sugar
• 100g mixed dried fruit or raisins
• 1tsp cinnamon

For the crumble:

• 10g butter
• 10g sugar
• 20g self-raising flour
• 20g porridge oats

Method

1. Preheat oven 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 and line a deep baking tray with greaseproof paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl whisk all of the sponge ingredients together with an electric hand whisk. Once light and creamy spoon into the baking tray and bake for 20-30 mins until golden.
3. Meanwhile prepare the apple topping by using our stewed apples recipe. Cut the apples into cubes instead. Add in the mixed dried fruit and cinnamon half way through and stir. Leave to cool.
4. Make the crumble topping by mixing all the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Use your hands and sprinkle the mixture with your fingertips to make a breadcrumb type consistency.
5. Grease a baking tray with some butter and pour the crumble mixture onto the baking tray. Cook in the oven at 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 for 10-20 mins until golden and crisp. Make sure you shake the crumble mix ever 5 mins so it evenly bakes.
6. Once all of the layers have cooled it’s time to assemble your cake. Put the sponge onto a wooden board and spoon on the apple topping pushing firmly down onto the sponge with the back of a wooden spoon.
7. Sprinkle the crumble mixture on top covering the apple evenly. Cut into squares and serve.

Top tips for making apple crumble traybake

Find that your traybake is browning a little too much in the oven but not yet fully cooked on the inside? Cover the top with a layer of tinfoil and put it back in the oven at the same temperature described in the recipe.

You might also like: 

Crumble topping (opens in new tab)

Rhubarb crumble (opens in new tab)

Pear crumble (opens in new tab)