Unpacking the Power of Cloves

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish or a 9-inch pie plate.
2. 2

   Prepare the filling: In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, lemon juice, and your chosen ground cloves substitute (cinnamon, allspice, pumpkin pie spice, and/or nutmeg). Toss gently until the apples are evenly coated. Stir in the 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour until well combined. Set aside.
3. 3

   Make the crumble topping: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 1 cup all-purpose flour, rolled oats, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Using your fingertips, a pastry blender, or a fork, cut the butter into the flour mixture until coarse crumbs form. Some larger pea-sized pieces are fine; this creates a wonderful texture.
4. 4

   Assemble the crumble: Pour the apple filling into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples in an even layer, making sure to cover most of the fruit.
5. 5

   Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender when pierced with a fork. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
6. 6

   Tip: For an extra crispy topping, you can lightly toast the oats in a dry pan for a few minutes before adding them to the crumble mixture.
7. 7

   Let the crumble cool for at least 15-20 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set slightly and prevents it from being too runny. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.