Imagine winter in a bite: apples, warmly spiced, hiding beneath a golden crumble that’s buttery, nutty, and just a little crunchy. Then comes the custard – a silky, coconut-vanilla pour that snakes and pools like creamy, glossy river.

Qualified nutritionist Sheridan Austin – of Foraged For You (@foragedforyou_) – has taken the humble crumble and added some much needed gut-loving ingredients: almond meal and dates for natural sweetness, a hint of cardamom and ginger for surprise, and even a couple dollops of coconut oil too. It takes the dish from something all-too-familiar, and makes it somehow utterly new.

Her recommendation? Serve it straight from the oven, with steam still curling from the custard, or let it cool so that the slices hold their shape.

Ingredients

The crumble:

• 1/2 cup coconut oil or ghee
• 2 cups blanched almond meal (you may use ground sunflower seeds for nut free)
• ½-3/4 cup dried dates (the amount will depend on your desired sweetness)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• Pinch of salt

The apple filling:

• 3-4 medium apples
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil and/or ghee
• 2 Tbsp tapioca flour
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• Optional for additional flavour: 1 tsp ginger powder and/or 1tsp of cardamon powder is also delicious!

The vanilla coconut custard:

• 1 cup coconut cream
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp ghee
• 2 eggs
• 30g tapioca flour
• A generous pinch of salt
• Sweetener of choice to taste, such as; 3 tbsp granulated sugar, 3 tbsp maple syrup or liquid stevia or monk fruit to taste.

Method

The crumble:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C. Blend down the almond meal or sunflower seeds until it creates a fine meal.
2. Add in all of the remaining ingredients and blend until combined.
3. Line a cake tin with baking paper and press just-over-half of the mixture into the base evenly with your hands or the back of a spoon.
4. Reserve the rest for topping over the apple filling.

The apple filling:

1. Peel, core and dice the apples into small cubes and place in a large bowl.
2. Add all the remaining ingredients into the bowl and mix through with your hands until it's well-combined.
3. Evenly scatter the mixture over the base in the cake tin as per the method above, and press it down lightly so it sets.
4. Scatter the remaining crumble mixture over the top by rubbing it in your fingers, then press down lightly if needed so it stays firm on top of the apple. Try to ensure it is as even as possible.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on the top and the apples have softened.
6. Once removed from the oven, cover with a plate or a couple of tea towels. This helps further soften the apples.
7. It is delicious served warm, but easier sliced when cooled (and just as delicious). Serve with the homemade healthy custard, coconut ice-cream, a thickened cream or even a natural yogurt.

The vanilla coconut custard:

1. Place all the ingredients into a small pot, and whisk together the ingredients.
2. Turn the heat on to low-medium heat, and consistently stir until the mixture thickens nicely and coats the back of a spoon.
3. Serve warm or cold. It is delicious by itself, or poured over your Apple Pumble.

Note: If you have a Thermomix, place all the custard ingredients into the Thermomix bowl and cook for the mixture for eight minutes at 90°C and on speed four.

Looking for more comforting winter dessert recipes? We've rounded up eight of the best pie recipes for you to add to your cool-weather menus.