Gruffalo Crumble

Julia Donaldson was (possibly still is) my son’s favourite author, and she’s getting on for mine too. We’ve had many a happy afternoon, reading The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child,  Room on the Broom and more besides. We have so many versions of these books, mini hard copies, large paperbacks, and our favourite was always the sound books, illustrated by Axel Scheffler’s iconic drawings.

As a cherry on top, at Christmas, these stories have been turned into gorgeous animations with amazing soundtracks and narration, that we used to watch on a loop they were so good. If you haven’t already – check them out.

I think I have mentioned before that son No 2 is quite a picky eater, so one year I thought I would play a blinder and make Gruffalo Crumble – inspired by the book. (That would be a pimped up apple and blackberry crumble to the rest of us) And this is my offering in response to Lorna’s #Ginspiration writing prompt this week of a fall food memory. Her site, Gin & Lemonade, with a twist, is definitely worth checking out.

In the style of (and with apologies to) Julia Donaldson, here is the story of how it came into being.

The Gruffalo Crumble

A Boy raided biccies, instead of eating healthy food

His Mum saw this and though “Thats not good”

“Whats that you’ve got there, my wee son?”

“It looks very much like a big sticky bun”

 

“Thats very astute of you Mum, but look

I’m off to read my Gruffalo book”

 

“You are reading a book?”

“A book, you say?”

“Off you go son,

I won’t stand in your way”

 

“Silly old Mum, lets me off the hook,

As long as I tell her I’m reading a book!”

 

 

On went the boy, his brother saw the bun.

A plan was hatched, he would have some fun.

“Where are you going to, my wee bro?”

“Shall we play a game on the Nintendo?”

 

“Thats exceptionally kind of you bruv, but no.”

“I’m having a game of Gruffalo”

 

“A Grufffalo game? Ugh that sounds boring!”

“Two minutes of that, and I’d be snoring!”

 

“Silly old Bruv, doesn’t he know?”

“Even I’m too old for The Gruffalo!”

 

 

On went the boy, with his bun, to his room

His Dad saw the bun, and thought, “that’s mine soon!”

 

“Where are you off to, my little Tyke?”

“C’mon, I’ll take you fishing for Pike”

 

“That’s terribly good of you Dad, but no”

“I’m going online as The Gruffalo”

 

“Online? You mean you have fixed the connection?”

“My Boy! You have my deepest affection!”

 

“Ha! I’ve got a silly old Dad!”

“I knew I’d district him if I fixed the iPad”

 

“What’s this? Oh no, I’m completely baffled”

“While I wasn’t looking, my bun has been snaffled!”

“By a sneaky creature, on four little paws”

“He’s run off with my bun in his crafty wee jaws”

 

“He has furry feet, and he’s light on his toes”

“He’s smelt out my bun with his sensitive nose”

“He might look cute, but he’s a greedy hog”

“I know the culprit, it’s my pet dog”

 

“Mum, I’m hungry, and I’ve finished my book”

“I don’t suppose you have started to cook?”

“Yes son, I heard your tummy grumble”

“So I thought I’d make you Gruffalo Crumble.”

 

A Mum took a walk through the deep dark wood

She had spotted some blackberries

And the blackberries looked good.

Gruffalo Crumble

• 900g Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
•  25 blackberries Hold 5 back for the topping
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• 85g unsalted chilled butter, cubed
• 85g soft brown sugar
• 50g oats
• 25g chopped hazelnut
• 1 green grape
• ice cream
• 2 ice cream cones

Method

1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a bowl, mix the apples with the lemon juice, blackberries, cinnamon, 1 tbsp of flour, 15g of butter and 1 tbsp of brown sugar. Place in a small glass baking dish, cover with cling film and cook in the microwave for 5 mins at 600W, or slightly less time if you have a higher wattage.
2. Meanwhile, rub the remaining flour, butter, sugar, oats and nuts with your fingers to a crumble-like but chunky texture.
3. Spoon the cooked apples into an ovenproof dish. Scatter over the crumble and bake in the oven for 20 mins until crisp.
4. Cut off the two ice cream cones to make ‘horns’ and place at one end of the pie dish, arrange the remaining 5 blackberries (purple prickles) and the green grape (poisonous wart) on top of the crumble mix
5. Serve with (Owl) ice cream .