TOBY TIPS

DON'T CRUMBLE UNDER PRESSURE

There's simply nothing like a hearty crumble bursting with sweet fruit to round off your roast. Peel, core and cut apples up into little chunks. A big squeeze of lemon juice will add flavour and stop your apples turning brown. Put the fruit in a large pie dish.

Get your crumble mixture together, whether you've bought it or made it yourself. Carefully sprinkle it evenly over the fruit using a spoon. Don't press down on the mixture or you'll end up with a big biscuit. If any apple is sticking through, leave it to caramelise. Sprinkle Demerara sugar over the top.

Bake for 45 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 200C/Gas 6, or until the fruit is cooked and the top of the crumble is crunchy.

There's plenty of other lovely stuff you can put in a crumble – rolled oats, nuts or seeds, dried apricots for a gooey texture, or even alcohol for an indulgent treat. It's these little touches that will earn your crumble a special mention from guests.