Mini Spiced Berry Cobblers

How to make Mini Spiced Berry Cobblers Recipe - Sometimes small is good and these little cobblers, full of winter spice falvours combined with apple and mixed berries, are no exception. Serve them with a teaspoon of vaanilla ice cream, which melts down through the crunchy crumble and into the hot fruit filling.

MAKES 6 MINI COBBLERS

SPICED BERRY FILLING:
150ml red wine
good pinch of cinnamon
1 star anise
2 whole cloves
25g sugar
zest of 1 orange
1 medium cooking apple, peeled, cored and cut into 5mm cubes
100g mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, redcurrants, blackberries, strawberries), fresh or frozen
½ tsp cornflour mixed with 1 tsp
cold water

CRUMBLE TOPPING:
100g standard plain flour
30g rolled oats
pinch of salt
50g butter
50g brown sugar
30g walnuts, very finely chopped
¼ tsp cinnamon

Method:
Place the wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, sugar and orange zest into a saucepan over a medium heat and bring to the boil. Add the cubed apple and cook until tender, but not too soft. Add the mixed berries and simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cornflour slurry and cook until thickened, then remove from the heat. Place in a bowl to cool and cover with plastic wrap. This can be made a few days in advance and kept in the refrigerator. Remove the star anise and cloves before using.

To make the Crumble Topping, place the flour, oats and salt into a mixing bowl and, using your fingers, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Mix in the sugar, walnuts and cinnamon. Set aside.

Spoon the fruit filling into six 100ml ramekins or ovenproof glasses and then pile on the Crumble Topping.

Bake in a preheated 180°C oven for 10 minutes until the crumble is light brown in colour. Serve warm.

Mini Spiced Berry Cobblers