How do you make the topping for apple crumble?

Ingredients:

- 1 cup (125g) plain flour (all-purpose flour)

- 1/2 cup (100g) light brown sugar

- 1/2 cup (65g) rolled oats (optional)

- 1/4 cup (50g) butter (cold, cut into small cubes)

Instructions:

1. Pre-heat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, brown sugar, and rolled oats (if using).

3. Add Butter: Cut the cold butter into small cubes and add them to the bowl with the dry ingredients.

4. Mix: Use your fingertips or a pastry blender to combine the ingredients until they resemble coarse crumbs. The texture should be crumbly and sandy, with some larger pieces of butter visible.

5. Refrigerate: Place the bowl of crumble topping in the refrigerator to chill slightly while preparing the fruit filling.

6. Use: When ready to use, sprinkle the crumble topping over the prepared fruit in a baking dish. Bake according to the recipe instructions, until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly.

7. Serve: Once baked, let the apple crumble cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips:

- For a richer crumble, you can use brown butter instead of regular butter.

- To add extra crunch, you can add chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, to the crumble topping.

- If you don't have rolled oats, you can use quick oats or skip them altogether.

- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour instead of plain flour.