For many, the devastation created by the Palisades Fire felt like the end of the world. Six months later, most of the fire debris has been removed, but stark reminders of the damage remain, as residents and local governments...
As communities struggle to rebuild and recover from the devastation of the Palisades fire, nature is also in the process of regenerating. When Topanga Canyon Boulevard reopened at the end of May, drivers were met not with bare hillsides...
A pier is a folly, a highway to nowhere. Whether lined with fishermen or filled with the cries and clattering of a roller coaster, whether thick with the aromas of hotdogs and fries or freshly gutted fish, they are...
A beautiful but unwelcome tide of golden blossom is sweeping over the Santa Monica Mountains this year. The late—and light—rainy season has resulted in few native wildflowers but an abundance of mustard, an opportunistic invasive that thrives even in...
11 small apples or 8 large apples (I normally use granny smith apples, but any kind will be good)
2 packs of fresh cranberries
2 1/2 cups brown sugar (Adjust sugar to your preferred level of sweetness)
4 cups old fashioned oats
3 heaping tablespoons all-purpose flour or gluten free flour of your choice…oat, almond, cassava, tapioca, or a blend
3/4 cup of melted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup chopped or broken up walnuts or pecans-depending how big you like the pieces
Peel, core, and chop apples into slices. I like to vary how thick the slices are…making some a little thicker and some super thin.
Cook the sliced apples and fresh cranberries in a pot on medium heat stirring frequently. Cook until most of the cranberries have broken down, and popped. Approximately 15 minutes. Add 3/4 cup -1 1/4 cup brown sugar to the cranberry apple mixture, depending on how sweet you like it…We like it more on the tart side, because the crumble part is sweet. Continue to cook mixture until all the sugar is dissolved, just a couple minutes more…Then remove from the heat, and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl mix the remaining ingredients: old fashioned oats, flour, Approximately 1 1/4 cup brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, walnuts, pour the melted butter over the mixture, stir, and lightly coat the ingredients.
Now in a large baking dish layer your ingredients…First on the bottom of the dish spoon a layer of your crumble, approx. 1/3 of the total crumble mixture…just enough to cover the bottom of the dish and make a crust-like layer. Next spoon all of your cranberry apple mixture evenly on top of the crumble…And lastly, pour the remaining crumble on top.
Cook in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 40-50 minutes till browned and bubbling.
Enjoy warm, room temperature, or even cold…My family likes it any old way. You could also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to take it to the next level…definitely not necessary, but certainly delicious!
Nathalie Krull homeschooled her children with other families in Topanga and has built her reputation over the years as a skilled and adventurous kitchen wizard. She is a holistic health coach, certified by the Institute of Integrated Nutrition. She approaches food as one part of a whole system approach to wellness. Reach her at nathalie@groundedwellness.net
[…] Nathalie Krull, June 27, 2025 0 3 min read 0 Crumble is the easier, less formal cousin of the traditional pastry crust fruit pie. It’s a perfect way to use summer’s abundant fresh fruit, and it’s versatile, delicious, and simple to make. This gluten-free version combines cherries and almonds for a delightfully old-fashioned flavor pairing. It’s a perfect dessert for a Fourth of July picnic, or any summer gathering, and it doubles as a decadent but still healthful breakfast. For another of Nathalie’s crumble recipes, check out: https://topanganewtimes.com/2020/12/04/cranberry-apple-crumble/ […]
[…] Nathalie Krull, June 27, 2025 0 3 min read 0 Crumble is the easier, less formal cousin of the traditional pastry crust fruit pie. It’s a perfect way to use summer’s abundant fresh fruit, and it’s versatile, delicious, and simple to make. This gluten-free version combines cherries and almonds for a delightfully old-fashioned flavor pairing. It’s a perfect dessert for a Fourth of July picnic, or any summer gathering, and it doubles as a decadent but still healthful breakfast. For another of Nathalie’s crumble recipes, check out: https://topanganewtimes.com/2020/12/04/cranberry-apple-crumble/ […]