If you’re planning on making an apple crumble, why not go one better and make an apple and blackberry crumble instead? Double the fruit, double the deliciousness!

In this article, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of making the perfect apple and blackberry crumble, including sharing tried and tested baking tips, serving suggestions, and – for the pièce de résistance – we’ll even share our very own apple and blackberry crumble recipe with you!

To make a perfect apple crumble, one must first understand and respect the history of this classic dessert. Ok, perhaps not – but a bit of backstory never hurt anyone!

Not surprisingly, the dessert originated in Britain circa the 1920s as a variation of the more extravagant apple pie recipes. In 1924, the apple crumble made its debut in printed recipe books as an official dessert.

The apple crumble is a national treasure of Britain and a favourite among many a family. Today, apple crumbles of all shapes, sizes and compositions are popular all over the UK and beyond.

Believe it or not, fruit selection can, quite literally, make or break your crumble. If your apples are too soft, they will be buried by the weight of the topping; if they’re not ripe enough, you run the risk of a sub-par tasting crumble.

The key to choosing the ideal apples is to opt for the ones that are firm, brightly coloured, and healthy-looking.

The same goes when it comes to picking your blackberries – be sure to choose ones that look the firmest and shiniest.

You can’t achieve the perfect crumble by baking it in any old dish. For the best results, choose a dish that’s large enough, but not too deep. Shallower dishes tend to work a bit better when baking a crumble.

Oh, and be sure to grease the dish before baking so that your crumble doesn’t stick to the edges.

Melted or room temp butter can cause the top of your crumble to spread while baking instead of creating the desired topping of crunchy, crumbly pieces.

Using cubes of cold butter helps to bind the ingredients before baking.

When it’s time to add the apples, chunks of diced apples tend to work better than slices. The thicker bite-sized pieces help to maintain the crumble’s structural integrity (yes, we see the irony here) and make it much easier to serve in scoops.

When it comes to how to serve your majestic, perfectly-cooked apple and blackberry crumble, this is where you can let your imagination run wild!

While the standard serving suggestions include familiar favourites such as a dollop or two of ice cream or whipped cream, or a covering of classic custard, there’s no reason why you can’t get a little more adventurous when you serve your crumble. (Or a little less adventurous if you’d prefer your crumble plain!)

We’ve heard tales of people serving their crumbles with crème fraîche, strained yoghurt, spices, and even coated with coconut!

Ok, enough chit-chat, now to the recipe!

Our super-easy apple and blackberry crumble recipe is one of our most popular dessert recipes – we think it’s because people seem to LOVE miniature versions of desserts. And why wouldn’t they? Miniature desserts are just as delicious as their standard-sized counterparts but they’re bite-sized for the ultimate convenience.

With that in mind, there’s no reason why you can’t grab yourself a spoon and eat a delicious, miniature apple and blackberry crumble on the go!

Please note that our apple and blackberry crumble recipe calls for 50 grams of chopped hazelnuts. If you’re planning on baking your crumble for somebody who has a nut allergy, you can make your apple and blackberry crumble with oats instead.

To perfectly pull off our apple and blackberry crumble recipe, you’ll be needing 75 grams of our Tate & Lyle Unrefined Demerara Sugar – be sure to stock your cupboard before you get started!

Each year, the same familiar Irish-inspired St. Patrick’s Day recipes re-surface and make the rounds online; the corned beef and cabbage, the Irish stew, the soda bread, and – of course – the experimental Irish stout-infused dishes.

While we absolutely love these traditional favourites as much as the next person, it’s not mandatory that they feature in your St. Patrick’s Day feast year in, year out. In fact, you might be surprised to know that you’ll rarely find any of the above dishes on an Irish person’s dinner table on Paddy’s Day.

Instead, if you’re entertaining guests at home this year, why not plan your St. Patrick’s Day recipes according to yours and their personal preferences? We believe that when preparing a meal for an event, anything goes (within reason, of course!)

This year, step away from the traditional recipes for ‘authentic’ Irish food and discover alternative inspiration for creating a delicious St. Patrick’s Day feast in this helpful article.

Chicken. It’s classic, it’s easy and there’s so much you can do with it. If you’re considering poultry for your festive banquet on St. Patrick’s Day, chicken recipes can be the simple, straightforward way to go. (They don’t say “winner winner, chicken dinner” for nothing!)

Plus, if you’re planning to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a more traditional fashion (glug glug), then you’ll definitely need something to line your stomach first.

Here are some of our most popular chicken-based recipes.

Sticky chicken – yum! Our recipe calls for a mix of delicious blends and spices to season your chicken to perfection. Pair it with some Mediterranean vegetables and, hey presto, you’ve got a meal fit for a saint!

Our tasty, lemony, low-fat seared chicken dish is simple to make, delicious to eat, and healthier than you might think!

A tasty twist on a traditional British roast, our sugar-glazed chicken recipe yields a yummy, warming dinner that’s as satisfying as it is succulent.

Mix up your standard chicken dinner with a zesty orange variation. Experience the ultimate pairing of sweet and succulent with this popular recipe.

When it comes to baking a cake for your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there’s no need to pour your blood, sweat and tears into some giant green monstrosity shaped like a leprechaun hat. Instead, keep it simple with a classic, tried and tested cake recipe that doesn’t take all your time, energy, and green frosting to make.

Here are 3 of our most popular cake recipes.

The word ‘Bundt’ is derived from the German word ‘bundkuchen’, meaning “a cake for a gathering”. With that in mind, why not indulge in a special St. Patrick’s Day Bundt cake recipe this year?

Our marvellous marble cake recipe is a popular family favourite, yielding a delicious cake that looks fancy, but that tastes like nostalgia and childhood!

If you’re looking for something a little less grandiose than a big cake, these buttery, bite-sized butterfly cakes make for an ideal addition to any feast, for any occasion.

If you want a tasty dessert for your St. Patrick’s Day feast but don’t want to commit to baking a cake, why not bake cookies instead?

Here are 2 of our most popular cookie recipes.

Deliciously buttery and moreish, our chocolate peanut butter cookies recipe never fail to delight.

Crumbly and crispy on the outside, with a chewy, rich fudgy centre, our orange chocolate brownie cookies represent the perfect pairing of 2 different (but equally delicious) desserts.

This year, don’t limit yourself to glass after glass of Guinness, mix things up a bit with some fun new flavours.

Cocktails make the perfect to addition to any party – regardless of the occasion! Our selected St. Patrick Day cocktail recipes are sure to liven up the festivities no matter how you’re planning on celebrating.

Cool, refreshing and fruity, each sip of our watermelon gin slushies tastes like a cool, summery breeze.

Another fun favourite with a fruity twist, try our strawberry and lemon Mojito recipe for a taste of the exotic.

What’s better than a Bloody Mary? A Bloody Mary with the added rich sweetness of Tate & Lyle Demerara sugar, of course!

Experience a taste of Rio with our tangy take on the classic Brazilian cocktail.

Remember to pick up the necessary ingredients you’ll need to hold your St. Patrick’s Day baking endeavours together, namely our classic Tate & Lyle sugars, as well as our scrumptious syrups and flavourings.

If you’re wondering what on earth to make for your Easter Sunday dinner this year, allow us to be of some assistance.

We’ve compiled a handy list of some of our most popular Easter weekend recipes – including both mains and desserts – to give you the inspiration you need to cook up a feast your friends and family will be talking about for ages!

The main course of your Easter Sunday lunch should be scrumptious enough to delight your friends and family, but simple enough to make that you don’t end up tearing your hair out in stress. Fortunately, we’ve got a whole host of easter weekend recipes to help you serve up a delicious dinner for you and your loved ones.

If you’re looking for the perfect recipe for a traditional Easter Sunday dinner, look no further. Our one-pot sugar-glazed Sunday roast recipe is a much loved tried and tested success.

Simple, straightforward, and scrumptious, this dish is the ideal choice for a nice, warming roast dinner – especially when paired with our delicious homemade mint and lime jelly!

Meltingly tender and mouth-wateringly succulent, our slow cooked lamb shanks dish has a deep, intense aroma and flavour.

Why not try our popular recipe for sweet-sour roasted Mediterranean vegetables? The colourful cane sugar-glazed vegetables perfectly accompany pretty much any vegetarian meal you can think of!

An Easter Sunday lunch that doesn’t end with a delicious dessert is just not cricket! While we’re all for Easter eggs – there’s nothing quite like a lovingly baked Easter-themed dessert.

If you need some dessert ideas for Easter Sunday, we’ve got you covered.

Yielding deliciously spicy fruit buns, our cranberry and orange hot cross buns recipe bring a tasty twist to this classic Easter treat.

If your family or friends are all about the chocolate, why not try one of our simple Easter cupcakes recipes? Easy to make and even easier to eat, chocolate cupcakes make the perfect addition to any meal – especially at Easter!

How about baking some adorable some chick-shaped and bunny-shaped Easter biscuits? This is a perfect one to make with the kiddies, they’ll love getting involved with icing and decorating the biscuits.

Looking for a dessert recipe that’s a little more awe-inspiring? Our spectEGGular Easter egg sponge cake is sure to impress.

Remember to pick up all the necessary ingredients you’ll need to make your yummy Easter Sunday dinner, including our classic Tate & Lyle sugars.

Chocoholics – assemble!

If you’re looking for delicious yet easy chocolate dessert recipes – look no further. Whether you’re seeking recipes for a kid’s party, a workplace bake-off, to cheer up your recently single friend, or you just want to chow down on some chocolate at the end of a tough day (hey, we’re not judging), we’ve got you covered.

Check out some of our most popular chocolate dessert recipes, including brownies, cakes, puddings and more!

Let’s kick off with our orange and passion fruit chocolate cake recipe. It may sound like a tricky chocolate dessert to make, but it’s much simpler than it sounds and only takes about half an hour to prep.

This recipe yields the delightful union of chocolate and orange in a simple, one-bowl chocolate cake that can still easily achieve the desired ‘wow’ factor.

Brownies. The bite-sized pieces of chocolatey goodness that have brought joy to many a chocolate lover! Who doesn’t love brownies? No one we know, that’s for sure!

Here are some of our popular brownie dessert recipes for you to try out. These are great recipes to make with (or without 😉) the kids.

Crumbly and crisp on the outside with a fudge-filled centre, these brownie desserts are the best of both worlds for those who enjoy a good ratio of crunch to chew.

Our duo dark and white chocolate brownies are a real treat. One which saves you from having to make the difficult decision between milk chocolate and white chocolate – you’re welcome.

If you’re after familiar, traditional chocolate dessert recipes, try one of these:

In just 20 glorious minutes, you can prepare yourself a chocolate pudding to be proud of. Our recipe yields a rich, creamy, chocolatey pudding featuring chunks of delicious chocolate chips.

Despite its perilous name, this chocolate dessert is surprisingly simple to make and takes just 15 minutes to prepare. If you like chocolate cakes that are deliciously chocolatey outside and full of gooey, warm, melted chocolate inside, this one’s for you.

We feel like these three words need no further explanation. Covered in a scrumptious chocolate buttercream with a ganache drip, you will not be disappointed by this chocolate fudge cake.

If you fancy making a chocolate dessert that’s a little different from the usual favourites, we can’t recommend these quirky little recipes enough:

If you’re looking to whip up a quick chocolate dessert, no muss, no fuss, try our chocolate ice cream sandwiches on for size (not literally, please.) Although the concept of ice cream sandwiches may seem strange to some, you simply must try it at least once – so why not start here?

Another strange concept – chocolate and banana – but rest assured that this sumptuous and easy chocolate dessert recipe is impressive, tasty, and a tried and tested dinner party winner!

Remember to pick up all the ingredients you’ll need to make your delicious chocolate desserts, including our classic Tate & Lyle sugars and flavoured syrups.

The Victoria Sponge – the quintessentially British cake created in 1843 and named after Queen Victoria, who apparently had quite the penchant for them! This classic sandwich cake totally eclipsed the standard sponge, thanks to the delicious addition of a jam-filled, cream-coated centre.

Whether you’re looking to bake the best Victoria sponge cake you’ve ever made or you’re gearing up for your very first attempt, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, discover not only our easy Victoria sponge recipe, but also our handy baking tips and tricks to help you create the ultimate Victoria sponge cake that would wow Queen Victoria herself!

There are two main methods of baking a Victoria sponge. The first is the traditional method, wherein one would cream caster sugar together with butter (fat), mix it with the beaten eggs, then fold flour and baking powder into the mixture.

The more modern method, on the other hand, involves simply whisking all the ingredients together with an electric mixer until the mixture is nice and creamy.

Not surprisingly, a traditional Victoria sponge cake recipe calls for all the usual ingredients you’d expect when making a cake; your eggs, your flour, your butter, and suchlike.

However, to truly understand how the stuff you put into your cake affects its outcome, some ingredients require more discussion than others.

Did you know that baking powder is probably the most important ingredient in a traditional Victoria sponge cake recipe?

Baking powder was invented in the 19th century by an Englishman named Alfred Bird, who was involved in food manufacturing.

Without the miracle of raising agents like baking powder (or self-raising flour, which contains baking powder), sponge cakes would never have given rise (pun intended) to the Victoria sponge. You will notice that most, if not all, Victoria sponge cake recipes call for baking powder or other leavening agents to help the cake rise properly and make the texture fluffier and, well, spongier.

Be sure to follow your recipe’s measurements for leavening agents to ensure an optimal amount.

When it comes to baking a Victoria sponge, we recommend opting for castor sugar instead of granulated sugar. The much finer texture of caster sugar helps to keep your sponge light and airy.

Before you get cracking on your fluffy Victoria sponge cake recipe, be sure to pick up a pack of our Tate and Lyle Caster Sugar.

What you put in and on your Victoria sponge cake depends entirely on your preferences. There are a few different options and approaches when it comes to selecting your Victoria sponge’s fillings and toppings.

There is some debate among Victoria sponge enthusiasts about whether raspberry or strawberry jam should be used for the filling – our advice is to get creative and try a few different options to see which you like best!

Plus, making your own jam makes the whole experience a lot more fun! Why not try your hand at some of our popular jam recipes? Don’t forget to pick up our Tate and Lyle Preserving Sugar and Tate & Lyle Jam Sugar products to bring expert consistency to your homemade jams.

Traditional Victoria sponge cake recipes call for a freshly whipped cream or buttercream filling. This, just like the jam, is another ongoing Victoria sponge filling-related debate!

Which route you take, again, depends on what you prefer! You might even decide that you’d rather just have a jam filling with no cream at all. (Which, incidentally, is how the Women’s Institute (WI) famously choose to make it.)

If you opt for buttercream but need some help making your own, check out our popular guide – How to Make Buttercream: The Ultimate Guide.

Don’t forget the dusting! Your Victoria sponge won’t quite be complete without its signature dusted top layer.

Pick up a pack of our – Tate and Lyle Cane Icing Sugar to achieve the perfect pièce de résistance dusting atop your cake.

One of the best things about the Victoria sponge is that it can easily be a building block for your own adventurous desires and variation experiments.

If you’re only here to find out how to make a Victoria sponge cake recipe, feel free to jump to the next section. If, however, you’re open to a little adventurous experimentation, read on!

If you like the sound of a chocolate Victoria sponge cake instead, simply follow our Victoria sponge recipe but use 225g Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Pure Cane Caster Sugar, 200g self-raising flour and 25g cocoa powder, sifted.

So, now you know everything about the Victoria sponge’s backstory, components and “bake-ability”, it’s time to try out our popular, 3-layer Victoria sponge cake recipe.

Don’t worry, it might sound complicated, but we promise it’s an easy Victoria sponge cake recipe to follow and master!

Don’t forget to pass the recipe along to your friends and family!

A celebration of motherhood, Mother’s Day provides the perfect excuse to pamper the much-loved mum or maternal figure in your life.

Whether you’re planning a meal for your mother, your grandmother, your missus or your friend, here are some simple Mother’s Day recipes to help you make something from the heart this year and cook her the delicious meal she deserves!

Remember when you were a kid and you’d try so hard to make your mum a delicious breakfast in bed that usually resulted in a lukewarm cuppa and a burnt, badly-buttered slice of toast? Good times!

Now you’ve got a few more years of cooking experience behind you, why not step things up a notch and bring your mum a fancy morning meal or breakfast beverage in bed?

Here are some of our suggestions.

Our homemade pumpkin latte recipe features a delicious caramel twist. Perfect for a warming start to a wintery Sunday!

If your mum’s a chocolate fan, start her day right with a steaming mug of our hot choca mocha. Rich, creamy and caffeinated, this drink is sure to go down a treat.

Make your mum a scrumptious stack of Scotch pancakes drizzled with a passion fruit curd and topped with juicy berries.

Try out this delicious, alternative breakfast rock buns recipe – featuring crumbly little cakes filled with flavoured fruits.

Let’s talk mains. If your mum is a meat-eater, she’ll be delighted with a meat-based main dish cooked with a lot of love! Check out these popular, meat-based Mother’s Day meal recipes.

You can’t go wrong with a Sunday roast. Plus, if your mum’s roast dinners have been a family favourite over the years, now’s the perfect time to return the favour. Our simple sugar-glazed Sunday roast recipe is quick and easy, yielding a delicious, one-pot roast dinner.

Sticky pork chops with apple coleslaw not only makes for a delicious dinner, but it’s also simple to make and pairs perfectly with loads of different sides and garnishes.

If you’re looking to make your mum a meal with a bit more ‘zing’ to it, try our sizzling beef fajitas topped with medium-spiced salsa – she won’t be disappointed!

Ok – time to discuss dessert. Nothing says “I love you” quite like a big, beautifully-baked cake, trust us!

Want to take your mum on a trip down memory lane? A Mother’s Day marble cake might just stir some fond childhood baking memories.

If you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge, make your mum this impressive chocolate cake infused with a mouth-watering orange and passion fruit buttercream.

If you’re not quite ready to commit to baking a full-sized cake, why not start a little smaller with our easy Mother’s Day cupcake recipes?

Try your hand at the Black Forest Gateau’s bite-sized cousins – Black Forest cupcakes. These chocolate cupcakes topped with whipped cream and a cherry compote are simply delish!

Give your mum the gift of citrus and sunshine with our sunny lemon cupcakes. Creamy, classic and zesty, these cupcakes are like little bites of summer.

Our banana cupcakes recipe yields deliciously creamy, caramel-coated treats – perfect for satisfying anyone’s sweet tooth!

Remember, none of our Mother’s Day recipes are complete without our classic Tate & Lyle sugars and scrumptious syrups and flavourings. Restock your cupboard today ready for your Mother’s Day meal extravaganza!

Discover 9 simple Father’s Day meal recipes and spoil the man who holds that special place in your heart.

It’s been said that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. If that’s true for the father figure(s) in your life, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re honouring your dad, brother, uncle, grandad or even a family friend, why not make him a Father’s Day dessert he’ll never forget?

In this article, discover 9 of our most popular tried and tested recipes to suitably spoil the man who holds that special place in your heart.

Want to wow your pa with a homemade cake? Try one (or both!) of these two tantalisingly tasty options.

Chocolate fudge cake – need we say more? A familiar favourite, this delicious dessert is sure to satisfy any chocolate lover’s taste buds.

Another familiar favourite, this small-batch version of our luscious lemon drizzle cake boasts a light sponge and a tangy, zesty flavour.

If you were planning on opting for cupcakes instead of a big cake, we have three fantastic Father’s Day cupcake ideas for you.

Light, lemony, and utterly delicious, our sunny lemon cupcakes are little bites of heaven.

If your dad’s a fan of caramel-coated cupcakes with buttercream and bananas, this is the recipe for you.

With each bite of these chocolatey cupcakes, your dad taste buds will come alive with our dark chocolate ganache that has been made with love.

Last but certainly not least, we’ve got a bunch of Father’s Day brownie recipes for you to peruse if you’re still deciding which dessert to serve your dad this Father’s Day.

Our gooey, sea-salted caramel brownies taste as good as they sound. Rich and delicious, these brownie bites are simply irresistible.

Chocoholics – watch out! Our duo chocolate brownies combine dark and white chocolate for a double dose of “damn , that’s good!”

If your dad looks in need of another caffeine hit after dinner, our rich and gooey chocolate mocha brownies will be just the ticket!

If you’re making your Father’s Day feast for a vegan, fear not! Our Agave vegan brownies are sure to hit the spot.

Don’t forget to stock up on all the Tate & Lyle sugars and syrups you’ll be needing to cook your dad his slap-up Father’s Day meal.

Looking for cookie baking tips to make your next batch the most delicious yet? We’ve got you covered. Discover our top tips for making good cookies right here.

If you’re looking for cookie baking tips to perfect your attempts at these little bites of heaven, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve put together 5 tried and tested tips and tricks to help make your next batch of cookies the most delicious yet! Plus, discover 3 of our most popular cookie recipes and put your newfound knowledge of baking cookies into practice!

Once you’ve made up your cookie dough, it’s a good idea to let it chill in the fridge for about 24 hours before baking your cookies.

When you do this, it firms up the dough and makes it less likely to over-spread when baking. This, in turn, will give you thicker cookies with a more solid structure.

What’s more, chilling your dough also helps to develop the flavours better. Plus, it helps each cookie in your batch bake in exactly the same way for that all-important consistency.

You’ll likely find that your cookie dough is harder to manipulate into the right shapes once it’s been cooling, but let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes and then it should be much easier.

For the most part, you’ll likely just use whichever sugar the recipe you’re following calls for.

However, it’s handy to know how different types of sugars can affect the flavour, colour, texture and taste of the cookies you’re baking. That way, you’ll have a better idea of how the cookies you make are likely to turn out.

Golden granulated sugar absorbs the liquid in the dough, resulting in flatter, firmer and crunchier cookies that are crispier and biscuit-like rather than soft and chewy.

White caster sugar is the classic baking sugar we all know and love. The finer granules tend to add sweetness to your baked goods and the sugar beats together well with softened butter to form a delicious cookie dough base.

Golden caster sugar is the less-processed, unrefined version of classic white caster sugar. If you’re baking cookies and want to achieve a nuttier, more caramelised flavour, golden caster is the better choice.

Using light brown soft sugar in your cookie mix tends to help retain more of the nutrients. When mixed with white caster sugar, light brown soft sugar yields a softer, chewier texture with a more caramelised flavour.

Dark brown sugar, on the other hand, yields a deeper, richer flavour and gives your cookie dough a denser complexity – perfect for more exotic flavours.

Fortunately, when it comes to sugars, we’ve got you covered! Use the link below to explore our vast and varied range.

The easiest way to fall short of achieving delicious cookies is by putting your beautifully measured and mixed cookie dough in the oven and then turning it on. This might seem obvious to some, but you’d be surprised by how many bakers overlook this key step.

If you’ve got a high-tech oven that will let you know when it’s up to temperature – great! But otherwise, you’ll need to give your oven 10-15 minutes to get up to temperature before you put your cookies in to bake.

It’s highly advisable to follow your chosen cookie recipe to the letter, particularly when it comes to measurements.

Most cookie recipes will give you some insight as to the outcome of the cookies you’re baking, both in terms of texture and flavour, so be sure to pay attention to how the cookies are described in the recipe’s introduction to make sure they’re the type of cookies you want. Then, follow the flour, sugar, and other measurement instructions precisely.

By the same token, it’s worth reading the entire recipe through once before you attempt any actual baking. This way, you won’t be surprised by any of the steps, and you can take the time to prepare all the necessary ingredients, cookware and utensils before getting started.

That centre rack in your oven is prime real estate when baking cookies.

If you’re baking loads of batches of cookies and you stick them all in the oven at once, you’re just not going to see consistent results. Even if you’re rotating the different batches around the oven, it’s just extra faff you don’t really need.

Instead, when you’re making cookies, bake them one batch at a time so your cookies can benefit from the optimal cooking conditions of that middle, centre shelf.

So, there you have it, 5 top tips for baking chocolate chip cookies.

Now you’ve got these cookie baking tips to hand, why not put them into practice with one of our popular chocolate chip cookies recipes?

With a crispy outside and a soft, chewy centre, these melting chocolate chip bookies strike the perfect textural balance.

For chocolate chip cookies with a delicious peanut butter twist, give these buttery biscuit bites a try.

These irresistibly soft and chewy cookies are generously studded with three types of chocolate (dark, milk, and white) and blanched hazelnuts.