Gache Melee - Guernsey Apple Dessert

Coasty's Note:

Gâche Mélée is a traditional Guernsey apple dessert and is a favourite with locals. It’s great eaten hot or cold and with a dollop of Guernsey cream or custard.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 250 g plain flour
• 125 g suet or 125 g guernsey butter
• 750 g apples , peeled cored and chopped
• 250 g demerara sugar
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon mixed spice
• ½ cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons demerara sugar

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 150°C.
2. Rub the butter or suet into the flour until like breadcrumbs. Add all other dry ingredients, apple and mix well.
3. Add egg and water and again mix well. Place in a 7 inch (18cm) square tin.
4. Sprinkle the 2 tbsp sugar on top prior to cooking – this makes a crunchier top.
5. Place in oven and bake for 2 hours until golden brown.

Reviews

[Elly in Canada]

Prepared for the Virtual Culinary Cruise 2009, for our stop in Guernsey. This apple dessert was different and quite good, I changed the serving amount to 4. I used butter and followed the recipe as written, the end result is like a moist, spicy scone filled with apples. I served it with ice cream, it would be great with custard too. Other than the egg there is no leavening in this recipe so it did not rise very high. It baked in an hour and a half in my oven at 300 degrees.