📋 Instructions

1. 1Heat the oven and prepare the dish — Heat the oven to 375F (190C) and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. A glass or ceramic dish lets you see the juices bubbling at the sides, which is your best doneness signal.
2. 2Dress the apples — Toss the sliced apples with the brown sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and a pinch of the salt in a large bowl until every slice is coated. Let them sit while you make the topping so the sugar draws out their juice.
3. 3Rub in the butter — Whisk the flour, oats, granulated sugar, and remaining salt in a bowl, then add the cold butter cubes. Rub with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs with a few larger clumps left in, which is exactly what gives the crunch.
4. 4Fold in the almonds — Stir the sliced almonds through the crumble mixture. They will toast in the oven and add a second, sharper crunch against the soft oats.
5. 5Layer the dish — Spoon the apples and all their juices into the prepared dish and press them into an even layer. Scatter the crumble over the top without packing it down, leaving a few thin patches where the fruit peeks through.
6. 6Bake until golden and bubbling — Bake at 375F (190C) for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is deep golden brown and the juices bubble thickly around the edges. If you want to be sure, a knife slid into the center should meet no resistance from the apple slices.
7. 7Rest before serving — Set the dish on a rack for 10 minutes so the filling settles and the cornstarch finishes thickening. Serve warm with cream, custard, or vanilla ice cream melting into the cracks.