humble crumble

For times when you need a quick and easy dessert, and don’t have the time or patience to roll out dough, a simple crumble is all you need. There is something so homey and comforting about this dessert. The bubbling juicy fruit tucked under the crunchy and gooey topping always hits the spot, especially with something creamy. I love cream or greek yogurt with this, but a custard or ice cream of course would be great.

The topping is less sweet than most recipes, so feel free to make it sweeter. I gave vague amounts on purpose, because this is one of those rare recipes that are so adaptable. You can get away with not measuring accurately, and just trust your instinct. The most important thing is to not undertake it. 

This makes  a smallish crumble that would fit in a regular 9 inch cake pan or even a loaf pan. If you are using a bigger dish, double the quantities.

For the fruit

Enough fruit to fill the pan or dish:

2 or 3 apples, cored and peeled. (Or you can keep the peel)

Some frozen berries, I usually use blackberries (use fresh if you have them lying around)

A handful of sugar (1 or 2 tablespoons)

A little lemon juice if you think your fruit needs it.

For the crumble

57g butter (1/4 cup or half a stick)

A pinch of salt

73g flour (1/2 cup)

A handful of sugar (or more if you want) 2 tablespoons to be exact

A handful of oats (optional)

Mix the fruit with the sugar and lemon juice, and put in the oven at 350F (180C) while you make the topping.

Rub the flour, butter and salt together, then add sugar and oats. Mix until crumbly.

Tumble on top of the hot fruit and return to the oven. 

Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. You’ll know when it’s ready when the filling starts to bubble and ooze out, and the crumble is golden. Let it cool down a little bit to let the juices set (and not burn your mouth!)

To make this recipe vegan, use 50g coconut oil and 2 teaspoons water in place of the butter, or just use vegan butter.

You can use any combination of fruit, as long as its sufficiently juicy. 

Also, you could add spices, chocolate, or even nuts in the crumble topping.