What's nicer: plain apple crumble or with other fruit & bits added?

[sergeantmajor]

I'm wavering between whether I should make apple crumble, or apple + plum crumble. And then I got distracted by thoughts of sultanas in the mix and nuts in the crumb. It's for a special occasion.

What combination of fruits etc do you think is the nicest?

Just plain, with a bit of brown sugar in the crumble maybe.

My taste in pudding tends to hark back to my school days though.

Blackberry and apple crumble everytime for us.

Apple with spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg etc) , or apple & blackberry. I usually put oats in the crumble topping, it makes the flavour & texture really nice. And I always use brown sugar with apples or pears.

I like apple with a bit of cinnamon, but I prefer plum on its own, not with apple.
I made a delicious apricot crumble, with flakes almonds and demerara sugar in the crumble and everyone loved it.

Apple and raspberry.

I love it with raspberries 😋

Can I put in a word for apple with a spoonful of mincemeat stirred through? I did this once for a Christmas dessert for someone who doesn't like Christmas pudding and it was a massive success.

Delia apple crumble with the crumble made of almonds, sultanas in with the apples and a bit of alcohol thrown in.

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/hot-puddings/apple-and-almond-crumble

I use the crumble from this recipe but then any apples will do, no need for Bramleys. Spices help a lot.

Real custard made with double cream ultimate win.

Whatever you decide to do make sure that you double the quantity of crumble mix (and make a spare on to eat cold the next day when the edge of the crumble is all chewy!!)

I’m loving the sound of the apple and raspberry.

Lovely ideas here OP. Personally I prefer apple with spice. But there must be custard, there definitely must be piping hot custard! 😋

Hope your occasion goes well.

Thank you for great suggestions. Custard of course is the best bit. Another question:
What sort of apples work best? I was thinking cooking apples for a bit of background mush and another type of apple for pieces that hold their shape? Or am I overthinking this?

I made apple crumble the other day, & I usually pre-cook the apples slightly so I don't have to do it all at once. Only, I cooked them too long... so I made it with the accidental apple puree, plus I added some more apples raw, mixed through the puree. Nice combination of textures. Plus, very easy to prepare in advance.

A lot of English /European apple varieties work well - cox, russet, granny smiths are particularly good, I find they keep their shape slightly better than Bramleys, which I like if I want them cooked right down.

Plain

I always use Granny Smiths, no need to add sugar and I don't bother stewing them before baking, I just slice them quite thinly so they cook through.

I'd make apple or plum. Plum and ginger crumble is lovely.

I often add flaked almonds or chopped pecans to a crumble mix.

Apple and blackberry, peach and raspberry, apricot and blueberry, rhubarb and strawberry. Don't pollute the fruit with raisins or sultanas. Save them for bread pudding.

Apple and rhubarb is my favourite, and apple and anything tart also works. I second a PP's suggestion of cinnamon/spice mix.

I also tried apple and peach one time and it was surprisingly delicious.

Definitely use bramley apple. I used gala one time as I had too many and it was NOT OK - too sweet, no tang, and funny texture.

If you can get them black currants are lovely. Need plenty of sugar though.

Pear and ginger. Oats in the crumble so it's like hob nobby.

Peach and raspberry crumble..

Apple and blackberry
Rhubarb and sultanas
Oats in the crumble, demerara sugar sprinkled over.

Never cinnamon.

Apple and blackberry is lovely.

With blackberry. Never Rhubarb 🤢

Plain apple.
Any eating apples (not cooking) peel and slice thinly, mix in a bowl with a little sugar, cinnamon and a tiny squeeze of lemon to keep from going brown.
Crumble could have some ground or flaked almond, or plain. Both equally nice.
I don't know why people like oats in the crumble. It looks and smells nice but makes the texture chewy instead of crunchy.
Mmm. Crumble.