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Original poster

Tell me your secrets for a great crumble!

76 replies

NotABeliever · 30/10/2023 21:04

I consider myself a good cook but I have never made a crumble which has pleased me! It's always dry, no matter what recipe I follow. Granted I was brought up abroad so it's not a dessert which I've ever seen made growing up. So please educate me! How do I make a really outstanding crumble?

OP posts:
saturnspinkhoop · 30/10/2023 21:06

Definitely following this. Mine always tastes nice, but it’s just too….crumbly.

toastofthetown · 30/10/2023 21:12

Maybe sacrilegious to some, but I prefer crumble where the crumble is baked separately to the fruit. I hadn't made crumble for a while, but I imagine this is the recipe I would have used.

Crooklodge · 30/10/2023 21:15

There was a woman in front of me today buying tinned sliced apples. She was telling the cashier that's her secret ingredient.

BHRK · 30/10/2023 21:18

You need to push the crumble topping down on top of the fruit quite densely I think. That helps with the crunch

determinedtomakethiswork · 30/10/2023 21:19

Crooklodge · 30/10/2023 21:15

There was a woman in front of me today buying tinned sliced apples. She was telling the cashier that's her secret ingredient.

I make a really nice crumble with tinned raspberries.

I think the secret to a good crumble is 50-50 crumble to fruit.

CobwebsAndCauldrons · 30/10/2023 21:19

Just over half fat and sugar to plain flour. Pinch of ginger or cinnamon (depending on fruit). Once you have crumbled this all up (cold hands, work as quickly as poss to minimise melting the butter) put it in the fridge for an hour before use. You want it chilled right down.

Stew the fruit to taste, draining excess juice. Chill that too.

Heat oven and combine the fruit and crumble topping just before putting it in to cook until hot and golden.

Take out and leave for 19 mins to cool. Serve with whatever you like.

Crooklodge · 30/10/2023 21:21

determinedtomakethiswork · 30/10/2023 21:19

I make a really nice crumble with tinned raspberries.

I think the secret to a good crumble is 50-50 crumble to fruit.

Show quote history

Honestly I stood there wondering why I had never done it before. Bloody genius.

Boymummyofone · 30/10/2023 21:21

I add chopped hazelnuts to mine for an extra crunch. Also extra butter to stop the crumble from going dry

TheLittleWhitePill · 30/10/2023 21:22

Marzipan, grated thickly between fruit and crumble.

Crumble:
175g plain flour
125g chilled butter
75g brown sugar
50g rolled oats

DrFoxtrot · 30/10/2023 21:24

I really can't stand crumble 🤢 but I did once have one with a sort of oaty topping that was delicious if anyone has any non-crumble crumble recipes as well please!

1AnotherOne · 30/10/2023 21:24

Some fudge crumbled into the topping before being baked is a fantastic addition

DrFoxtrot · 30/10/2023 21:24

Ooooh @TheLittleWhitePill might have answered my prayer!

saturnspinkhoop · 30/10/2023 21:39

1AnotherOne · 30/10/2023 21:24

Some fudge crumbled into the topping before being baked is a fantastic addition

You’re a bad influence!

mrsfeatherbottom · 30/10/2023 21:47

My MIL's crumble is amazing - she fries breadcrumbs in butter and sugar and uses that as the topping. It's absolutely delicious - I don't like the really floury topping that you often get that needs a gallon of custard to make it palatable.

PortalooSunset · 30/10/2023 22:06

I don't measure anything so no idea on weights but less butter than flour, sugar to taste (mix of caster and soft brown) and always lob in a few big handfuls of porridge oats. Cinnamon for apple crumble too.

QuickDraining · 30/10/2023 22:08

I had in my head not to press down the crumble mix, but to keep it grainy. What's people's opinion on this then?

I get the guilts adding sugar to anything. So try and keep that low, but do put quite a bit of fat in.

I always think it needs something alongside it. Ice cream, custard etc?

NigelFaragesTinyConscience · 30/10/2023 22:11

Definitely cook it separately as a PP mentions

Also flaked or chopped almonds

Off to find out where to get tinned raspberries….

QuickDraining · 30/10/2023 22:11

'Delish' suggest freezing your topping, add a little water, make lumpy, and then freeze for 15mins or so, before adding to the dish and placing in the oven.

SensitiveB · 30/10/2023 22:11

PortalooSunset · 30/10/2023 22:06

I don't measure anything so no idea on weights but less butter than flour, sugar to taste (mix of caster and soft brown) and always lob in a few big handfuls of porridge oats. Cinnamon for apple crumble too.

Mine is like this too and always very popular! I like to use ground almonds too sometimes or occasionally chopped pecans, partly for extra nutrition !
i only make apple or blackberry and apple so interested in peoples variants and is the tinned raspberry one someone mentioned just raspberries or mixed with apple I wonder!

TeeBee · 30/10/2023 22:12

I put stewed Apple (with cinnamon to allow me to keep the sugar content down), topped with a layer of sliced banana. Then I top with lots of crumble but I add a tiny bit of milk to the crumble mix.

noooooooo · 30/10/2023 22:12

Toasted oats and loads of sugar. Cook the fruit first and strain most of the liquid.

SensitiveB · 30/10/2023 22:13

actually I forget I do plum crumble too but rarely remember how much I like this version . And it goes very well with ground almonds instead of half the flour

NigelFaragesTinyConscience · 30/10/2023 22:14

NigelFaragesTinyConscience · 30/10/2023 22:11

Definitely cook it separately as a PP mentions

Also flaked or chopped almonds

Off to find out where to get tinned raspberries….

Well I found some and this link
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4702621-where-are-the-tinned-raspberries

Are they all in a light syrup though, ( yucky glucose fructose water) and can you use frozen?

Where are the tinned raspberries? | Mumsnet

I’ve looked in supermarkets and even Amazon without success.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4702621-where-are-the-tinned-raspberries

Flibbertygibbetty · 30/10/2023 22:14

Add demerara, chopped pecans or walnuts and oats to basic crumble mix.

endofthelinefinally · 30/10/2023 22:16

Self raising flour
Butter
pinch of salt
brown sugar
oats
Don't press it - just sprinkle it on top of the fruit and make sure the oven is hot.