When you think of fruit crumble, your mind likely goes to apples, blackcurrants, or rhubarb. But you can put practically any fruit in a crumble! All you need to do is learn the basic recipe to make crumble topping and then use it with the fruit, or fruit combination, of your choosing.

Basic crumble recipe

For a basic recipe that serves four, you will need 100g butter, in cubes, 40g caster sugar, 75g brown sugar, and 125g flour. Rub all four ingredients together until they make coarse breadcrumbs. Layer over the fruit filling and cook at Gas Mark 6 for around 40 minutes or until golden. If you’re making a crumble for an event, or to take to a friend’s house, the biggest worry is getting your oven dish back. In this case, you might want to consider disposable ovenable trays, like those at https://www.southerncrosspackaging.com/ovenable-trays. These are also microwave-proof, making it easy to reheat the crumble the next day.

Fruit filling ideas

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with making an apple crumble if that’s your favourite filling, but there’s a world of other flavours out there too. From peach and passion fruit, for the sweet-toothed among us, to gooseberry and lemon, which is perfect for those who prefer sharper flavours – there are so many combinations to discover. Pear works well too, especially when it’s topped with toasted almonds and served with a homemade chocolate custard. You should also try and include seasonal fruits wherever possible, perhaps by picking them yourself.

Whatever fruit you’re using, you will need to stew it with up to 150g of sugar for every 1kg of fruit, although those with less of a sweet tooth may choose a much lower amount. You may also need a teaspoon each of cornstarch and lemon juice, as well as spices.

Having a trusty and foolproof crumble recipe at your disposal makes it super easy to whip up a comforting desert at a moment’s notice. Try our new flavour combinations or seasonal fruit to add a twist to this classic.