British Oaty Apple Crumble Is Richer Than a Traditional Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is apple crumble American or British? ›

Apple crumble is a British pudding similar to the apple crisp that originated during World War II food rationing. The crumble topping is made of butter, flour, and brown sugar rolled together so that it resembles breadcrumbs.

Like an apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. But unlike the crisp, the crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts. Instead, a crumble's topping is more like streusel, made with flour, sugar and butter.

A crumble is typically a dessert with a crumbly topping consisting of flour, butter, sugar, and sometimes oats, baked over a fruit filling. Apple and rhubarb are two popular varieties. Savoury fillings such as meat, cheese or vegetables may alternatively be used.

History of apple crumble

Apple crumble was probably invented in the 1940s as an alternative to traditional apple pie. Because of the war, it was harder to get the ingredients for pastry (flour and butter),so instead people made a little 'crumble' from fat and flour and just sprinkled it on top of the stewed fruit.

The difference comes down to the seasoning — and the apples

The use of cinnamon is very good." While Brits sometimes put cinnamon in apple pie, Hollywood told us it's not a mandatory ingredient over there like it is in the U.S.: "I don't think my mum put it in; my mum just used a little bit of sugar and apple.

A crisp is extremely similar to a crumble in that it is a baked dessert made with fresh fruit and a crumbly streusel-esque topping. Originally, the difference between a crumble and a crisp, however, was an ingredient used in the topping: crisps would contain oats and crumbles would not.

The main reason your crumble topping isn't crunchy is probably because you haven't used Demerara sugar. Although, it could also be that you've got your topping ingredient quantities wrong: either too much or not enough flour and butter alongside the sugar.

A brown betty is similar to a crisp or crumble, except the topping is layered into the fruit mixture before baking for an intensely crunchy effect.

The Difference Between Apple Crumble and Crisp

The closest in the American tradition is the apple crisp, but this version usually includes oats, which the classic British dish lacks.

In many English-speaking countries outside North America, including the United Kingdom, the most common word for a crisp cookie is "biscuit". The term "cookie" is normally used to describe chewier ones. However, in many regions both terms are used.

What is in a Humble Crumble? ›

You can also enjoy crumble ready to bake at home: each 'crumble bundle' comes with your choice of fruit base, twice-baked shortbread crumble (either traditional or vegan) and a healthy dose of vanilla custard (made using high-grade Indonesian planifolia vanilla beans), clotted vanilla ice cream, or extra thick double ...

An apple brown betty is a variation on the classic apple crisp or apple crumble, but with some slight differences. In this traditional dessert, fruit—usually apples, but others can be used—is baked in layers with sweetened, toasted crumbs that turns into a golden, crumbly finish when done.

Dessert-wise, in this case, specifically apple centric, pie would be the apple filling encased in upper and lower pastry sheets with a nice decorative crimp at the join. A crumble is most usually the Apple filling directly in the dish with a crumble topping, most often basically made up of sugar, butter and flour.

Place the flour, demerara sugar and butter into a mixing bowl and rub with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in the oats. Scatter onto the apples and then sprinkle the extra sugar on top.

The origins of apple crumble can be traced back to the early 20th century when it was first mentioned in British cookbooks as a popular dessert. During World War II, food shortages led to a shortage of pastry ingredients, and apple crumble became a popular alternative to apple pie, which required more ingredients.

American Apple Crumble requires a firm apple. Some people don't like Granny Smith apples because they are too tart but I love them in apple crumble because they balance the sweetness of the sugar and cinnamon. Jazz or Royal Gala are also excellent options (a Bramley Apple is too mushy).

It may even be an American import of sorts (where it is known as apple crisp), given the earliest print recipes for the crisp-slash-crumble are both found in US cookbooks, in 1924 or 1950, depending on who you Google.

Rather than the good old US-of-A, apple pie as we know it first originated in England, where it developed from culinary influences from France, the Netherlands, and even the Ottoman Empire. In fact, apple trees weren't even native to North America until the Europeans arrived.