Crumble

Regarded as close cousins of pies, crumbles are simple and hearty baked creations made with sweet or savory ingredients. The sweet varieties usually consist of fruit that is placed on the bottom of the tray and topped with a crumbly mixture of butter, sugar, and flour. The savory variants employ meat or vegetables and use cheese as a replacement for sugar. Ground or chopped nuts and oats are a very common addition to the crumbly topping, which provides a more complex texture of the crispy cover. It is believed that the British crumble originated in the midst of the Second World War when original pie ingredients were hard to come by and were considered a luxury. From its humble beginning, crumble became one of the most popular British dishes, especially in its dessert form. With its rustic appeal, frugal ingredients, and quick preparation, it is one of the most common desserts found on the British Isles. It quickly outgrew the borders of its home location and became a dessert that is commonly eaten in the United States and France. The most common fruits used in a crumble are apples, followed by blueberries, plums, apricots, cherries, peaches, and blackberries. With a scoop of ice cream or warm custard on the side, crumble becomes a decadent, luxurious dish.