14 autumn crumbles that are as delicious as they are comforting

A crispy crumble dough

If crumble is so easy to make, it’s because its dough only requires three ingredients. The basic recipe only contains butter, flour and sugar. However, nothing prevents us from revisiting it to vary the pleasures.
You can replace white flour with another, more typical one, such as rye or chestnut flour. You can also use oat flour or whole flakes. Its cereal taste gives the dough a muesli feel and works wonderfully with seasonal fruits, which can be combined with chocolate chips (we never forget the sweet tooth).

For those who do not eat gluten, a good alternative is to replace part of the flour with oilseed powder. Walnuts, pistachios, almonds… They are perfect for desserts with autumnal flavors. Not only do they go well with seasonal products, but they also add a crunchy touch. Exactly the texture you are looking for in a crumble!

Another tip: use grated coconut. It brings a bit of exoticism to our dessert while reducing the amount of sugar used in the dough. A way to treat yourself without feeling guilty. White sugar can also be completely replaced by less refined alternatives. Muscovado, whole sugar or coconut blossom will do the job perfectly and will also give a nice brown color to the dough. On the other hand, avoid liquid sugars like honey and agave syrup which tend to soften the dough, making it lose its crispy side.
As for butter, it can be replaced by a healthier fat (without saturated fatty acids) such as coconut oil. You can choose deodorized if you don’t like the taste. However, we do not recommend oilseed oils because they do not support cooking.

The final touch for an original crumble dough: spices. Since it’s autumn, we might as well play the theme to the max. We’re going for warm spices like cinnamon, star anise, anise, cardamom and nutmeg. Some peppers can also work, but their flavors remain quite subtle.

A tasty and seasonal garnish

Team apple crumble or pear crumble? If you have trouble choosing, mix the two fruits. This is also the reason why we love crumble: you can make it with any ingredient. In autumn, we therefore rely on seasonal fruits for a tasty dessert. Pears, apples, bananas, and grapes… All you have to do is cut them into cubes or slices and then arrange them in the bottom of a dish. Cover everything with dough and put it in the oven. You can even dare to crumble with squash or sweet potato, reduced to a puree or caramelized, whose melting texture contrasts deliciously with the crumble dough.
Be careful, some fruits like persimmons can be a little firm. The solution is then to put them in the pan for a few minutes to caramelize them.

Don’t forget to add some toppings before or after baking. A handful of chocolate chips, a few nuts, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream…

The autumn crumble now has no more secrets for you.