Nine comforting crumble recipes perfect for a rainy day

Midweek desserts need to be quick, easy and preferably topped with ice cream. Crumbles tick all of these boxes

Crumbles are the quickest of comforting desserts, dollop with ice cream and enjoy.

Spiced plum crumble with whiskey cream

recipe by:Colm O'Gorman

Warm, spicy crumble with seasonal plums and served with a thick, luxurious whiskey cream is a hearty dessert sure to impress your dinner party guests

Servings

6

Preparation Time

 20 mins

Cooking Time

 18 mins

Total Time

 38 mins

Course

 Baking

Ingredients

• 600g fresh plums

• 2 tsp sugar

• juice and zest of 1 orange

• ¾ tsp ground allspice

• 80g plain flour

• 80g sugar

• 60g butter

• handful of amaretti biscuits

• For the whiskey cream:

• 250ml whipping cream

• 1 tsp sugar

• 1 tbsp whiskey

Method

1. Remove the pits from the plums and cut the fruit into quarters. Pop it into a saucepan along with two teaspoons of sugar, the allspice and the juice and zest of an orange. Bring to a soft boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the fruit softens. You want to the fruit to be soft but to retain its shape, so do not overcook it, about ten minutes should easily do it.

2. Cut the butter into small cubes and pop it into a bowl along with the flour and sugar. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour and sugar until you have a mix with the consistency of breadcrumbs. Crush in half of the amaretti biscuits, reserving the other half for now.

3. Heat your oven to 180°C. Spoon the coked fruit into an ovenproof dish and top with the crumble. Crush the remainder of the amaretti biscuits over the crumble to finish. Bake until the crumble is crisp and golden, and the fruit is bubbling up through the top, about 8-10 minutes.

4. Pour the cream into a large bowl along with the sugar and whiskey. Whisk until it thickens into soft peaks. Serve the crumble warm with a generous dollop of cream.

Cinnamon pear crumble

recipe by:Michelle Darmody

This oaty, gently spiced golden crumble is paried with a pear, apple and golden raisin filling - a treat with every bite!

Servings

8

Preparation Time

 20 mins

Cooking Time

 40 mins

Total Time

 60 mins

Course

 Baking

Ingredients

• For the crumble:

• 120g plain flour

• 50g wholemeal flour

• 130g cold butter, cubed

• 30g muscovado sugar — a little extra for sprinkling

• 80g porridge oats

• 30g hazelnuts, chopped

• For the fruit layer:

• 500g pears, cored and sliced

• 100g apples, cored and slice

• 50g golden raisins

• 1 tbsp honey

• 3 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

1. Heat your oven to 180°C.

2. Beat together the flour, butter and sugar until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs. Do not over beat as it will start to combine too much. Stir the nuts into the crumble mixture along with the oats.

3. Toss the pear, apple, raisins, honey, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla together. Scoop the mixture into an ovenproof dish.

4. Gently sprinkle the toping onto the fruit. Sprinkle with the extra muscovado sugar and place into the oven for about 40 minutes, until the fruit are soft and the topping has turned golden.