Apple Blackberry Crumble

Difference between crumble and crisp

Both desserts have a fruit layer and a streusel topping.

A crumble has a topping that involves a mixture of butter, flour, and sugar. If you add oats, it becomes a crisp.

I disagree a bit on this last point, as you can make a crumble topping very crisp without oats by using the right proportions of the rest of the ingredients.

You can upgrade both with other ingredients like spices, and nuts in the topping. 

Whether you call it a crumble or a crisp, both are widely recognized, and we all know what type of dessert we're talking about. With so many recipes online and a wide variety of languages, they are used interchangeably. 

Ingredients

• Apples: I like granny smith because of their acidity, but your favorite baking apple will work. Keep in mind that they might be sweeter.
• Blackberries: fresh or frozen work fine for this dessert.
• Orange: I like the sweetness of orange and it goes well with blackberries (remember the Blackberry Muffin Loaf?). But lemon and tangerine also work.
• Cinnamon: any ground cinnamon you normally use works fine. I like Frontier Vietnamese cinnamon and Simply Organic Ceylon cinnamon. 
• Vanilla: I use pure vanilla extract or pure vanilla paste when available, but a good vanilla essence (artificially flavored) also works and is infinitely cheaper. 
• Unsalted butter.
• Flour: all-purpose or cake flour, both work.
• Sugar: you can use white sugar or light brown sugar.

Do you need to peel the apples?

Though this is up to you, I recommend you peel them, as they will not stay crunchy but chewy and not in a good way.

How to cut the apples

I like to cut the apples into thin slices if using them raw, or thicker ones if cooking them before assembling the dessert. But it is a matter of preference. 

You can also dice them as we do for the apple berry crumble recipe. 

Video tutorial for cutting apples👇🏻

Serving

Serve it warm with a dollop of cream or ice cream on top. That will always be the best way, in my opinion.

• Cream: poured cold directly from the container is how we eat it at my house. Alternatively, whip some cold cream with sugar (find the recipe in the Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes post).
• Ice cream: a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream will always be a crowd-pleaser! Butter pecan works wonders also.

Kitchen notes

• Organization: read the recipe first and ensure you have ingredients at the correct temperature, equipment, and enough workspace. This will make the process so much easier.
• Baking time: keep in mind that all ovens and pans are different, even if they look the same or very similar. The baking time in my recipes is as accurate as it can be, but it might take you more or less time. You can use a thermometer(like the OXO oven thermometer) to check that your oven is at the right temperature. I recommend you keep track of how your oven works and what tiny details you might need to adjust. 
• Pre-cooked apples: you can put the apples, cornstarch, and sugar in a saucepan and cook over low heat for a few minutes until the fruit softens and some juice is released and thickens. As the apples continue to bake, they will soften and become more compote-like. 
• Raw apples: simply mix the apple slices with the thickening ingredients in a bowl until it's all coated and dump them onto the baking dish. Or mix it directly in the baking dish, it's messier but you don't have to wash an extra bowl. Even though the apples bake in the oven they will remain crisper and less sweet. 

How do I get my crumble crunchy?

The right amount of sugar and butter versus flour will give you a crunchier or more floury topping. You'll love how crisp the one in this recipe is. Also, ensure you bake it until golden, which means the sugar caramelizes, making it crunchier.

What are the best fruits for a crumble?

Almost any fruit can be used in a crumble, except for melon, watermelon, and a few others. Stone fruit (like peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums), apples, pears, and berries are the most popular.

How do you thicken the fruit?

To thicken the fruit layer of a crumble, cobbler, or crisp, you must add a thickener agent like cornstarch or flour. It will mix with the juices as it bakes and create a wonderful syrup.