Decadently syrupy and served bubbling hot, apple and plum crumble is a rustic dessert that overwhelms your senses.
All the tastes and textures you love about fall are in this classic cast iron skillet dessert. Plum crumble gets elevated to new heights with the addition of a few apples. Top with ice cream, and it's a must-make fall recipe!
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Yummy Fall Dessert
There is so much to love about this apple and plum crumble. It's not just appealing to look at; the aromas will have you digging in with a spoon before it cools off. The rich, candied flavors of the apples and plums are topped with a crispy and crunchy crumb topping.
It's a fruity explosion of heady flavors. Add this to your favorite fall recipes list - right along with apple cider donuts and pumpkin pecan pie. This dazzling plum crisp is just begging you to make it, top it with ice cream, and dig in spoon first!
What is a crumble?
A crumble is a fruit dessert with a crumbly topping, hence the name. The topping isn't a crust, it really does crumble across the apple plum crisp filling.
Crumble vs Crisp
Crumble and crisp have become interchangeable names for this type of dessert. In the strictest sense, a crumble's topping is more like a strudel and a crisp's topping has oats and sometimes nuts.
So this could be an apple plum crumble with oats or an apple plum crisp. No matter the name, this is an incredibly tasty dessert you'll want to make often.
Why You'll Love This Apple and Plum Crumble Recipe
This apple and plum crisp recipe dances on your tongue. First, the caramelized rolled oats give you a satisfying crunch. Then, underneath it all is the sticky plum and apple filling. It's surprisingly rich and sweet, the perfect balance of falls' warm cinnamon spices.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need for the crumble topping:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats - make sure to use rolled oats and not quick-cooking oats
- All-purpose flour
- Light brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter - make sure your butter is very, very cold for the best crumb
Here's what you'll need for the fruit filling:
- Apples - see below for the best types of apples to use
- Plums - you want them ripe but not overly ripe
- Lemon juice - prevent apples from turning brown
- Light brown sugar - sweetens the fruit filling
- All-purpose flour - thickens the fruit juices while it bakes
- Ground cinnamon - warm fall seasoning that compliments the apples
- Salt - enhances the flavors
Best Apples for a Crumble or Crisp
You'll want to use a firm, tart apple when baking a fruit dessert. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Jonathan apples are the best apples for crumbles, crisps, and cobblers.
How to Make Apple and Plum Crumble
Crumble Topping
- Combine oats, flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Add very cold butter cut into cubes.
- Use a pastry cutter to cut the mixture together until it resembles coarse crumbs. I like to use my fingers once it is partially mixed to help form the crumbs more quickly.
Fruit Filling
- Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Stir together.
- Peel and core apples then slice thinly. Pour lemon juice over them to prevent browning.
- Place the sliced plums and apples into the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Toss well to coat.
- Place the fruit filling in a 10" iron skillet that has been coated with butter.
- Crumble the topping on top of the apples and pears.
- Bake in a 375-degree oven for 30-35 minutes. When the plum crisp is done, you will notice that the fruit filling is bubbling up around the crumble topping. NOTE: DO NOT GRAB THE HANDLE WITHOUT POT HOLDERS. IT WILL BE VERY HOT!
I like to serve this apple plum crisp while warm. Scoop it out onto a plate and serve with a topping of vanilla ice cream. Perfect for the fall and winter days ahead. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Plum Apple Crumble
This dessert is wonderful on its own or topped with something cool and creamy. Here are the most popular toppings:
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Vanilla Pudding
- Whipped Cream
Make Ahead
You can make this dessert a day ahead. You'll need to assemble it but not bake it. Instead, cover it and refrigerate it overnight.
The next day, take the crumble out of the refrigerator an hour before baking. Bake as directed in the recipe.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
To Store: Let the crumble cool completely and cover the crumble with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Cover the crumble with plastic wrap and then wrap it with aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
Note when freezing a crumble or crisp, the filling may get somewhat watery and the topping won't be as crunchy.
To Reheat: The best way to reheat a fruit crumble is in the oven at 350°F until warmed through. You can also microwave it in 30-second intervals. Microwaved crumble topping won't be as crunchy.
More Apple Desserts
- Apple Bundt Cake with pecans is an easy cake to make in one bowl.
- Apple Dumplings with vanilla sauce.
- Apple Cider Pound Cake with caramel glaze.
- Apple Pie Cookies from Crayons & Cravings
- Caramel Apple Crisp Bars with pecans.
Find lots of delicious dessert recipes here on 2CM!
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Apple and Plum Crumble
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold butter, cut in cubes
Fruit Filling
- 2 ½ cups apples, peeled & cored cut in thin slices
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 ½ cups plums cut in wedges
- ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 10" iron skillet. If you don't have an iron skillet, use a similar size oven-safe dish.
Crumble Topping
- Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
- Cut in butter using a pastry cutter and/or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Fruit Filling
- Cut up apples and sprinkle with lemon juice.
- Cut up plums.
- In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add fruit to the bowl and toss until all pieces are well coated.
- Pour fruit mixture into prepared skillet.
- Cover with crumble topping.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes or until you can see the fruit mixture bubbling and the crumbs are browned. BE CAREFUL WHEN REMOVING SKILLET FROM OVEN. USE A POT HOLDER OR OVEN MITT TO GRAB THE HANDLE.
- Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream.
