Indian-Inspired Fruit Crumbles: Cardamom Apple and Mango Coconut

If you already love desserts, this one is for you. Now, imagine desserts, which are known for being extremely self-indulgent in nature, are carrying the benefits of fruits in them. Doesn’t that sound cosy, comforting yet tempting?

In fruit crumbles, which have a British origin, tender seasonal fruity fillings meet the crisp and crunch of a streusel-like topping primarily made from flour, butter, and sugar, served with either whipped cream or ice cream. Often baked in ramekins, these individually-sized portions of the dessert are perfect for almost any occasion.

Fruit crumbles are best defined as a baked dessert featuring a fruity base and filling topped with a crunchy, streusel-like layer made from flour, butter, oats (optional), and sugar. After baking, while the top layer remains crunchy, the fruity layers underneath become soft and gooey.

An Indian twist often includes Indian fruits, spices, and toppings to create a desi version of the British comfort food. In these Indianized versions, apart from the regional seasonal fruits, we may also see spicy twists like cardamom, saffron, and nutmeg.

To gain the crunchy texture of the crumble topping, mix cold cubes of butter with flour, oats, and sugar, and pulse them into rough breadcrumbs. You may stir in a pinch of salt as well. You may customize the topping with added crunch from almond flakes, dried fruits, and seeds. Once made, just add the crumble mixture on top of your fruity base and filling, and bake it. Here, we have crafted a few of the Indian-inspired fruit crumbles for you to try at home. Let’s explore !!

1. Apple Crumble

Apple Crumble, also known as Apple Crisp to many, is the most popular fruit crumble. Just imagine nice, caramelized apples on the bottom with a baked, crispy crumble on top. Yes, that’s Apple Crumble for you. To further enhance the flavor profile, cinnamon is an ideal choice.

To prepare the classic dish, assemble flour, sugar, butter, and oats, the basic ingredients for the crumble topping. If you need more crunch, you may consider adding almond flakes, nuts, and dried fruits of your choice. Now, pour the crumbles over the peeled and diced apples mixed with maple syrup, cinnamon, and allow it to bake at 180°C for 20-25 minutes

2. Mango-Coconut Crumble

While summers are scorching in India, don’t we all wait for sweet, ripe mangoes to fill the air with the signature summery flavor? From Alphonso to Himsagar, hundreds of varieties are available across India. Now, how about turning these plump mangoes into a comfort dessert like fruit crumble while infusing some coconutty goodness into it?

This perfect summer treat, with soft, plump, luscious mangoes and crunchy coconuts on the button, topped with some crunchy toppings, is ideal for those holiday parties during summer with your loved ones.

3. Pineapple Crumble

Besides apples, mangoes, and coconuts, pineapples also work incredibly well as the base of fruit crumbles. Moreover, the quintessential tropical fruit also pairs well with Indian spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. For this recipe, it is ideal to choose a ripe pineapple. For the crunchy crumble topping, you may consider oats and desiccated coconut alongside the flour, butter, and sugar.

Once assembled, bake the layered dessert for 25 minutes in the oven and serve with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream.

4. Mixed Fruit Crumble

For this variation of fruit crumbles, you may grab assorted fruits of your choice that are available in your fridge. Be it mango, papaya, apple, or banana, any seasonal fruit can go well with this versatile recipe with a crunchy topping made with a surprising twist.

5. Grape Crumble

While grapes are not a very common choice for fruit crumbles, the seedless, sweet grapes, with some lemon juice squeezed in, mixed with cinnamon, and then topped with a sweet, crunchy, and nutty crumble indeed make for a delicious one. For some added taste and flavor, you may consider adding some fresh berries and dried fruits as well.

6. Banana Crumble

Banana Crumble is that perfect collaboration of sweetness at the bottom and crunch at the top. It is ideal to pick the ripest bananas for this recipe. Mash them well or cut them into slices and place them at the bottom of your ramekin to prepare the base and filling before you cover it with a thick layer of crunchy crumble toppings and bake it.

7. Quince with Walnut Crumble

This variety of fruit crumbles adds a spicy tone to the baked dessert. As the name suggests, here the base is made from spicy quince, a temperate fruit that primarily grows in northern parts of India, while the crumble includes the added crunchiness of walnut and oats. This perfect dessert balances the flavors of sweetness with warming spices.

Slow baking plays a crucial role in this dish, as it transforms the fruit infused with honey, brown sugar, and aromatic spice into a soft, gooey consistency, and a crunchy walnut topping adds the perfect contrast.