did crumble (e.g.apple, rhubarb & co) exist before the 60's?

Question

I had rhubard crumble for pud this afternoon, my stepmum said crumble wasnt around in her day - when did it first come about and who invented it??!

yes I had it in the 50's too at school, but was it really around longer than that? I promised her I'd find out, there's apple crumble next week for me if I can tell her!

Answer 1

Goodness me yes! My mother made it for us in the 50's and got the recipe from her mother in her childhood (say 20's?).

Can't help on the full history I'm afraid.

Answer 2

crumples have been around since WW2 ...since it orginated in britain maybe she heard it called somethin else,perhaps a crisp
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A crumble is a dish of British origin containing stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of fat (usually butter), flour, and sugar. The crumble is baked in an oven until the topping is crisp. It is often served with custard, cream or ice cream as a hearty, warm close to a meal. A similar dish, without sugar, can be made with a filling of minced beef or lamb.

Popular fruits used in crumbles include apple, blackberry, peach, rhubarb, gooseberry and plum. The topping may also include rolled oats, ground almonds or other nuts, and sometimes sour milk (e.g. vinegar and milk) is added to give the crumble a more extravagant taste. Brown sugar is often sprinkled over the crumble topping, which caramelises slightly when the pudding is baked. In some recipes the topping is made from broken biscuits (cookies in American English) or even breakfast cereals, but this is not traditional.

Crumbles originated in Britain during World War II, due to strict rationing: the ingredients required to make the bases of pies required too much of the necessary flour, fat and sugar to make the pastry. So a simple mixture of flour, margarine and sugar was required to make the top of the crumble. The dish was also popular due to its simplicity, as it allowed women more time to do other tasks.

In some parts of America a very similar dish may be called a crisp. It is also similar to a fruit cobbler (popular in the USA), although the topping for a cobbler is generally smoother and less crumbly.

Answer 3

Crumble puddings have been around for many years, at least since 1900. Your Stepmum is either winding you up, or more likely she is referring to the packet's of ready mixed crumble you can buy at the shop, to which you just add the fruit and bake in oven.

Answer 4

I have a cookbook from the wood stove era in the western days that has recipe for crumble, made with whatever fruit was ripe on the trees. The only variation is the amount of liquid ADDED TO THE RECIPE, friuts with more flesh and water took less liquid added.

Answer 5

Crumble has been made for at least the past 50 years.

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

Yes I beleive it did, I am pretty sure I can remember having it in the 5Os! Not the packet of ready mix type of course, you had to have it made properly, may even have made it at school?

Answer 8

crumble has been round for 100's of years,,,, the one im eating now must be the first lot!! lol

Answer 9

it was invented around 1920 or so. to use up gluts of fruit.

Answer 10

My mother in law says her mum made it for her when she was a child.