Urgent - Fruit Crumble Needs Saving

canspendnomore

I'm not sure I'm in the right place, but I hope I am as I need some help pronto.

I've been lurking on here for a bit and having been inspired (and as I've only just had my 'lightbulb moment' finances are rubbish) I bought some plums that were reduced in the co-op, I also had some apples that were past their best so decided to make crumbles for the freezer.

I used a recipe from a frugal cookbook, but the crumble is like flour. Nearly choked on it when I timed my breathing wrong.

Right, so I can't just chuck it in the bin, but it's not really edible either.

What can I do with it?

Oh and I don't have a dog if that's what you're thinking!!!

BitterAndTwisted

What proportions of flour, fat and sugar did you use originally? This should help you figure out what you need to do with it once you've taken it back off the crumble

canspendnomore

200g flour to 75g margarine.

It's already been cooked. Would it be okay to scrape it off and add some more margarine?

jackieglasgow

I don't think that will work. Can you not just have it with custard? If money is tight, Mr T do a sachet of custard which is about 7p I think. I tried it once, but used half water, half milk and it was OK. Other thought is some honey or syrup over it , mix it in a bit, then grill it to sort of crisp it up? If it's already ruined, that might be worth a try?

a_sav

We are fond of the 7p custard sauce from Mr T or Mr S must try the half half mix.

BitterAndTwisted

What would I do? Either use the fruit as a filling for pies, make a new crumble mixture with 150gr flour, 75gr sugar and 75gr sugar (which are the proportions I always use) or if you can't make a new crumble mixture scrape the "crumble" off the top and use whatever hasn't got all soggy with the fruit and replace the ingredients to the same proportions as previously given

canspendnomore

Thanks everyone.

I'll have to separate the fruit and either go without the crumble or do another one on top.

It's very frustrating as I'd made loads to put in the freezer and it's not very money saving to throw half of it in the bin, is it?

If I could afford a bottle of wine, I'd drown my sorrows, but as it is, I'll have to have a cup of tea.

canspendnomore

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

... make a new crumble mixture with 150gr flour, 75gr sugar and 75gr sugar (which are the proportions I always use)

My Mum (who lives with us) doesn't like stuff that's sweet - if I omit the sugar does that mean I need to change anything to compensate?

PasturesNew

200g flour and 75g fat, I think you must have read the recipe wrong, or it's a typo.

I'd find another recipe, with more fat in it, weigh out the extra and then beat the existing crumble top in with the new fat .... and give it another go in the oven.

canspendnomore

Checked the recipe (definitely a typo!). Got the book free from the Council will be letting them know!!

As it turned out it was not possible to separate the fruit from the soggy gooey mess that was my crumble, so it all went in the bin!!!

I really must get that dog!

Thanks for all your suggestions though.

ubamother

I really don't like fine crumble, and cheat slightly and add a little water to the crumble mix before I pop it on the fruit - this makes it slightly more chunky than crumbly/floury. It may not be 'correct' but it tastes much better to me. Texture can also be added by adding oats, nuts etc.