The trees have shed their leaves and a thick carpet in hues of burgundy red, rust orange and apple-yellows lie under my feet. They crinkle beneath my battered running shoes as I run along the gravel path towards the stream, shimmering in the early morning sun rays. Taking a seat on the park bench, the air tingles crisply on my cheeks and I can smell the snow in the far distance. Not long now and the landscape will change colors again.
Before I moved to Germany I always dreaded the colder months of the year. For a girl who grew up on beaches and in the sun, the idea of anything below 20 degrees C was terrifying. But things changed over the years.
Frosty mornings and hot chocolate evenings, evoke contrasting emotions. As summer waves good-bye, part of me finds it hard to let go of the warm summer nights and the endless bright days. The other part of me looks forward to the turning of the leaves in breathtaking hues coloring even the dullest of grey skies.
While I do dread the icy coldness of winter, it is the possibility of pure white snow and the sureness of the holidays that make the change of the seasons all the more enthralling. Festive seasons, with the decadence of the Thanksgiving table and the splendor of Christmas are just around the corner waiting for us to embrace it with a warming glow.
Even the pile of fluttering brown leaves waiting to be herded up and taken away have a certain eloquent beauty. In front of the doorstep a basketful of the sweetest red apples take my thoughts away to spices like cardamom, cinnamon and caramelized fruit.
It’s Thanksgiving after all and at the table, a rustic dessert cannot be missed. Apples and pumpkins roasting in the oven, oozing in their caramelized sugars, sprinkled with a hint of cardamom and cinnamon and making the kitchen smell so divine you can literally taste the flavors through the air. A crumble it shall be – topped with pecans and a crumbly sugary streusel.
Come on over, sit down and dig in – there’s plenty to go around. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Printable version of recipe here
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
For the fruit
- 500g butternut squash and apples, cut into 2-3 cm chunks
- 100g muscovado Sugar
- ½ teaspoon cardamom, ground
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 100g flour
- 75g butter
- 75g muscovado sugar
- 50g pecan, chopped
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
- Place the pumpkin and apple chunks in an ovenproof form. Sprinkle with sugar and spices and toss well to coat. Dot with butter and place in the oven to roast for about 10-15 minutes. The pumpkin and apple chunks need to just gently caramelize in the sugar but not become tender.
- In the meantime, make the crumble topping by placing the flour in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Stir in the sugar and pecans and mix well until evenly distributed.
- Transfer the pumpkin and apple with their juices into 4 small ramekin forms or in one ovenproof dish. Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Serve hot with ice cream, custard or some whipped cream.
Verdict
This crumble is just one of those desserts that make a meal satisfyingly complete. One can poach the fruit but something about roasting them in spices and sugars that allows the aromas to unfold wonderfully.
Plan for an easy Thanksgiving meal with my Thanksgiving Menu Planer including recipes for Roasted Thyme Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi and Butternut Squash and Turkey Roulade with Cranberry Mushroom Stuffing. You’ll find more divine recipe ideas from sides, entrées to desserts and soups under my Thanksgiving/Christmas Recipes or my Friends and Feasts labels. Happy planning!
While, everyday I am thankful for the little things in life, the good fortune I receive and the opportunity to be able to learn lessons making me wiser, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to YOU. For coming to my space and filling it with energy, for sharing your feedback and for being such active readers and friends.
Thank you!
You might like these dessert ideas from WFLH:
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Kumquat Tian | Lavender Cardamom Scented Flan de la Casa | Mousse - White Chocolate Cardamom with Spekulatius Crumbs |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2011 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First
A marvelous Thanksgiving crumble and combination of festive flavors! I love your props and pictures.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
Roasting fruit adds warmth and intensity to the dish. The hint of cardamom got my attention. Happy Thanksgiving Meeta.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Venice, and cold winters are the norm. I now live in California, no much snow unless you go to the mountains. As much as I don't miss the cold of the winter, I miss the snow, the crisp air, the sound of your footsteps on freshly packed snow. I get giddy like a little girl every time I am in the snow, and immediately start throwing snow balls.
ReplyDeleteI am making an apple dessert for the Thanksgiving table too, even though we will be in Los Angeles.
Lovely photos.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Those leaves are covered by a blanket of white snow, can you hear my bones creaking and cringing over the miles. I would of course be easily comforted by this amazing dessert Meeta.
ReplyDeleteCrumble looks absolutely divine..
ReplyDeleteWonderful post and nice trat..Happy Thanksgiving Meeta
ReplyDeletexx
oh I never thought of mixing pumpkin and apples in a crumble- what a great idea. Happy thanksgiving to you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great recipe. I'm enchanted with your props...a scarf? I think I'll experiment with some of mine, you are so inspirational! Thank you for inspiring me culinary wise and artistically.
ReplyDeleteI love a good crumble, and this one has all the warmth and goodness of the holiday season.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving Meeta. We make apple desserts too for our celebrations. I love the cardamom in their. I am sure it rounds out all the flavours all to well. ENjoy the rest of the week!
ReplyDeleteCrumble looks divine!
ReplyDeleteI really love your photos... you really are a great inspiration :) Your style is so unique Meeta!
Thanks
I love the recipe and I love the sentiments even more, Meeta. Having read this, I feel as though the temperature has risen about 10 degrees!
ReplyDeleteToller Blog! Nur schade das es keine deutsche Seite gibt.
ReplyDeleteCiao Werner
cucinaepiu.de
Gorgeous, Meeta! Love the flavours in there and I am a sucker for a crumble... plus I now also have scarf/cloth envy ;)
ReplyDeleteLovely thanksgiving Meeta!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos !!
ReplyDeletelook amazing:)
ReplyDeleteThis is a dish i'll be trying out with my daughter. Looks marvelous and thanks for putting it up.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like best, heartfelt prose, visually stunning images and delicious food. This crumble is just fall-perfect. Thankful for you.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so lovely Meeta. I have always loved the winter months and then in particular snow but most of the times we end up with just cold rain and no snow. Well last year was a major exception so maybe we will have some more this year too. We will see! Love your crumble and thank you for being you!
ReplyDeleteCraving crumble (or anything with apples). And now I see this. Thanks for the torture dear Meeta. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful looking crumble Meeta! Coming from a land of tropics, I would welcome cold weather to escape the heat! But truth be told I am a bit of a sissy when it comes to the cold ;)
ReplyDeleteBelated Thanksgiving greetings to you!
Wow! This crumble looks amazing! Can't wait to try this recipe over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are enjoying this crumble. Thanks for your comments and feedback! The flavors are perfect for the cooler months warming you from the inside out. Hope everyone had a grand Thanksgiving feast - now we move on to Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I can't wait to serve this. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
ReplyDelete