Perfect Fall Comfort: Cozy Banana Crumble Recipe for Beginners

A banana crumble crafts ordinary fruit into a magical dessert with its irresistible blend of textures and warmth.

Sweet, ripe bananas nestle beneath a golden, crispy topping that crackles with each spoonful.

The classic comfort food brings memories of grandmother’s kitchen and cozy afternoons.

Buttery crumbs mingle with soft, caramelized fruit, creating a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Rustic and unpretentious, this dessert speaks to the heart of home cooking with its simple ingredients and soul-satisfying appeal.

Perfectly balanced between sweet and rich, the crumble elevates the humble banana into a culinary masterpiece.

Grab your apron and prepare for a delightful baking adventure that promises pure deliciousness.

Easy Instructions for Banana Crumble Bliss

Step 1: Prepare Crumble Topping

Mix brown sugar, oats, flour, and butter in a medium bowl. Use your hands to blend until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles coarse sand. Fold in toasted pecans. Place the topping in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.

Step 2: Create Filling Base

Select a 10-inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet. Melt butter over low heat. Add brown sugar and stir continuously until completely dissolved, which takes about 3 minutes. Incorporate cinnamon and salt into the mixture.

Step 3: Add Liquid and Thicken

Carefully pour orange juice into the skillet. Be cautious as the liquid might splatter. Cook for approximately 1 minute until the sauce slightly thickens.

Step 4: Incorporate Bananas

Gently add banana chunks to the skillet. Carefully toss the bananas until they are evenly coated with the caramel-like sauce. Spread the bananas in an even layer across the skillet. Remove the skillet from heat.

Step 5: Add Crumble Topping

Sprinkle the chilled crumble topping evenly over the banana mixture, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 6: Bake and Serve

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown. After baking, let the crumble cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped topping.

Top Tips for Banana Crumble Bakers

• Banana Selection Matters: Choose ripe, slightly soft bananas with brown speckles for maximum sweetness and deeper flavor profile.
• Crumble Texture Trick: Chill the topping mixture before sprinkling to ensure a crispy, well-defined crumbly texture when baked.
• Prevent Burning Technique: Use low heat when caramelizing sugar to avoid scorching and create a smooth, rich sauce for the bananas.
• Orange Juice Pro Tip: Add orange juice carefully to prevent hot sugar splatter and create a delicate caramel-like consistency.
• Serving Suggestion: Let the crumble rest for 10 minutes after baking to allow flavors to meld and help the dessert set properly before topping with cold ice cream.

Storing and Serving Leftover Banana Crumble

• Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 325°F for 10-15 minutes to maintain the crumble's crispy texture. Microwave in short 30-second intervals if you're in a hurry, but the topping might lose some crunchiness. Enjoy within 48 hours for the best flavor and texture.

Toppings That Go with Banana Crumble

• Pair with Creamy Vanilla Companion: Serve this warm banana crumble alongside a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream, creating a heavenly contrast between the hot, caramelized bananas and the cold, smooth frozen treat.
• Complement with Warm Beverage Buddy: Enjoy a hot cup of chai latte or cinnamon-spiced coffee, which will echo the warm, comforting notes of the cinnamon and brown sugar in the crumble.
• Match with Nutty Liqueur Accent: A small glass of hazelnut liqueur or amaretto will beautifully enhance the toasted pecan flavors, adding a sophisticated and warming finish to this dessert.
• Balance with Citrus Refresher: A light, chilled orange-infused sparkling water can help cut through the richness of the dessert, mirroring the orange juice used in the recipe and providing a refreshing palate cleanser.

Banana Crumble Twists to Try

• Tropical Remix: Swap bananas with mango and pineapple chunks for a Caribbean-inspired dessert. Add shredded coconut to the crumble topping for extra tropical flair.
• Spiced Caramel Version: Replace orange juice with caramel sauce and sprinkle ground nutmeg into the filling. Top with crushed graham crackers for added texture and warmth.
• Berry Banana Fusion: Mix fresh strawberries and blueberries with banana chunks. Substitute pecans with sliced almonds in the crumble topping for a lighter, fruitier profile.
• Apple Cinnamon Adaptation: Use diced apples instead of bananas, and increase cinnamon quantity. Swap brown sugar for maple syrup in the filling for deeper, richer flavor notes.

What Makes Banana Crumble a Classic Treat

• Savor Caramelized Comfort: The recipe transforms simple bananas into a rich, gooey dessert with deep caramel notes from brown sugar and butter, creating a warm, inviting treat that hugs your taste buds.
• Master One-Skillet Magic: This dessert comes together effortlessly in a single pan, reducing cleanup and making it perfect for busy home cooks who want maximum flavor with minimal kitchen chaos.
• Embrace Textural Symphony: Crunchy toasted pecans in the crumble contrast beautifully with soft, tender banana chunks, delivering a delightful play of textures that keeps every bite interesting and satisfying.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: Ready in just 30 minutes from start to finish, this dessert is ideal for spontaneous sweet cravings or last-minute dinner party endings, proving deliciousness doesn't require complicated techniques.

Everything You’ll Need for Banana Crumble

• Brown Sugar: Adds sweet caramel-like depth and helps create crispy crumble texture.
• Oats: Provides hearty, nutty base with great chewy texture for the crumble.
• All-Purpose Flour: Helps bind the crumble ingredients together for perfect consistency.
• Butter: Creates rich flavor and helps ingredients stick together.
• Pecans: Adds crunchy nutty element with toasted depth of flavor.

• Bananas: Ripe, soft bananas work best for natural sweetness and creamy texture.
• Brown Sugar: Creates rich caramel sauce base for banana filling.
• Butter: Provides smooth, rich foundation for the sauce.
• Orange Juice: Adds bright citrus note and helps prevent bananas from browning.
• Cinnamon: Warm spice that complements banana's natural sweetness.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Ice Cream: Classic creamy topping that adds cool contrast.
• Whipped Topping: Light, airy complement to warm banana dessert.

Banana Crumble Recipe

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4.7 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Sweet banana crumble brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen. Rich caramelized fruit meets buttery crumble topping, creating a warm dessert that wraps you in nostalgic memories.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 6 medium bananas, cut into chunks about an inch long
• ¾ cup pecans, toasted

Topping Ingredients:

• ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup old fashioned oats
• ¼ cup flour
• 4 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup light or dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Serving Suggestion:

• Vanilla Ice Cream or Whipped Topping

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a 10-inch (25 centimeters) cast iron or oven-safe skillet for a delectable banana dessert.
2. Create the crumbly topping by mixing brown sugar, rolled oats, all-purpose flour, and softened butter in a medium bowl, using fingertips to blend until texture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
3. Fold toasted pecan pieces into the crumble mixture, ensuring even distribution, then refrigerate while preparing the fruity base.
4. Melt unsalted butter in the skillet over low heat, stirring in brown sugar until completely dissolved and creating a smooth caramel-like consistency.
5. Introduce ground cinnamon and a pinch of salt to the butter-sugar mixture, enhancing the depth of flavor.
6. Pour orange juice carefully into the skillet, allowing the liquid to simmer and slightly thicken for approximately one minute.
7. Gently fold banana chunks into the caramel sauce, coating each piece thoroughly and ensuring even distribution across the skillet.
8. Spread the banana mixture evenly, then remove the skillet from heat.
9. Sprinkle the chilled pecan crumble topping generously over the banana layer, covering the entire surface.
10. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the topping transforms into a golden-brown, crispy texture.
11. Remove from the oven and let the crumble rest for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the temperature to cool slightly.
12. Serve warm, accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream for an indulgent dessert experience.

Notes

• Elevate this dessert by toasting pecans beforehand, which intensifies their nutty flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the crumble topping.
• Use ripe, slightly soft bananas for maximum sweetness and a melt-in-your-mouth texture that complements the crispy oat topping.
• Cast iron skillet ensures even heat distribution and creates a beautiful caramelized base for the banana filling, enhancing overall flavor complexity.
• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream to balance the rich, sweet banana and buttery crumble textures.
• Orange juice adds surprising brightness and helps prevent banana browning while creating a subtle citrusy undertone in the caramel sauce.
• Refrigerating the crumble topping before baking helps maintain its crisp, structured texture and prevents soggy results.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 340 kcal
• Sugar: 28 g
• Sodium: 120 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg