Going Nuts for Crumble

• An apple crumble has only two components, apples and topping. Nuts can be used in either or both. If you love the smoothness of cooked apples, use nuts only in the topping; if you find the apples alone a bit bland, mix them with nuts before adding the topping. You may add finely chopped nuts to the apple mixture and larger chunks to the oat topping. Because burned nuts will ruin your dessert, keep an eye on the dish as it bakes. Cover the crumble with foil if the nuts start to burn or blacken before the timer sounds. Alert others that you've included nuts before dishing out the dessert.

Pecans and Walnuts

• The two varieties of nuts most often found in an apple crumble topping are pecans and walnuts. Both have a high fat content that adds a silky, pleasant mouth feel to your crumble. Both nuts also develop typically "nutty" flavors when toasted, a flavor that plays well with the bright sweetness of the apple. Don't add both types to one crumble, however, as they'll overpower the dish and muddle the flavors.

Almonds and Peanuts

• If you've ever added a handful of almonds or peanuts to your oatmeal or granola, you know these nuts are a perfect fit for oats and spices -- making them an ideal match for apple crumble. Add untoasted almond slivers to your topping mixture, or pump up the peanut flavor by substituting peanut butter for some of the butter in the topping. If you're an adventurous baker, use a mixture of salted and unsalted peanuts in the dish, or sprinkle honey-roasted peanuts over each bowl of the finished crumble.

More Nuts to Try

• Chestnuts aren't a traditional addition to apple crumble, but they're a classic companion to apples in autumnal dishes. During fall, make a filling of apples, pears, dried cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped, roasted chestnuts. Pine nuts have a piney, sweet flavor that becomes intensely nutty when toasted, but they burn quickly. Sprinkle raw pine nuts on top of the dish during the last five or so minutes of baking. Finely chopped pistachios or macadamia nuts added to the oat topping will also give your crumble a crunchy sweetness that will have your taste testers inquiring about your secret ingredient.