You'll love making Loquat Crumble, the tastiest way to use up your backyard loquats. A golden, crumbly topping paired with the sweet fruit base, it will keep you coming back for seconds.
What are Loquats?
Loquats sometimes are called Japanese Plums or Medlars. They are closely related to apples and have a sweet and tangy flavor. It has the flavor of a peach, apricot, citrus and mango. Not often found in stores because they bruise easily and have a shelf life of around a week.
Loquats have fallen out of fashion as a fruit for some reason. However they are tasty, and full of vitamins such as Vitamin A, minerals, antioxidants and are high in fibre. They grow in older neighbourhoods in Perth's backyards, and are a favourite snack for parrots (I've covered them with a protective net).
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Unique Flavor - a fusion of tropical loquat flavor, which can be paired perfectly with apples (as pictured)
- Easy to Make - anybody with any baking skill level can make Loquat Crumble. Perfect for beginners or seasoned bakers
- Versatile Servings - enjoy as a weeknight dinner dessert in a baking tray, or for a fancy dinner meal in personal sized servings
Ingredients
- Loquats - deseeded and quartered
- White Sugar and Flour
- Aromatics - Cinnamon and Nutmeg
- Lemon Juice
- Crumble - Flour, Oats, Brown Sugar, Butter
How to Make Loquat Crumble
- Preheat Oven - to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 inch baking pan with butter
- Prepare Loquats - in a bowl, place sliced loquats, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice. Toss until evenly coated.
- Spread - evenly spread the loquat mixture in the greased baking dish.
- Make Crumble Topping - mix together oats, flour and brown sugar. Add cold cubed butter and use your fingers to combine until it forms a crumbly mixture. Can also use a pastry cutter.
- Layer Crumble - sprinkle crumble over the loquat mixture in the baking dish, spreading evenly over fruit.
- Bake - place an oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is lightly browned.
- Serve - allow to slightly cool before serving with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Loquat Crumble Variations
- Apple Loquat Crumble - as pictured, mix 50:50 fresh loquats and sliced apples for a twist on the classic apple crumble recipe
- Vanilla Crumble - substitute cinnamon and nutmeg with a teaspoon of vanilla bean paste
- Berry Crumble - mix 50:50 fresh loquats and berries (raspberries, blueberries, cherries or blackberries)
- Spiced Crumble - add extra spices like cardamon or a bit of ground ginger
- Nut Crumble - sprinkle with walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Don't Overmix - the crumble should be crumbly. If you over mix it, it will resemble a smooth dough
- Watch Baking Time - the crumble should be golden and crispy - keep an eye during the last few minutes of baking time so it doesn't burn
- Serve Warm - best enjoyed fresh from the oven, this allows the ice cream to melt (the perfect serving contrast)
- Individual Servings - grease individual sized pans to make crumble, for a fancier way to serve. Reduce cooking time to approx 25 minutes.
Do I Need to Peel Loquats?
That's up to you, but it is a lot of effort. As pictured, the skins were kept on. The skin can feel a bit thick, but it's not a problem after it cooks. Alternatively, you can blanch loquats in hot water before peeling the fruit before using. '
Can I Use Frozen Loquats?
Yes. During Loquat season, you may have frozen your excess fruit. Allow to defrost before mixing, and check baking time as freezing causes excess liquids to be released.
Storage
- Fridge - place leftovers in an airtight container and store in fridge. Enjoy within 2-3 days. Reheat in microwave before serving.
- Freezer - place cooled, loquat crumble into individual sized, airtight container. This makes it easier to defrost and heat up. Place in freezer and enjoy within 2-3 months.
- Re-heat - allow to fully thaw, place in oven safe dish and cover with foil. Bake for about 15 minutes until heated through.
Sweet Recipes You'll Love
- Loquat Jam
- Sticky Date Pudding
- Easy Apple Turnovers
- Honey Roasted Figs
- Apricot Jam
- Honey Joys - Cornflake Cupcakes
- Passionfruit Curd
This simple Loquat recipe is full of flavor, and the perfect choice for any occasion. Easy to personalize the flavors to make it your own, just in time for loquat season. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Ingredients
Loquat Filling
- 4 cups loquats de-seeded and quartered
- ½ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Loquat Topping
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ cup cold butter cut into cubes
Instructions
- Preheat Oven - to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9 inch baking pan with butter
- Prepare Loquats - in a bowl, place sliced loquats, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice. Toss until evenly coated.
- Spread - evenly spread the loquat mixture in the greased baking dish.
- Make Crumble Topping - mix together oats, flour and brown sugar. Add cold cubed butter and use your fingers to combine until it forms a crumbly mixture. Can also use a pastry cutter.
- Layer Crumble - sprinkle crumble over the loquat mixture in the baking dish, spreading evenly over fruit.
- Bake - place an oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until fruit is bubbly and topping is lightly browned.
- Serve - allow to slightly cool before serving with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com. *originally published October 2015, updated January 2024
Emma
Love this recipe! I have an abundance of loquats. I made one today for Easter Sunday and after I tasted it, I made another one to take for a potluck tomorrow. I mixed everything and put it in the refrigerator to bake it tomorrow morning. I wanted nice and warm for our potluck. I already had the loquats without seeds in freezer bags. Thank you!
Peter Kolesnichenko
So happy to hear! Glad you enjoyed it!
katherinefaulk
This sounds and looks delicious! I'll never find loquats here, but I love learning about the variety of fruits around the world!
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks Katherine, they are a unique fruit, and tasty too! 🙂
Lynz Real Cooking
Yumm this sounds so good peter!
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks Lynn! ???? come on over for a piece!! Lol
Lynz Real Cooking
Oh i wish peter!
Rotwein Wanderer
Wow, what a combination! Haven't imagined before! Loquat is one of my favourite fruits and apple crumble is my fave as well. Must be yum!! Unfortunately, in the season of loquat, apples are not good in my country 🙁
PetersFoodAdventures
It was really delicious! I love eating fresh loquats off the tree, and the crumble was just a bonus! 🙂
gingy55
Interesting, looks & sounds wonderful!
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks for checking it out! 🙂 It was cool to discover a new fruit I never knew existed, and then cook with it 🙂
gingy55
Didn't even know the 'poison' pit informin Apricot, either. I could almost taste it as I read your post and the photos are awesome. God has blessed us with so many delectable fresh produce. And yes, it is great to find new ones.
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks for your kind words! Yes, we are blessed with such abundance. Just when you think that you've tried all the fruits, you know, from supermarkets and cooking shows, it's great to discover new unimaginable flavours. There's a whole world of food that isn't available in the supermarkets. 🙂 Heirloom veggies taste better too!
atkokosplace
I have had them before....when I was a kid. You are right, can't find them in stores. If I could, I'd grow all kinds of fruit trees. This recipe sounds lovely! Well I'm happy you get to enjoy them! Have a wonderful weekend! Koko❀
PetersFoodAdventures
Thanks for stopping by Koko, I'm lucky to have the space and climate to have lots of different fruit trees in the yard! 🙂 Have a great weekend too!
atkokosplace
Indeed you are lucky. I long for citrus trees and since I moved to a different area...can't grow them as well as many other types. Boohoo...oh well. I concentrate on what I can grow! Happy Fall!
PetersFoodAdventures
Oh that would be hard! I never grew up with fresh citrus trees, but would struggle not to have an endless supply of citrus year round! I've heard of a new lemon that has been developed that grows indoors from Canada.... that would be great if that took off! It grows on your window sill apparently!
atkokosplace
Wow! Sounds interesting. 🙂 Though not sure my window sill could accommodate. Hahaha