Violet Crumble

Despite being separated by almost a century, I feel as if the creator of the Violet Crumble, Abel Hoadley, and I are kindred spirits. Hoadley was an innovator and a romantic. He created the Violet Crumble, the well-loved Australian chocolate bar, in 1913, and named the confection after his wife’s favourite flower, the violet. In New Zealand, I had grown up with Crunchie bars, which are similar to but not as crisp as the Violet Crumble. New Zealanders, myself included, love