Fruit Crumble Recipe

This is my favourite dessert in the summer and I just love making it. Why do I love it so much? Summer is the season of fresh fruit, and this dessert works with basically any fruit you want to use. I've done it with rhubarb, nectarines, apples, pears, raspberries, blueberries, raspberries ... I don't think I need to go on. A fruit crumble is super easy to make and tastes delicious. Let's see how to make one.

Let's start by setting the oven to about 180°C. Then, prepare the fruit. I used a mix of fresh and frozen here. We have about a cup of frozen strawberries, two fresh nectarines and an apple. You can also use canned fruit, but I think fresh works best! Get a ceramic dish (you can use any heatproof dish as long as its semi-deep) and wash and slice your fruit, then cover the bottom of the dish with it. Add some sugar, can be brown or white. The amount depends on how sweet you like your desserts. I like to add half a cup. Then, add the juice of one lemon and mix well. I also add plenty of cinnamon and about a tablespoon of cornstarch. Let this sit while you prepare the topping.

The most important thing about a crumble topping: you need cold butter. I would say this is the key ingredient along with the fruit. I've also made a crumble with sunflower oil, but it's really not the same! So, mix a cup of flour (you can use whole wheat, I used plain white) with half a cup of sugar. Add about a teaspoon of baking powder and a pinch of salt. I also like adding some oats for flavour and crunchiness. I add about half a cup. Then, cut in about 75 g of butter. Don't warm it up! With your hands, knead the mixture until a crumbly texture forms.

Spread your topping evenly over the fruit. Gaze in wonder at it and refrain from eating the fruit. I know, it smells good. No, you mustn't dig in. It's raw flour, you goon! Pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes. It can take longer, but keep an eye on it ... When it gets browned on the top, it's done.

Not this brown, though. This is kinda slightly over baked. Didn't stop us from eating it though! Also, this totally demonstrates my cooking abilities, which are truly dysmal. 

Wait for the crumble to cool slightly. Or be like me, and don't. It's a messy dish, it won't come out perfect! Just place it on a plate, you can add ice cream if you'd like but I just eat it by itself. It. Is. Divine. I would love to hear from you if you try this recipe! It really is amazing. Bon appetit!

What is your favourite summer dessert?

Full recipe below the jump ...

For the filling

2 nectarines

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 apple

1 lemon, juice

1/2 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

plenty of cinnamon

For the topping

1 cup flour

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

75 g cold butter

pinch of salt

Instructions

Preheat over to 180°C. Wash and slice fruit, leave the frozen strawberries as they are. Put into a heatproof dish and toss with rest of ingredients for the filling. For the topping, mix all ingredients, than cut in butter. With your hands, knead the mixture until it has a crumbly texture. Bake for 30-45 minutes, keep an eye on it. Serve alone or with ice cream.