A strawberry crumble is an excellent summertime treat, especially if you have children who love baking with their parents.
This simple but decadent recipe will delight even the pickiest eaters.
What Is The Difference Between A Strawberry Crumble And A Strawberry Pie?
The first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions “strawberry” is probably a piece of fruit.
But what about those delicious desserts made from this berry?
These include both sweet and savory dishes, such as pies and crisps.
Here are some differences between these two types of strawberry recipes:
- Strawberries in a pie or crisp are usually more juicy than fresh berries used for crumbles.
- Pie crusts often contain egg yolks, which help bind ingredients together. Crumble recipes rely on butter instead.
- Crisps tend to use sugar whereas crumble recipes may use less sugar depending on preference.
- Most crumble recipes call for flour, while most pies do not.
- Pies typically rely on eggs for binding while crumbles use milk instead.
- Both crumbles and pies use lemon juice to enhance flavor, however, pies also often add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
- While it might seem obvious, there is no real way to tell whether a dish contains cream rather than milk. Some custard-based pies (such as apple) might use only half-and-half or heavy whipping cream instead of whole milk. The same goes for certain cakes that incorporate whipped cream into the batter.
- If you want to know whether a particular dish calls for sour cream, check out our guide to making sour cream.
What Type Of Strawberries Are Best For A Strawberry Crumble?
Strawberries are available in two types – fresh and frozen.
For this particular recipe, we recommend using fresh berries, which are more flavorful and juicy than those that are frozen.
If you’re unable to find fresh berries, it’s okay to use frozen ones as long as they haven’t been sitting around too long before being used.
The flavor will not change much, so feel free to substitute them.
Fresh or frozen strawberries also differ when it comes to size.
Frozen strawberries tend to be smaller than fresh ones, and there may be some larger pieces mixed into the batch of berries at times.
In order to get the most out of this delicious berry crumble, you should break up any large strawberries that might pose a problem for your child while eating.
What Is The Best Way To Prepare The Strawberries For A Strawberry Crumble?
The key to making this recipe successful is in how you choose to process your berries.
The ideal method is to wash them thoroughly before adding them to the batter.
If you don’t do that, it is possible that some of the water from the berry may leak out when cooking, which could result in a soggy crumbly mess.
There are also ways to preserve the moisture inside the strawberries while preparing them.
- Wash the strawberries well in cold water. Remove any stems or leaves, then cut each one into 4 pieces (or more). You can use small, medium, large, or jumbo sized strawberries as long as they fit comfortably in your pie pan without touching each other.
- If using frozen strawberries, thaw them by placing them in a colander over a sink filled with cool water. Place paper towels on top of the colander to absorb excess water. When completely thawed and dry, place the strawberries in the pie pan, filling the holes between the berries with a little bit of the sugar mixture. This helps prevent them from drying out during baking.
- You can add additional flavor to the strawberries by soaking them in a bowl full of lemon juice. Let the strawberries sit in the bowl of liquid for about 10 minutes. Then drain off the extra juices and pat the strawberries dry with paper towels.
- Prepare the crumble topping according to the instructions below.
How to Make Strawberry Crumble Topping
This delicious cookie-like crumble topping has been around since at least 1869.
Today, there are many different variations of the original recipe.
Some people prefer to soak the dried fruit in milk or cream first so that it absorbs less water than plain raisins would.
Others like to sprinkle ground almonds over the top instead of oats.
Experiment until you find the flavor combination that works best for you!
For optimal results, use old-fashioned rolled oats rather than quick-cooking oats.
They tend to stay crunchier longer than regular oatmeal flakes.
Use whole wheat flour if you don’t want to use all white flour.
What Is The Best Way To Make The Crumble Topping For A Strawberry Crumble?
Topping this delicious fruit pie is as important as the filling itself.
You want something crunchy that also melts in your mouth when eaten.
The easiest way to do this is by using a mix of oats or flour and butter (or margarine).
However, there are other options available.
For instance, ground nuts or seeds like almonds, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc., can also work well.
They provide extra texture while still remaining moist.
The choice comes down to personal preference.
As I mentioned before, it’s best to use either oatmeal or almond meal since they both retain moisture better than regular flour.
But some people prefer to go with whole wheat pastry flour or all-purpose white flour instead.
Whichever option you choose, remember not to add too much liquid to the mixture because it makes it very difficult to spread evenly on top of the baked berries.
You’re ready to start making the crumble topping once all ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.
Then, simply press it into your pan until the desired thickness is reached.
If using oats and/or almond meal, sprinkle them over the top so that everything sticks together properly.
And don’t worry about leaving any excess crumbs behind – they’ll melt away during cooking anyway.
Then, place the pan on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and put it back in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep an eye on it towards the end of the process because the edges could burn easily.
Once done, remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting and serving.
If you’d rather serve this in individual servings, just line each tartlet mold with plastic wrap first then fill halfway full with the berry mixture.
Cover with another piece of plastic wrap and gently press down until it forms a nice crust.
Remove the plastic wrap and cut around the edge with a knife to create a border.
Fill up the rest of the way with the crumble mixture and bake according to package directions.
How Long Does A Strawberry Crumble Need To Bake?
The key to making this delicious dish is to keep the ingredients in proportion so that they all cook evenly.
You don’t want any of the strawberries to burn before the other ingredients are finished cooking.
That being said, it depends on how thickly sliced the berries are, as well as their size.
The smaller the berry, the faster it cooks, while larger ones take longer.
However, there is no hard-and-fast rule.
You should also consider the oven temperature when deciding on how long to cook the strawberry crumble.
If your oven runs hot (more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit), then you may need to add an additional 10 minutes or so onto the suggested cooking time.
Alternatively, lower temperatures mean more time required.
In addition to these factors, the amount of sugar used in the topping can affect the duration of cooking.
For example, two cups of flour will require less time than three cups due to its higher moisture content.
So, depending on how much sugar you use, you might just need to adjust the cooking times accordingly.
What Is The Best Way To Serve A Strawberry Crumble?
Strawberries are sweet, juicy berries that are bursting with flavor.
You can’t go wrong when it comes to serving them in a crumble – they’re just so delicious! The texture of this fruit goes perfectly with the crisp topping on top.
But what about how to cook these strawberries before putting them into the dish?
The truth is that there isn’t one “best” way to prepare any kind of berry because every type of berry has its own unique characteristics.
Some require less cooking while others need more time to soften up.
There are also some berries that should never be cooked at all, such as raspberries or blueberries.
When it comes to cooking strawberries for a crumble, we recommend using fresh fruit over frozen or canned ones.
Frozen berries tend to take longer to thaw out than fresh ones do, which means that you may end up having to heat them up again.
And although canned berries can be quick and convenient, they often come from concentrate, which means that they don’t contain as much natural sugar as fresh berries would.
So, when it comes to making a strawberry crumble, use fresh berries whenever possible.
The only exception is when you want to add dried fruits to the mix because those ingredients aren’t as perishable as fresh ones are.
We also suggest eating your dessert quickly after it’s baked because the toppings can begin to get soggy pretty fast.
If you want to enjoy your dessert without spoiling it too soon, try freezing your crumble beforehand so that you can pop it straight off the freezer and onto your plate once it’s ready.
How Long Does A Strawberry Crumble Last?
Strawberries are one of those fruits that tend to spoil quickly.
They are perishable, so they need to be eaten within about two days after being picked or purchased from a store.
If you buy them in bulk, this may not be a problem for you – it’s just something to keep in mind when planning ahead.
If you plan on making this strawberry crumble for more than one meal, then consider freezing any leftovers.
You can also freeze strawberries individually by placing them into containers before wrapping them up and labeling them clearly with the date.
Freezing Strawberries
- Place whole strawberries (with stems) into freezer-safe storage bags.
- Seal the bag tight and label with the contents and the day/date.
- Put frozen berries back into the fridge until ready to use.
- Thaw out the berry mixture as needed.
Making Your Own Crumble
This recipe is based off of Martha Stewart’s Strawberry Shortcake Recipe.
She recommends using all fresh ingredients and says that she uses a combination of butter, sugar, flour, milk, vanilla extract, and eggs.
Her shortbread crust has been adapted here to accommodate the addition of the strawberries.
The following steps show how to prepare this strawberry crumble recipe.
There are several tips that should help ensure success.
First, you want to make sure that you wash your strawberries thoroughly before slicing them.
Next, don’t overmix the dough while rolling it out because doing so can result in a tough or chewy final product.
Finally, once you bake your crumble, let it cool completely before serving, otherwise it might fall apart during transport to another room.
What Are Some Other Fruit Crumbles That Can Be Made?
You don’t need strawberries to bake this delicious dish! You could use blueberries or raspberries for example in place of the strawberries.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to making these flavorful and scrumptious desserts.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Peach crumble – ripe peaches would work well here. Try using fresh apricots too.
- Cherry crumble – sweet cherries go so well with chocolate chips! Don’t forget about dried cherries either.
- Apple crumble – apples are great because they’re naturally tart, which balances out the sweetness from the sugar. If you want something sweeter, try adding honey to taste instead of the brown sugar.
- Pumpkin spice crumble – I bet pumpkin pie season isn’t over yet! Make sure to add extra spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and cardamom to give it more flavor.
- Banana cream cheese crisp – bananas are another natural option for this dessert. When baked with oatmeal, they create a sweet and creamy topping that tastes just like banana pudding!
What Are Some Other Toppings That Can Be Used On A Strawberry Crumble?
Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits in America because they’re so delicious.
They also happen to be very high in antioxidants which makes them good for our health.
So when it comes to topping a strawberry crumble there are many options!
- Cream cheese – I love this combination as it adds a tangy element to the sweet strawberries. You could add cream cheese to any type of crumble recipe to give it more flavor or texture depending on what kind of crumble it is.
- Fruit – You can use fresh berries or dried out ones from the freezer section. The key here is making sure not to overdo the fruit on top otherwise the berry flavors may overpower the rest of the dish.
- Nuts – Try adding chopped nuts such as walnuts or almonds into your crumble mixture to create another layer of flavor. If you want to cut down on fat, try using almond flour instead of regular almond meal.
- Dried Fruit – Choose either raisins or cranberries to add sweetness. You can leave these whole or chop them up before mixing them into the crumble.
- Chocolate Chips – These little morsels add a nice crunch to the topping while providing extra flavor. Depending on how much chocolate chips you choose to put on top, you may need to bake this at a lower temperature than usual.
- Powdered Sugar – Powdered sugar offers its own unique taste to the crumble. Just don’t go overboard with it or else it may become too sweet.
- Honey – Honey provides moisture to the crumble recipe when baked. Plus, honey has been shown to increase antioxidant activity in foods by 300%.
- Maple Syrup – Maple syrup gives the crumble an authentic New England feel. Use maple syrup sparingly to avoid the dish becoming overly sweet.
How to Make Strawberry Crumble Recipe | Step-By-Step Instructions
Ingredients:
1 cup all purpose flour
¾ cup rolled oats
½ teaspoon salt
⅓ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
4 large eggs (lightly beaten)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups sliced strawberries (fresh or frozen) (cubed)
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (or milk)
For the Filling:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium bowl combine flour, oats, salt, brown sugar, and white sugar. Set aside.
In a separate small bowl whisk together melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients slowly stirring constantly until just blended.
Next spread 1 ½ cups of the filling evenly across bottom of 9×13 pan.
Pour remaining half of batter over filling.
Top with remainder of filling.
Bake for 30 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue cooking for about 25 minutes longer.
Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
What
What makes this strawberry crumble so special? First of all, it’s made using strawberries, which are in season at the moment.
Secondly, the topping has oats instead of flour, which means it contains less sugar than most fruit crumbles do.
And finally, there’s no butter or cream.
The result is a light, slightly sweet, but still flavorful crumble that’s great for kids too!
If you want to get creative with your crumble, here are some ideas for what else you could add to them.
You might like to try adding nuts or dried fruits like raisins.
Or maybe you prefer chocolate chips over oats – just remember not to increase the amount of sugar when doing so as it may affect the taste of the crumble.
You can also use fresh blueberries instead of strawberries (or both) if you don’t mind having a little more work involved during preparation time.
However, be sure to reduce the amount of sugar you put into the filling because blueberries contain much higher levels of natural sugars compared to strawberries.
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
TOPPING
- 3/4 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup white flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon powder
- Pinch salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
STRAWBERRY FILLING
- 2 lb strawberries
- 1/2 tbsp cornflour
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
TOPPING:
- Put all the ingredients in a bowl aside from the butter. To mingle, blend. Mix in butter after adding it.
STRAWBERRY FILLING:
- Cut off the top or hull the strawberry. Leave the smaller ones whole and cut the larger ones in half (2 cm / 4 1/2 height).
- In a bowl, add strawberries. Sprinkle cornmeal over the top and well mix to coat.
- Add vanilla, sugar, and water. Mix well.
ASSEMBLE AND BAKE:
- Baked strawberries should be placed in a pan. Use your fingers to crumble the topping, getting lovely, chunky crumbles as you go.
- Bake the topping for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it is deeply brown and the strawberry syrup is vigorously bubbling up all around the edges (see video). This is an important indication that the strawberry sauce has thickened enough.
- Before serving with ice cream or your preferred topping, let the dish stand for a few minutes.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.