The Ultimate Homemade Strawberry Crumble: A Taste of Summer in Every Bite
There’s nothing quite like a homemade fruit dessert, especially when fresh, seasonal produce is at its peak. As spring transitions into glorious summer, juicy strawberries become abundant, calling for recipes that truly showcase their vibrant flavor. A classic Strawberry Crumble is the quintessential way to celebrate this beloved berry, offering a comforting yet decadent treat that’s surprisingly easy to make. This dessert truly shines with its sweet, tangy strawberry filling crowned by a rich, buttery brown sugar crumble topping. Serve it warm with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got a dessert experience that will delight everyone.
For years, readers have adored our fruit-based creations, with recipes like the Strawberry Cheesecake Lasagna remaining a perennial favorite. It’s clear that fruit desserts hold a special place in your hearts and on your tables, and this Strawberry Crumble recipe is poised to become another cherished go-to for its simplicity and incredible flavor. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this recipe promises delicious results.
What’s The Difference Between A Crumble And A Crisp? Understanding the Topping!
You might often see the terms “fruit crisp” and “fruit crumble” used interchangeably, and while they share many similarities, there’s a subtle yet distinct difference in their traditional definitions. Technically, a crisp typically includes oats in its topping, which contributes a rustic, slightly chewy texture. In contrast, a true crumble features a topping made primarily from flour, sugar, and butter, creating a buttery, streusel-like texture that crumbles beautifully when baked.
Over time, these terms have indeed become intertwined, leading many to use “crisp” even for oat-free recipes. If you were searching specifically for a classic crumble without oats, you might even have to search “Strawberry Crisp (or Crumble) without Oats” to find traditional crumble recipes like this one! While the distinction is minor, it’s a fun bit of baking trivia that highlights the pure buttery goodness of our oat-free crumble topping.
Simple, Fresh Ingredients for an Unforgettable Strawberry Crumble
One of the beauties of this strawberry crumble recipe lies in its simplicity, requiring just a handful of common pantry staples and, of course, a generous amount of fresh strawberries. The quality of your ingredients, especially the fruit, will significantly impact the final flavor, so always aim for the freshest possible!
For the exact measurements and full recipe details, please scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
For the Juicy Strawberry Filling:
- Fresh Strawberries: The star of the show! Choose ripe, vibrant red berries for the best flavor and sweetness. We’ll chop them into quarters to ensure they release their delicious juices while maintaining some texture.
- Lemon Juice: A splash of fresh lemon juice is crucial. It brightens the flavor of the strawberries, cuts through their sweetness, and helps prevent the dessert from becoming overly cloying. It also adds a subtle tangy note that complements the berries perfectly.
- All-Purpose Flour: A small amount of flour is used to thicken the strawberry juices as they bake, preventing the filling from becoming too runny. It creates a luscious, saucy consistency that coats the berries beautifully.
- Brown Sugar: We use light brown sugar for the filling to add a touch of caramel sweetness and depth, enhancing the natural sugars of the strawberries.
For the Buttery Crumble Topping:
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our crumble, providing structure and that classic crumbly texture.
- Brown Sugar: Again, brown sugar brings a rich, moist sweetness and a hint of molasses flavor to the topping, which caramelizes beautifully in the oven.
- Unsalted Butter: Cold, unsalted butter is key to achieving that perfectly crumbly, tender topping. It’s cut into the dry ingredients, creating pockets of butter that melt and steam, yielding a wonderfully crisp texture.
- Cinnamon: A touch of ground cinnamon adds a warm, inviting aroma and a delightful spice note that pairs wonderfully with strawberries.
- Salt: Just a pinch of salt is essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors in the crumble.
While fresh strawberries are ideal, especially during peak season, this recipe is forgiving. Even in the off-season, when berries might not be at their sweetest, baking them with lemon juice and sugar will still yield a wonderfully flavorful and comforting dessert. The heat of the oven coaxes out all their juicy goodness, making for a truly tasty treat.
How To Make The Best Strawberry Crumble: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making a strawberry crumble is a straightforward process, but following these steps carefully will ensure a perfectly juicy filling and a golden, buttery topping every time. Get ready to fill your kitchen with the most enticing aromas!
- Prepare Your Strawberries: Begin by washing your fresh strawberries thoroughly. Remove the green stems and then cut the berries into quarters. For very large strawberries, you might even cut them into sixths to ensure even cooking. Transfer the chopped strawberries to a large mixing bowl.
- Create the Flavorful Filling: To the bowl of chopped strawberries, add the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and 1 tablespoon of light brown sugar. Toss everything together gently until the strawberries are evenly coated. The lemon juice brightens the fruit, the flour helps thicken the juices, and the brown sugar adds a touch of caramel sweetness.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Pour the strawberry mixture into an 8-inch baking dish. You can use a round, square, or rectangular dish of similar capacity. Spread the berries evenly across the bottom.
- Make the Perfect Crumble Topping: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Once combined, add the cold, unsalted butter that has been cut into small cubes.
- Incorporate the Butter: Now it’s time to work the butter into the dry ingredients. You can use a pastry cutter, two forks, or even your fingertips for this step. The goal is to break down the butter into pea-sized crumbs and incorporate it into the flour mixture. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse sand, with some larger pea-sized crumbs still visible. This texture is crucial for a perfectly crumbly topping.
- Top and Bake: Evenly sprinkle the crumb topping over the prepared strawberries in the baking dish. Don’t press it down; leave it light and airy. Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for approximately 35-45 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the crumb topping is beautifully golden brown, and the strawberry filling is visibly bubbly around the edges, indicating the juices have thickened and are hot.
- Cool and Set: Once baked, carefully remove the crumble from the oven. This next step is important: allow it to rest for at least 20 minutes before serving. This resting time allows the hot strawberry juices to set up slightly, preventing the crumble from being too runny and ensuring a more enjoyable consistency.
- Serve Warm: The best way to enjoy strawberry crumble is warm! Serve individual portions with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, which melts slightly into the warm fruit, or a dollop of freshly whipped cream for an extra touch of indulgence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Strawberry Crumble
Absolutely! Frozen strawberries can be a convenient substitute, especially when fresh ones are out of season. For best results, I highly recommend letting them thaw completely before using. Once thawed, drain any excess liquid that accumulates. This step is crucial because frozen fruit tends to release more water during baking than fresh fruit, and too much liquid can result in a soupy crumble rather than one with a thick, luscious filling. Draining helps maintain the desired consistency.
Yes, this crumble base is incredibly versatile! The recipe doesn’t require significant changes; you just need to ensure you have the right amount of fruit. You can easily substitute strawberries with other berries like blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, or even stone fruits such as peaches, nectarines, or plums. Mixing different fruits together can also create wonderful flavor combinations – imagine strawberry-rhubarb or a delightful mixed berry crumble! The key is to have approximately 6 cups or 2 pounds total of fruit for an 8-inch baking dish to ensure a balanced fruit-to-topping ratio.
Knowing when your crumble is perfectly baked comes down to a few visual and auditory cues. Firstly, the crumb topping should be a beautiful golden brown color; it starts off pale and will darken and crisp up as the butter melts and caramelizes. Secondly, look for the fruit filling around the edges of the baking dish to be actively bubbling. This indicates that the fruit juices have thickened and are hot all the way through. You can also gently jiggle the dish to see if the fruit mixture appears set rather than watery. If it looks bubbly and the topping is golden, it’s ready!
Yes, you can certainly prepare parts of this crumble in advance! You can mix the strawberry filling and store it in the baking dish, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The crumble topping can also be prepared separately and kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days, or even frozen for longer. When you’re ready to bake, simply assemble the crumble by sprinkling the topping over the fruit and bake as directed. This makes it a fantastic dessert for entertaining or busy weeknights.
How To Serve Strawberry Crumble for the Best Experience
The magic of strawberry crumble truly comes alive when served warm. As it comes out of the oven, it’s tempting to dig right in, but remember our important tip: let it rest for about 20 minutes. This crucial resting period allows the piping hot fruit juices to cool slightly and thicken, preventing a liquidy mess and ensuring a perfect consistency that holds its shape when scooped. After this short wait, it’s ready to be enjoyed!
For the ultimate indulgent experience, serve your warm strawberry crumble with a generous scoop of good quality vanilla ice cream. The cold, creamy ice cream melting into the warm, fruity goodness is a match made in heaven. Alternatively, a dollop of freshly whipped cream adds a light, airy contrast. You can also add a sprinkle of fresh mint leaves for a pop of color and freshness. The comforting warmth and vibrant flavors make it a perfect dessert for any occasion, from casual family dinners to special gatherings.
Got Leftovers? Storing and Reheating Your Strawberry Crumble
Don’t worry if you have leftovers – strawberry crumble is just as delicious the next day, and it can even be frozen for later enjoyment! If you only have a small amount remaining, store it covered with foil or plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The topping might soften slightly, but the flavors will meld beautifully.
For longer storage, or if you’ve made a larger batch, transfer the cooled crumble to an airtight, freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the frozen crumble in the refrigerator overnight. To reheat, you can either place the entire dish (if oven-safe) back in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until heated through and the topping is crispy again. For individual servings, a quick zap in the microwave will warm the fruit, but for a crispy topping, a toaster oven or conventional oven is recommended.
More Delightful Fruit Dessert Recipes to Explore
If you love fruit-filled desserts as much as we do, you’re in for a treat! Here are some other fantastic recipes from our collection that celebrate the natural sweetness and vibrant flavors of various fruits:
- Cherry Cobbler
- Apple Crisp Cheesecake
- Strawberry Crumb Bars
- Apple Bars
- Lemon Blueberry Cake
- Strawberry Cake
- Raspberry Lemon Cupcakes
- Strawberry Poke Cake
Strawberry Crumble
Ingredients
Strawberry Filling
- 6 cups chopped fresh strawberries
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
Buttery Crumble Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, gently toss together the chopped strawberries, fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and 1 tablespoon of light brown sugar until the strawberries are well coated. Spread this mixture evenly into an 8-inch baking dish.6 cups chopped fresh strawberries, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon for the topping. Cut the cold unsalted butter into small cubes and add them to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingertips to work the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse sand with some pea-sized crumbs.1 cup all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- Evenly spread the crumble topping mixture over the strawberries in the baking dish. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the berry filling is bubbly and hot around the edges.
- Remove the crumble from the oven and let it rest for at least 20 minutes before serving. This allows the fruit juices to set up slightly, resulting in a perfectly saucy, not runny, filling. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
I created a fun group on Facebook, and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
.