This easy strawberry crumble combines sweet strawberries and apples with a buttery, crunchy topping. Perfect for any occasion, it's ready in under 45 minutes and pairs wonderfully with vanilla ice cream or custard.
Fruit crumble is one of the best and easiest desserts to make with summer and winter fruit. Here are some other crumble recipes you definitely need to try- strawberry rhubarb crumble, ginger rhubarb crumble, and quick and easy fruit crumble.
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⭐️ Why this recipe works
- Balanced Sweetness: The combination of strawberries and apples provides a natural sweetness that's perfectly balanced by the tartness of lemon juice.
- Perfect Texture: The crumble topping, made with rolled oats and ground almonds, adds a delightful crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft, juicy fruit filling.
- Versatile Dessert: This recipe can be adapted to include different fruits, making it versatile for various seasons and preferences.
- Simple Ingredients: Uses everyday ingredients that are likely already in your pantry, making it an easy go-to dessert.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The crumble can be prepared in advance and baked just before serving, making it perfect for entertaining.
🧾 Ingredients overview
- Fresh strawberries: Adds natural sweetness and vibrant colour.
- Apples: Provides a firm texture and balances the tartness of the strawberries.
- Plain flour: Thickens the fruit filling.
- Caster sugar: Sweetens the fruit mixture.
- Lemon juice: Enhances the flavour and prevents the apples from browning.
- Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavour.
- Butter: Creates a rich and crumbly topping.
- Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a hint of molasses to the topping.
- Rolled oats: Contributes to the crunchy texture of the crumble.
- Ground almonds: Adds a nutty flavour and enhances the crumbly texture.
- Cinnamon: Provides a warm, spiced flavour.
For precise measurements and additional ingredients, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
👩🏻🍳 Here's how to make it
Strawberry Crumble with Oat Topping recipe step-by-step
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 160ºC (fan) or 180ºC (conventional) to ensure it's ready for baking.
- Prepare the fruit: Wash and trim the strawberries, peel and chop the apples, then place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix the filling: Add lemon juice, plain flour, and caster sugar to the fruit and toss everything well to combine.
- Transfer to baking dish: Pour the fruit mixture into an oven-safe baking dish or cast-iron skillet, spreading it evenly.
- Make the crumble topping: In a separate bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, rolled oats, ground almonds, cinnamon, and plain flour. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add topping to fruit: Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the fruit mixture, covering it completely.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the fruit is soft and bubbling, and the topping is golden brown.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let cool for about 5 minutes, and serve warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
📖 Variations
- Different Fruits: Substitute apples with pears, peaches, or mixed berries.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free flour and oats.
- Nut-Free: Omit the ground almonds and increase the amount of flour and oats.
- Spiced Crumble: Add nutmeg or ginger to the crumble topping for extra flavour.
💡 Chef's Guide: Expert Tips
Drawing on a decade of experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and Cordon Bleu training, I have compiled my top tips for recipe success.
- Pulse in Food Processor: Use a food processor to quickly combine the crumble topping ingredients for a finer texture.
- Layering Flavours: Add a splash of almond extract to the fruit mixture for an extra depth of flavour.
- Toast the Oats: Lightly toast the rolled oats in a dry skillet before adding them to the crumble topping for an extra nutty taste.
- Prevent Sogginess: Sprinkle a thin layer of flour or cornstarch on the fruit before adding the crumble topping to help absorb excess moisture.
- Zest for Extra Zing: Add lemon or orange zest to the crumble topping for a bright, citrusy flavour.
🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers
- Fridge: Store the cooled crumble in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: For longer storage, place the crumble in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: To reheat, spread the crumble on a baking sheet and warm it in a 150ºC oven for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
❓Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can omit the oats and increase the amount of flour and ground almonds for the topping.
Ensure the fruit mixture is not overly juicy and avoid overloading the topping with butter to keep it from becoming soggy.
Yes, you can mix strawberries with other berries, rhubarb, peaches, or even mango for a unique twist on the crumble.
Looking for other crumble recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this Strawberry Crumble with Oat Topping please let me know in the comments below, and please leave a star rating while you're there!
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Easy Strawberry Crumble with Oat Topping
Ingredients
Fruit Filling:
- 400 g (3 cups) fresh strawberries, tops cut off
- 4 apples, peeled and chopped
- 30 g (¼ cup) plain flour
- 75 g (½ cup) caster sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Crumble Topping:
- 225 g (1 cup) butter, chilled and cubed
- 100 g (½ cup) brown sugar
- 125 g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats
- 75 g (¾ cup) ground almonds
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 175 g (1 ⅓ cups) plain flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160ºC (fan) or 180ºC (conventional).
- Wash and trim the strawberries, then peel and chop the apples. Place the fruit in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the lemon juice, plain flour, and caster sugar to the fruit. Toss everything well to combine.
- Transfer the fruit mixture to an oven-safe baking dish or a cast-iron skillet.
- For the crumble topping, combine the butter, brown sugar, rolled oats, ground almonds, cinnamon, and plain flour in a separate bowl. Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits. Alternatively, pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the mixture resembles chunky breadcrumbs.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the fruit mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the fruit is soft and bubbling around the edges, and the topping is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes. Serve warm with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Quick-cooking oats will create a more powdery topping.
- Make Ahead and Freeze: Baked crumble freezes well for up to 3 months. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Avoid assembling the crumble and storing it in the fridge before baking, as the topping will become soggy. Unbaked crumble can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months; thaw for a few hours before baking as directed.
Nutrition
Meet the Chef!
Hi, I'm Debs, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef dedicated to helping you create unforgettable meals on a budget. Discover more about my journey and dive into a world of foolproof recipes designed for those who love to eat well without overspending.
Lili
Hi! Could I substitute the strawberries for plums? Would it turn out okay that way too?
Deborah Rainford
Hi Lili, you absolutely can sub plums for strawberries. Plums aren't as soft as strawberries so you'll need to adjust the cooking time by about 20 minutes to ensure the fruit is soft enough, or you can use very ripe plums. But the substitution will work well. Let me know how it goes. 🙂