Mini Individual Strawberry Crumbles | Fork Knife Swoon @forkknifeswoon

The first local strawberries arrived in the farmers market (!!!) and I can’t buy them fast enough. In less than a week we’ve devoured two big flats of the juiciest, stain-your-fingers, ruby red berry beauties. Waiting for the season to kick off has been tortuous. In North Carolina last year – when I was also feeding my berry addiction with weekly flats of fresh-picked strawberries at the farm stand down the road – strawberry season was already coming to an end by June.

The girls behind the counter would often ask me if I was making jam. Nope. Well, a few times. I just really love strawberries. Make that, all berries, and if you’re a regular reader then you probably already guessed that. Fresh and eaten by the handful, or baked into sweet and simple fruit desserts, like these strawberry oat crumbles, I just can’t get enough. The many berry-centric recipes on this site represent restraint, believe it or not, lest you all mutiny in the face of my berry obsession.

Mini Individual Strawberry Oat Crumbles | Fork Knife Swoon @forkknifeswoon Mini Individual Strawberry Oat Crumbles | Fork Knife Swoon @forkknifeswoon Mini Individual Strawberry Oat Crumbles | Fork Knife Swoon @forkknifeswoon

Crumbles and crisps are my go-to Summer dessert. There’s really no more perfect way to end a meal than with sweet, peak-season fruit – cherries and strawberries at the moment –  baked until bubbly under a layer of buttery, crispy oat goodness. They’re foolproof, endlessly adaptable and always crowd pleasing.

Most of the time I don’t even use a recipe, but simply fill a baking dish – or a few individual ramekins – with ripe berries and fruit, tossed with a bit of sugar and some lemon juice if I have one on hand, sprinkle on enough crumble topping to cover, and bake until the juices bubble up over the edges. A dusting of confectioners sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream is nearly mandatory, and if the weather is nice where you are, these taste even better al fresco.

Mini Individual Strawberry Oat Crumbles | Fork Knife Swoon @forkknifeswoon

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Mini Individual Strawberry Crumbles | Fork Knife Swoon @forkknifeswoon

Individual Strawberry Oat Crumbles

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Fork Knife Swoon
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
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Ingredients

Scale

Strawberry Filling

  • 4 cups sliced strawberries
  • 2 Tbsp pure cane sugar
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • optional but recommended: 2 tsp arrowroot starch

Oat Crumble Topping

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour*
  • 1/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
  • pinch fine sea salt
  • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter,* softened

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl, toss together the strawberries, sugar, arrowroot starch and lemon zest, if using. Set aside.
  2. Make the crumble topping: In a small mixing bowl, stir together the oats, flour, brown sugar and salt until combined. Add the butter, and use a pastry blender or your fingers to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Continue until the butter is completely incorporated, and the mixture comes together into a chunky crumb.
  3. Divide the strawberry mixture between 4 oven-safe ramekins. Top with the crumble topping and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the crumble topping is golden brown and the berry juices begin to bubble. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and/or a dusting of powdered sugar.

Notes

For a vegan crumble, substitute vegan butter (such as Earth Balance) or room-temperature unrefined coconut oil.

For a gluten free crumble, swap out the all-purpose flour for oat flour, almond flour, or your favorite gluten free flour blend.