Peach Blackberry Crumble

Can someone let me know the diff between a crisp and a crumble??? I'll eat either so it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious. I loooove a good crumble. It makes me feel like I'm doing myself a dessert favor by eating a fruit based treat. It's just fruit, right😉? It's vastly disappointing when you're at an event and are served a crumble with canned fruit. Ew! Fresh, seasonal fruits are what makes this. Apples or pears in the Fall and Winter, peaches, nectarines, and plums during Spring and Summer🍎🍐🍑🍓🍒🍏.

The topping is always the same. With the peaches etc you can use any fresh berries. I've used blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries. If using the plum variation I think I'd leave that alone. The berries contrast beautifully color wise with either white or yellow peaches. I'm not a cooked strawberry lover, but that's probably just as good if you are. I've seen recipes that call for boiling and skinning the peaches first. It took me years to realize that's the biggest pain in the 🍑, and completely unnecessary. Recipes aren't binding constitutions; make it work for you. Don't sacrifice flavor and presentation, but eliminate a step that will go undetected. Not skinning the fruit is a major time savor. No need to peel apples either, I like the skin. Your guests won't say, "I can't believe that lazy bitch didn't peel her apples". Anyone who does, can make like a tree and leave (thanks, Biff, from Back to the Future) 🍃🌳.

I decided to make this JESScipe because I needed to find the perfect use for all the fresh fruit my kids and I picked at Alstede Farms in New Jersey. This is our favorite summer activity. Using our bounty felt good! What I love about taking them to the orchards, in addition to the obvious, is that it's a SCREEN FREE ACTIVITY, a rarity in today's times. It's wonderful to enjoy a wholesome, nature oriented pastime together. No beeps, buzzing, and hideous frozen face time expressions. Just sunshine, trees, and seasonal offerings. Ok, back to the crumble!

This dessert is also so great because you serve it in the dish it's baked in, oven to table. Unless you want to then spoon it into individual serving ramekins or dishes, which is easy and lovely. Just do it carefully so the topping remains intact and on top. This is impressive and delicious either way. Go for it with vanilla ice cream on top if you wish.

Ingredients

• A dozen firm peaches or apples.
• Zest of one orange.
• sugar.
• Light brown sugar.
• Flour.
• Salt.
• Cooking oats.
• Pint of berries.

Directions

Oven 350. Butter a large baking dish, about 9x13. Take a dozen large firm peaches or apples. If using plums I'd do maybe 16 since they're smaller. Slice the fruit and place in a large bowl. Add the zest of one orange🍊. In a pinch I've used a lemon 🍋and it was just fine.

Add a quarter cup each white sugar and packed light brown sugar. Then add two to three TBSP flour. Toss gently but well.

Then gently mix in a pint of berries. Let mixture sit for five minutes.

Put the fruit in the baking dish and smooth the top.

Mix one and a half cups flour, three quarters cup white sugar, and half cup of the brown sugar in a separate bowl. Add a quarter tsp salt, a cup and a half quick cooking oats, and half a pound of cold diced butter. Mix in a mixer with the paddle, or I use my hands. Mix well until the butter is pea sized and it all looks like a crumbly topping.

If you're using apples or pears, add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to both the fruit mixture and topping mixture. Put topping evenly over fruit. Berries should be evenly distributed throughout. 

Bake for an hour. Topping should be light brown. Your home will smell incredible; savor that! This is a great dessert to assemble in the morning and refrigerate, and bake as your company arrives. The scent will be most inviting and homey. If making this a day ahead, just refrigerate when completely cool and reheat before serving. Crumble or crisp, either way it will be gobbled up in a matter of yummy minutes.

🍴 PS: if using apples or pears, optional addition of half a cup each of raisins and walnuts. If that's your thang.