It's summertime and that means it's cherry time. Bursting with flavor and packed with essential nutrients, BC cherries are the perfect warm weather treat. The only thing better than a bowl of fresh cherries is a bowl of cherry crumble. This simple recipe really lets the fruit shine. Serve with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream... "chef's kiss".
INGREDIENTS
For the Cherry Filling:
- 1 litre BC cherries, pitted and halved
- 125 grams granulated sugar
- 20 grams cornstarch
- 15 millilitres freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2.5 millilitres pure vanilla extract
For the Crumble Topping:
- 125 grams all-purpose flour
- 60 grams rolled oats
- 100 grams packed light brown sugar
- 1.25 millilitres ground cinnamon
- 1.25 millilitres salt
- 125 grams unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small cubes
For Serving (optional):
- Vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream
METHOD
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Grease a 23-centimeter square baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- Prepare the Cherry Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the pitted and halved BC cherries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Toss gently to ensure all the cherries are coated with the sugar and cornstarch mixture.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the cherry filling into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to cover the bottom.
- Prepare the Crumble Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt. Add the chilled butter cubes and use your fingertips to rub the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the Crumble Topping: Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the cherry filling in the baking dish.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the cherry filling is bubbling, and the crumble topping turns golden brown.
- Let it Rest: Once baked, remove the BC Cherry Crumble from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. The waiting time will also allow the cherry filling to thicken slightly.
Serve and Enjoy: Scoop generous portions of the warm BC Cherry Crumble into individual serving dishes. Top with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream.
Store Any Leftovers: If there are any leftovers (and that's a big IF), store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat the crumble in the oven or microwave before serving again.
