A fruit crisp is the perfect summer dessert. A great make-ahead, either fully cooked or ready to be baked. Use up all that summer fruit you bought at the farmers' market! This fruit crisp recipe is a starting point for your own creation – use this as a guideline but feel free to experiment with any of the ingredients in type or amount -- sweeteners, the spices, oats/nuts, the fruit etc.
6cupsfresh fruitchopped if necessary (perfect for 8X8 crisp – use 8 cups for 9 X 13 pan)
2tablespoonsflour or 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Zest of ½ medium lemon
Juice of ½ medium lemon
¼cupsugar – adjust depending on natural sweetness of fruit
Instructions
Using your fingers or the paddle attachment of a mixer to combine the butter, brown sugar, oats, flour, salt, and cinnamon so that each piece is coated and you have a coarse, crumbly mixture.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put all filling ingredients - fruit, flour, lemon juice, zest and sugar - directly into the 8X8 pan or 9X13. Then top with the oat mixture.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 – 40 minutes. Depending on the fruit you use, the time can vary a bit – I always check at 30 minutes. When the filling is bubbling vigorously, it is ready. Take it out and let it cool a bit before serving. We always enjoy it with vanilla ice cream melting over the top. Whipped cream is excellent as well. Or just eat it as it is – it is like a bite of summer for dessert.
Notes
This makes enough topping for one 8X8 crisp but I like to double this recipe, even triple or quadruple and have enough topping for another crisp or two.
Have fun with the fruit combinations. This is a great recipe to help you finish off different bits of fruit you have waiting in the fruit basket or drawer.
Try adding some nuts to the topping - it adds another layer of flavor and crunch!
Another flavor addition could be vanilla extract or a splash of your favorite liqueur.
If you use nectarines or peaches, you can remove the skin but I don't. If you want to, just make an X at the bottom of the piece of fruit, submerge for 10 seconds in boiling water. Drop it in some ice water to cool it down and then the skin comes off easily.