A crumble is one of the simplest desserts to make, and it’s a wonderful way to use whatever fruit is in season. For me, the secret to a truly satisfying crumble is getting the balance just right between the juicy fruit layer and a generous, nubbly crumble.
This recipe has been tested in both a 9-inch (23 cm) square baking dish and a 10-inch (25 cm) cast-iron skillet, and both work beautifully, so use whichever you have on hand. You can also assemble the crumble ahead of time and bake it just before serving. Serve it warm with ice cream, whipped cream, pouring cream, or custard.
*Note: you can use many different fruits in a crumble – the combination of rhubarb and strawberries is delicious: use the same weight of the preferred fruit. Chop your fruit of choice into 1/2 to 3/4-inch pieces add to a bowl then proceed with the recipe as instructed. For a rhubarb and strawberry crumble, I like to do two-thirds rhubarb and one-third strawberries or half and half.