Recipes › Gooseberry › Classic Gooseberry Crumble
Classic Gooseberry Crumble
Gooseberries are one of the few fruits that become more themselves when cooked — their sharp, wine-like flavor deepens under heat and plays perfectly against a buttery oat crumble. Custard or vanilla ice cream is the only acceptable accompaniment.
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Ingredients
- cups fresh gooseberries, topped and tailed
- cup granulated sugar, for the filling
- cup all-purpose flour
- cup rolled oats
- cup brown sugar, packed
- tbsp cold unsalted butter, cubed
- tsp ground ginger (optional)
- pinch of salt
Contains: milk, eggs, cereals gluten, sulphites.
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Toss gooseberries with granulated sugar in a 9x9 baking dish and spread evenly.About 5 min
- Mix flour, oats, brown sugar, ginger, and salt in a bowl. Add cold butter cubes and rub into the dry ingredients with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse, clumpy breadcrumbs.About 5 min
- Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the gooseberries. Don't pack it down — the rough texture is what makes it crunchy.About 2 min
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the gooseberry juices are bubbling up at the edges.About 33 min
- Leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or custard.About 10 min
Tips
- Gooseberries vary wildly in tartness — taste them raw and adjust sugar accordingly. Some need double the amount.
- Keep the butter cold — warm butter makes a greasy, dense topping instead of a crunchy one.
- A tablespoon of elderflower cordial stirred into the filling is an extraordinary seasonal combination.
Ring the changes
- Add a handful of raspberries or strawberries to the gooseberry filling to balance the tartness.
- Use ground almonds in place of half the flour for a nuttier, more fragrant crumble topping.
Keeping it
Keeps at room temperature for 1 day, refrigerated for 3 days. Reheat in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes.
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More from the same crop
A fragrant, perfumed jam that combines the sharp tang of gooseberries with the floral delicacy of elderflower cordial — a partnership so natural it seems like these two were born to be together. Gooseberries are naturally high in pectin and set beautifully without commercial pectin added. The result is a pale green-gold jam with a complex, flowery aroma and a lively, bright flavor.
45 min · medium · Gooseberry
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