Its a crisp in America and a crumble in England. But not matter what you call it, this fruity dessert with its addictive, cumb topping is delicious. I used fresh cherries. To pit them, I simply cut around the pit with a sharp paring knife. If you have a cherry pitter, it will speed things up for you. You can use pretty much any fruit you like; apples, strawberries, blueberries, plums or peaches will all be wonderful. My mom was visiting when I made this, so she’s the ‘hand model’ in these pictures 
Select fresh, good quality fruit. Wash the cherries and pit them. You dont need any fancy equipment for this, just cut around the pit with a sharp knife. I like to cook the cherries first with some sugar, water and corn starch. This reduces baking time in the oven.
Now top the cooked cherries with the streusel or crumb topping and bake till golden.
I like to serve this cherry crumble/crisp slightly warm, and with some vanilla bean ice cream. But its just as delicious all by itself!
makes 6 small servings
For cherry mixture
2 cups pitted, fresh cherries
2 tbsp sugar (this will produce a mildly sweet crumble. add more sugar if you like)
4 tbsp water
1 tsp corn starch
For streusel or crumb topping
3/4 cup flour
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp white sugar
a pinch of ground cinnamon
a pinch of salt
5 tbsp unsalted butter, melted plus more to butter baking dish
Preheat oven to 400f
Place the pitted cherries and sugar in a saucepan. Cook on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or untill the cherries are lightly softened. Mix together the corn starch and water and add it to the cherries. Cook for about 1 minute or till the mixture thickens.
To make the streusel or crumb topping, combine the flour, brown and white sugars, cinnamon and salt together. Mix well. Then pour in the melted butter. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until it forms a crumbly mixture.
Lightly butter a baking dish (I used 6 individual sized creme brulee dishes). Divide the cherry mixture among the dishes. Place the crumb topping on top and bake for 15 minutes or till the topping has lightly browned.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
We went cherry picking recently and I planned to make a crsip/crumble thing too…if only the car ride was not 3 hours long. The cherries made it home nicely nestled in our tummies
I will try this crumble with store bought cherries now. Now that your mom is visiting, are we going to get some ma special recipes?
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Sala (Veggie Belly) Reply:
July 24th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
@Manasi, my mom was here for 10 days and shes left now. Ma special recipes?! lol, no! This ma doesnt cook
hehe. But shes a great hand model, she chopped, rolled, stirred and spooned things while I took pictures for the blog. She put up with all my instructions while I was taking the photos – “lift up a bit..now bring the spoon closer to me..no not that close..your pinky is sticking out too much..do it more naturally..you need moisturizer on your thumb!!”
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yumm..the pics look great Sala..:)
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Hand Model …LOL I love these fruit desserts.. I will be really sad when summer is over.. all these cherries & berries will be gone!
BEAUTIFUL pictures!
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The cherries in Washington state are the best they have been in about 20 years because of all the sun we have had this spring/summer. I just bought some at the Farmer’s market for $2 a pound. Last (wet) year, they were $8/pound on a good day. All this to say, it’s about time I made a cherry dessert, especially now that I am the proud owner of a cherry pitter.
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Thats really nice recipe! amazing clicks!! Just too much mouthwatering.
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Oh wow…….that’s an simple and delightful recipe……must try in my list……feel like digging into right now…..
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I love how you cook the filling first. Great idea.
I love the photos, especially the third one. Her hands are beautiful.
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That looks so good. Can’t wait for cherry season again (it’s winter now). I had a cherry pitter, used it so often it actually broke!
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Lovely pictures. I love crumble! they look delish
Rose
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Hey
Didn’t realize that you have your own domain now .. good job .. nice crumble
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they look adorable !!!!.
great clicks.!!!
Just discovered ur new site. Very nice looking and classy web page sala.
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Your crisps are just beautiful! The fresh fruit and crumbly topping look mouthwatering-ly good.
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Oh WOW! These look great!! I love the individual side to this! beautiful pics!
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I have yet to make any crisps or crumbles this summer, but I think I have to remedy that soon. I want to eat this through my computer screen!
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What delightful crumbles! Mouthwatering!
Cheers,
Rosa
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Sala, fab pics ! My hand looks’s a bit worn out ! But , Vat the ell !! I am so proud of you Sala !! Keep it up !
love,
Ma
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Had to come and see your yummy looking cherry crisp, after you commmented on my blueberry one. I will be giving this a try for sure – we love cherries almost as much as blueberries.
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I use my vegetable peeler to lift the stone from inside the stemmed cherries – that way they look whole. I know… does not really matter for a crisp, but it does for other recipes… and yes, this looks great.
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What stunning photos! They look like they’re from the pages of a high end Gourmet Food magazine. Gorgeous work!
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Oh, this looks fantastic and incredibly easy to make. I’m definitely bookmarking this!
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Delish!Mom’s touch must have added to the yumminess
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wow! i love a good crumble. so many different ways of making this.
mmm
thanks
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Sala, I’m unabashedly DROOLING over your Fresh Cherry Crumble.
It is gorgous and so are your magnificent photos. Absolutely excellent presentation.
You are so very, very talented! xo~m
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This looks so tempting – i have a big bunch of cherries, maybe I ought to give this a try – i mostly end up eating fruits as is.
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Your crumble look amazing. I adore this dessert. But I like to add a spoon of real butter to the fruits it give a better texture and sometimes I also add liqueur for an extra flavour
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Fabulous blog your pictures are beautiful, love this cherry recipe I would be back for a second serving.
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Colorful and neat presentation, looks yum yum!
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