The only thing we love more than the aroma of an Easy Fresh Berry Crumble in the oven is a bowl of it sitting in front of us with Orange Cream.
The creamy citrus nuance is an exquisite finish, taking this simple dessert over the top.
I’ve forever been a fan of fruit crumbles and crisps. It was the first dessert I made by myself when I was eight or nine, which demonstrates how easy they really are to make. In fact, it is a wonderful way to introduce kids to cooking.
Somewhere in the midst of a souffle adventure came inspiration for the Orange Cream, or creme anglaise (English cream), to accent this mixed berry crumble.
The cream was so good with the souffle, we poured it over our waffles the next morning instead of syrup. And in our oatmeal a couple days later. Obviously, I was so smitten I had to share it with you.
Fresh summer berries need little coaxing to be dessert worthy, so we keep the sweetener to a minimum, and the crumb topping gluten-free. Here we use a mix of fresh blueberries and strawberries, but any combination of fruit or berries would be delicious.
I haven’t tried the recipe with frozen fruit, but my recommendation would be to add a little more cornstarch to help thicken any extra juices.
Easy Fresh Berry Crumble with Orange Cream
Ingredients
For the Orange Cream:
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 teaspoons orange zest ((1 small orange))
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Grand Marnier
For the berry filling:
- 2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch (, or sweet rice flour)
- 2 tablespoons coconut palm sugar
- 1/4 heaping teaspoon ground cardamom
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons butter (, divided)
For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1/3 heaping cup rolled oats ((gluten-free))
- 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup butter (, softened, not melted)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375°F.
For the Orange Cream:
- Zest the orange directly into the half and half in a saucepan and heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until bubbles begin to break the surface, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and honey until combined. Whisk in ½ cup of the heated mixture to warm the egg yolks, then whisk the egg mixture into the remaining orange sauce in the pan. Return to medium-low heat and continue to stir until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the sauce into a bowl set inside a larger bowl with ice to help chill the sauce quickly. Stir occasionally until cooled, about 10 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, stir in Grand Marnier. Note: The orange cream can be made up to a week in advance.
For the berry filling:
- Prepare 8x8 baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter. Arrange the berries in an even layer in the dish and sprinkle evenly with cornstarch, palm sugar, cardamom, and vanilla extract. (It doesn't matter if the berries are layered or mixed with the dry ingredients in a bowl--layering just saves washing an extra dish). Dot with remaining butter.
For the Crumb Topping:
- Mix the almond flour, oats, palm sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl until well combined. Press the softened butter into the dry ingredients, mixing with your finger tips until combined and crumbly.
- Sprinkle topping over the layered ingredients and bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly and browned. Serve with Orange Cream.
Notes
- Cointreau or Tuaca can be substituted for Grand Marnier.
- Leftover Orange Cream can be refrigerated for up to 1 week or frozen. Serve as a substitute for syrup on waffles or pancakes.
Jane says
Oh, this looks like a recipe my family will love and I like the idea of the orange cream!
marcela says
I’m such a sucker for crumbles! Love your recipe! Gonna give it a try soon!
Judy Purcell says
Thanks Marcela! And glad you stopped by, it was great to discover your beautiful blog and follow you on Instagram. 🙂
Raymund says
Look at the vibrance of those berries! makes me wanna grab that bowl in my screen.
Judy Purcell says
Thanks, it’s a good one!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
That orange cream sauce must add a real flavor boost to an already delicious crumble.
mjskit says
The perfect spring dessert!! A little it of citrus with a lot of berries. This looks delicious! It looks good to me without the orange cream, but I’m sure that takes it over the top and there is no way to omit it. Wonderful Creation Judy!
Judy Purcell says
Thanks MJ, I’ve never had to be talked into a berry crumble, it is stand-alone dessert for me. But the orange cream really does make it special. Hope you try it.
Liz (Good Things) says
Absolutely divine. Looks just like one I make xx
John/Kitchen Riffs says
Crumbles are great, aren’t they? Easy, satisfying, comforting. With berry season nigh, this is such a timely recipe. And your orange cream sounds wonderful! Of course anything with Grand Marnier in it is wonderful, but this really sounds superb. Thanks!
Mandy says
Your orange cream sounds divine! Think I could eat that all on its own.
Have a wonderful weekend.
🙂 Mandy xo
Judy Purcell says
I know, right?! We have poured it over waffles and fresh fruit … love the stuff!