I’m a baker and lover of pies all year round, but there’s something so exciting about the abundance of fresh, sweet fruits in the summertime. My personal favourite are berries– the usually pricey varieties can be bargained at local farmer’s markets or, if you’re lucky enough, picked in your own backyard. And let’s be real, a woody mid-winter strawberry can’t compare to what you’ll find during summer months.
So what does one do when they find themselves with 2lbs of fresh fruit? Bake a pie of course! Or, well, at least that’s what I tend to do. If you too are interested in preparing an impressive, satisfying desert with your summer berries but are unsure where to start, fret no longer.
Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup oats
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 butter, melted
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons corn starch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
dash of vanilla
dash of salt
4 heaping cups mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
1 nine-inch pie crust
Method
1. Combine brown sugar, flour, oats, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Once mixed well, add butter and stir until a crumbled texture is achieved.
2. Over medium-low heat, combine water, white sugar, corn starch, and lemon juice and whisk until the mixture begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in berries.
3. Pour berries into pie crust shell.
4. Top with crumble topping, doing your best to evenly distribute mixture so that no berries peek through. Place into a 350°C oven for 50 minutes or until crumble topping browns and crust begins to turn golden.
5. Let cool and enjoy!
If you try out this recipe or have any of your own summer favourites to share, be sure to leave a comment below or give me a shout on twitter.
All photos used are my own