Peach Crumble

With pleasure! Peach crumble is a delightful dessert that can be served hot or cold, and fits very well with Italian cuisine, especially when using fresh, juicy, and ripe peaches. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

• 5-6 ripe peaches
• 150 g of sugar (brown sugar is better)
• 200 g of flour
• 100 g of cold butter
• A pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
• Juice of one lemon
• Powdered sugar for decorating (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Wash, peel, and slice the peaches, or cut them into pieces. Place them in a bowl and sprinkle lemon juice on top to prevent browning.
3. Add about 50 g of sugar to the peaches (and cinnamon if you like), gently mixing to evenly coat them. Distribute the peaches evenly in a baking dish.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, the remaining sugar, and the salt. Cut the cold butter into pieces and add it to the dry ingredients. Work the mixture with your fingertips until you get a sandy texture, forming clumps.
5. Sprinkle the crumble over the peaches in the dish, covering them completely.
6. Bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the surface of the crumble is golden and crisp.
7. Allow to cool slightly before serving. If desired, you can dust with powdered sugar before bringing to the table.

A truly Italian touch could be the addition of a handful of chopped almonds or crumbled amaretti biscuits to the crumble, for an extra crunch and flavor.

Curiosity

The crumble is a dessert of British origin, but its versatility with the use of seasonal fruits has made it popular in many countries, including Italy. Its particular crunchy texture in contrast to the softness of the cooked fruit makes it a highly appreciated dessert.