Strawberry Streusel

The term “Streusel” refers to a type of crumble of German origin, made with butter, sugar, and flour, often used as a crunchy topping for various desserts. Here’s how to prepare Strawberry Streusel, inspired by the Italian style.

Ingredients

• 200g fresh strawberries
• 150g 00 flour
• 100g brown sugar
• 80g cold butter
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar (for decoration)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. Clean the strawberries and cut them in half or into pieces, depending on their size.
3. Place the strawberries in a baking dish lightly buttered or lined with parchment paper.
4. For the crumble (streusel), in a bowl mix the flour with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and the pinch of salt.
5. Add the cold butter cut into cubes and start working it with your fingertips until you get a sandy mixture.
6. Distribute the crumble evenly over the strawberries in the baking dish.
7. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the streusel becomes golden and crispy.
8. Let it cool slightly before serving and, if you like, sprinkle with powdered sugar before bringing it to the table.

Trivia

Streusel, in German and Central European cuisine, is often used as a topping on fruit pies, muffins, and other desserts. The strawberry version is an example of how this crumble can be used to add a crunchy and sweet touch to fruit that is already juicy and aromatic on its own. In Italy, you might find variants that use typical fruits such as peaches, apricots, or plums.