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Dish of Gluten-Free Fruit Crumble (with peaches and blueberries).

Did you know it’s a scientific fact that adding sweet chile peppers to desserts and other sweets intensify their flavor?

No worries if you didn’t know since it’s NOT a scientific fact BUT  . . . my personal hands-on research in the kitchen over the past few weeks suggests it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

I fooled around in the kitchen long enough and came up with this New Mexico-inspired fruit crumble, where the subtle zing of fruity sweet chile gives a classic dessert an irresistible twist.

Best yet, if you want to avoid gluten and wheat as I do, this is a gluten-free fruit crumble. This way, no one has to miss out on this sweet and spicy taste of New Mexico.

New Mexico Style Gluten-Free Fruit Crumble

From start to finish within 30 minutes, this too-yummy dessert is sure to make 8 to 10 hungry people very happy you’re their friend. What’s in there:

THE CRUMBLE (what goes on top)

A crumbly-textured layer of ingredients ~ gluten-free flours, brown sugar, and butter ~ covers the fruit. 

Dry ingredients for Gluten-Free Fruit Crumble.

THE FRUIT (what goes on the bottom)

This is a layer of your favorite frozen fruit ~ whether peaches, strawberries, cherries ~ mixed with berries. Peaches and blueberries are a favorite combination. (Luv blueberries!)

Frozen peaches and blueberries for New Mexico Style Gluten Free Fruit Crumble.

To the fruit, we add Besito Caliente, the blackberry and habanero chile dessert sauce I told you about here. 

Don’t get me wrong, this crumble without Besito Caliente tastes great. But WITH it, this crumble tastes terrific . . . your crew will not want to stop eating it.

As Michael Douglas’s character Gordon Gekko says in the movie Wall Street,

Bite . . . is good.

Okay, Gordon Gekko didn’t really say that, but he could have.

Now enough of Mr. Gekko, here’s how we make terrific!

New Mexico Style Gluten-Free Fruit Crumble Recipe

New Mexico Style Gluten-Free Fruit Crumble

Crumble dessert with gluten free rolled oats and frozen berries and assorted other fruit
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10

Equipment

  • 9" x 13" (or similar sized) glass or Corning Ware baking pan
  • large bowl
  • medium-sized bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
  • ¾ cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup gluten-free flour with xanthan gum, like Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour
  • cup organic coconut flour
  • ½ cup butter diced, then softened to room temperature

For Your Fruit Layer

  • 2 cups organic frozen peaches or berries of your choice
  • 1 cup organic frozen mixed berries
  • cup Besito Caliente gourmet dessert sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven for 400F.
  • Blend the first four ingredients together in a large bowl.
  • Add butter to the contents in the bowl and use a spoon or your hands (my preferred method) to combine it with the dry ingredients until the concoction has a moist crumbly texture.
  • Stir the tablespoon of brown sugar into the Besito Caliente until dissolved.
  • Place the frozen fruit into a medium-sized bowl.
  • Pour the sweetened Besito Caliente into the bowl of fruit and mix.
  • Place the frozen fruit mix into the pan, spreading the fruit evenly across the bottom. (Add a bit more fruit to cover, if needed.)
  • Place the pan on the center rack of the oven (or in the one just below it if your over "runs hot.")
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until the crumble turns a toasty brown.
  • Best served warm or at room temperature.

Notes

  • About specific brands of ingredients . . . . I’ve been happy with Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free products for the flours. And I like Kerrygold unsalted Irish butter, made with the milk of grass-fed cows free of growth hormones. (Buy it here if you can’t find it locally.)
 
  • Adding brown sugar to the dessert sauce is optional. To my taste buds, Besito Caliente is more hot than sweet  ~ so I add the sugar for balance. Yet I know of others who taste more “sweet” than “heat.” Let your own taste buds make the call.
Keyword fruit crumble, sweet & spicy

There you have it ~ a dessert, I hope, destined to become one of your favorite go-to’s for something sweet, quick, and satisfying.

What is your favorite crowd-pleasing baked dessert?