It’s so easy to make a Strawberry Crunch without Jell-O! Using a blend of Golden Oreos, freeze-dried strawberries, and a touch of butter. This crumble resembles the strawberry crunchies on the Good Humor Strawberry Shortcake Ice cream bars.
Nosh on strawberry crunch crumbles all by themselves or enjoy on a Strawberry Crunch Cake recipe, ice cream, yogurt, as a cobbler topping and so much more. We’re making it a little healthier by not using strawberry jello mix.
Who doesn’t love a good crumble topping! You might enjoy this Graham Cracker Crumble topping too!
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- Unique: The blend of Golden Oreos and freeze-dried strawberries creates homemade strawberry crunch.
- Versatile: This crumble topping is perfect for enhancing various desserts like pies, cakes, cobblers, tarts, and strawberry ice cream.
- No Jell-O: Many recipes use strawberry gelatin, we use 100% natural freeze-dried strawberries!
I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!
Simple Ingredients for Strawberry Crunch Topping
- Freeze-dried strawberries: You an find freeze-dried strawberries in most grocery stores or online, usually with dried fruits. They add a concentrated, all-natural sweet strawberry flavor to the topping.
- Golden Oreos or Shortbread Cookies: Use one or the other as the base of the topping, or even a combination of both. Golden Oreos will provide a slightly sweeter and creamier flavor, while shortbread cookies will add a buttery and crumbly texture, you may also use Nilla wafers. Use regular or double stuff, though double stuff will be sweeter.
- Butter: Use melted salted or unsalted butter and allow to cool slightly before mixing into the crumble mixture.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Strawberry Crunch (Two-Ways)
Food Processor Strawberry Crunch Topping
Add the freeze-dried strawberries to the food processor and pulse until they become a powder.
Add the cookies and pulse in the bowl of a food processor until you have coarse crumbs. Pour the crumb mixture into a medium bowl.
Fresh Tip
- Allow the powder to rest for a few seconds before removing the lid, this will allow some of the strawberry dust to settle.
In a medium to large mixing bowl, stir the strawberry powder into the crushed cookies and stir in the melted butter, combining the ingredients. Lay out on baking sheet to dry into crumble or bake.
If desired, bake the strawberry crumble for a crisper texture.
How to Make Strawberry Crunch without a Food Processor
Place the Oreo or Shortbread cookies into a ziploc bag and using a rolling pin, crush the cookies, then roll until you have coarse crumbs. Pour into a large bowl.
Place freeze-dried strawberries in the same baggie and roll until it makes a medium-fine powder, add to cookies.
Proceed with recipe as described above.
That’s it! You can use this delightful Strawberry Crunch Topping just as it is, or take it a step further and bake it for an extra crispy texture that holds up perfectly on cakes, ice cream, and more.
Recommended Tools
- A food processor makes this recipe so quick!
- Solid warp resistent baking sheets are a must.
- We love our Weck jars!
To Bake or Not to Bake
While strawberry crunch can be enjoyed without baking, baking it gives the strawberry crunch an irresistible crunch. If your strawberry shortcake crunch gets soft, then bake it to revive the crispy goodness.
How to Bake Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Crumble
To bake this crunchy topping, simply spread the strawberry crumble mixture evenly on a baking sheet and pop it into a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes. Watch it closely to ensure it doesn’t over-brown. Make clean-up easy and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
10 Ways to Use Strawberry Crunch Crumble
- Strawberry Crumble Bars: Create a crunchy layer on top of a strawberry filling in bar form. Perfect for replacing the crumble topping on Strawberry Rhubarb bars.
- Classic Strawberry Crisp: Make a fruit crisp with fresh or frozen strawberries as the base. Sprinkle crumble topping over the fruit and bake until bubbly. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
- Strawberry Muffins/Cupcakes: Try topping strawberry muffins or strawberry cupcakes.
- Yogurt Parfait: Layer yogurt, fresh strawberries, and strawberry crunch crumble topping in a glass or dessert dish to create a tasty parfait. Top with whipped cream.
- Crust: Use strawberry crumble to make a crust by processing it finer, increasing melted butter by 2 tablespoons, and pressing it into the bottom of a desired pan. Bake, cool, and proceed with your recipe.
- Crunchy Strawberry Pancakes: Sprinkle strawberry crunch crumble topping onto pancakes while cooking. Serve with fresh strawberries and maple syrup or fresh strawberry syrup.
- Ice Cream Sundae: Top strawberry, chocolate or vanilla ice cream with strawberry crunch topping, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and a drizzle of strawberry sauce.
- Epic Strawberry Shortcake: Bake this sweet shortcake, then sprinkle crumble topping on vanilla ice cream to take your strawberry shortcake to new levels.
- Strawberry Brownies: Bake these easy Strawberry brownies using strawberry cake mix or your favorite boxed cake mix, add your preferred frosting, and top with strawberry crumble topping.
- Strawberry Crunch Bundt Cake: Add a layer of strawberry crunch in the middle of the bundt cake batter and sprinkle over buttercream frosting.
Storage Tips
Store the completely cooled Strawberry Crunch Topping in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 months in a cool place in your pantry, and freeze up to 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in place of the freeze-dried strawberries use one 3.4 ounce package of strawberry Jell-O. Since the Jell-O has a lot of sugar in it, you may need to bake the mixture in order for it to get crispy. Bake and cool as directed above.
You may, but I leave it in. The cream filling will also act as a binder in this crunchy strawberry crumble recipe.
You bet! Golden Oreos are naturally vegan, replace your butter with vegan plant-based butter or if preferred coconut oil, bake and enjoy!
No, fresh strawberries would have too much moisture in them, stick with freeze-dried strawberries or Jello-O.
What to serve with this Strawberry Crunch Recipe
- Fresh and delicious sprinkled on top of this Lemon Ice Cream {Lemon Gelato}
- Try a Strawberry Shortcake Bar! Bake up some of my shortcake, slice fresh strawberries, provide sprinkles, strawberry syrup, ice cream and of course this Strawberry crunch.
- Make your own Strawberry crunch ice cream bars; soften Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and press into popsicle molds, freeze until solid, then remove and roll in strawberry crunch crumble topping.
More Delicious Crumb Inspired Recipes
- Oreo Crumbl Cookie Recipe (Copycat)
- The Best Gluten-Free Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake Recipe
- Graham Cracker Crumble topping this yummy Pumpkin Yogurt.
- Gluten-Free Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
- Amazing Apple Crumb Cake
Our Favorite Strawberry Recipes
- Easy Strawberry Phyllo Cheesecake Cups Recipe
- Easy Strawberry Brownies Recipe with Frosting
- Easy No Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam Recipe
- How to Make a Homemade Strawberry Refresher
- Easy Strawberry Rhubarb Salad with Rhubarb Dressing
TOP TIP
Be sure to store your strawberry shortcake crumble recipe in an airtight container to retain it’s crispness and crunch.
I hope you loved this Strawberry Crunch! Would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest if you did? And be sure to comment and RATE below!
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Equipment
- Cuisinart 8-Cup Food Processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries about one package
- 20-24 Golden Oreos Sub with Shortbread Cookies, Nilla wafers or a combination.* Do not remove cream filling.
- 4 ounces butter melted, salted or unsalted (½ a stick)
Instructions
Food Processor Method
- Add freeze-dried strawberries to food process and pulse until they become a powder.
- Then place cookies and pulse until a medium-fine crumb; pour into a medium bowl.
- Stir strawberry powder into crushed cookies. Stir in the melted butter and coat until combined. Pour onto parchment lined baking sheet and cool or bake.
Manual Hand Method
- In a freezer baggie, place half the cookies at a time and give them a few good whacks with a meat mallet or rolling pin, then roll until medium-fine crumbs, dump into a bowl and repeat with the rest of the cookies.
- Repeat with the freeze-dried strawberries (in a new bag if necessary) and combine the mixture into cookie crumbs. Stir in melted butter until coated. Allow to dry on baking sheet.That’s it! You can use it just like this or bake it, see below for how to bake and storage instructions.
Baked Strawberry Crunch Recipe
- With mixture in single layer on baking sheet, bake in 350°F (175° C) oven for 5-10 minutes until it's golden brown. Remove and cool completely before storing in airtight container.
Notes
I baked my Strawberry Crunch Crumble to make it even crispier holding up when adding to cakes on top of ice cream and other uses. This mixture does not need to be baked to be enjoyed. But it is a great way to refresh the crispy crunchiness of the topping when needed. Baked Strawberry Crunch Crumble
Layer the strawberry crumble mixture on a baking sheet in an even layer and bake in preheated 350° F (175° C) oven for 5-10 minutes. Storage Tips
Cool completely and store in an airtight container or freezer baggie for up to 2 months, in a cool pantry and freeze up to 6 months. See original post above for ways to use this yummy crunchy topping.
Nutrition
Kate
It’s so good! I want this topping on everything now!
Haha! Right?!
Tara
Oh yum! I love how you made this using freeze-dried strawberries. Such a fun and delicious treat.
So delish! Thank you!
Traci
So good! This is easily my new favorite way to enjoy freeze dried strawberries. Thanks for sharing another winner!
You are so welcome, Traci!
Cara
Ridiculously good – we topped a strawberry sundae with this and the texture it added was so perfect!
That’s so perfect! Thank you for your kind words!
Liz
I made this for a party yesterday and it was such a hit! I love the strawberry flavor. So yummy!
Thank you!!