In between snapping shots of batting practice and the baseball field, Dad and I start scoping out the food stands while walking around the stadium. Everybody always offers hot dogs, peanuts, and cracker jacks, but we wait to see what special items each ballpark sells. What sets them apart from the rest.
I ate my most memorable meal at a Ranger game in Arlington, Texas. With the state known for its barbeque, I ordered a beef brisket sandwich, and it had the sweetest, juiciest, melt-in-your-mouth meat you’ll ever find at a stadium. (And for once, the serving size actually matched the crazy ballpark price!) Dad devoured some spicy Mexican burritos and taquitos and the Astros and Diamondbacks’ homes, and the sushi from the Giants and Mariners sounded really tempting to me!
But while checking out all of the different savory options, I always hunt for the same sweet treat: an ice cream sundae helmet. I collect those little plastic batting helmets (I even used one in this recipe’s photo shoot!) and order one at every stadium that sells them. A stack of at least 15 sits on my shelf at home! Most parks only offer vanilla, chocolate, or swirl soft-serve, but the Diamondbacks sold TCBY frozen yogurt and I even found chocolate peanut butter ice cream on this trip!
Yet when it comes to ice cream, I kind of want something to go with it. Like a waffle cone. Or rainbow sprinkles. Or…
Strawberry peanut butter crumble! When the milky melted ice cream combines with the sweet fruit filling, magic happens. That combination of textures, creamy and just-barely-firm… Yum.
But until ballparks start baking under the bleachers, I’ll have to eat the two separately. Which I don’t mind too much. It means I can sneak an extra serving of my strawberry peanut butter crumble!
This dessert tastes like a deconstructed PB&J sandwich—just a little sweeter!
- Preheat the oven to 350°, and lightly coat an 8”-square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- To prepare the filling, gently toss together the strawberries, granulated sugar, and cornstarch. Set aside.
- To prepare the topping, stir together the oats, powdered peanut butter, and brown sugar. Slice the butter into small pieces, and cut into the oat mixture using two knives or the back of a fork until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Spread the strawberry filling into the prepared pan, and sprinkle the oat mixture evenly on top. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes. Cool completely to room temperature, and let them set for at least 2 hours once at room temperature before serving.
Note: You can use fresh or frozen berries for the filling, so it’s easy to enjoy this dessert all year long!
Mmm… did I see peanut butter mentioned?! That crumble looks great!! Hooray for finding chocolate PB ice cream at the ballpark too!! Hope the vacation has been amazing!! 🙂
Yes, you most definitely saw PB mentioned! It was the first time I tried it, but it makes the crumble topping absolutely amazing. Wish I could share some with you!! 🙂
I am ALL over this! Need a dessert recipe for the weekend and I think this has to be it 🙂 I love love love pb, the strawberry combo sounds fantastic!
Thanks Kristina; you’re so sweet! I just recently rediscovered peanut butter, and I seriously can’t get enough. I started eating it straight from the jar with a spoon, just like when I was a little kid! 😉 I’d love to hear what you think if you try the recipe!
This would be SO easy to make vegan!! It’s like a PB&J only BETTER! YUM!
That was my EXACT thought, Brittany! Who needs bread when you can have PB&J for dessert? 😉
Oh my goodness… STOP it! This looks incredible. You KNOW me and PB! 😉 Ok, so my second attempt to visit a different whole foods to find PB2 was another bust… because I never made it into the store!! Thought I would check out the san rafael WF, but their parking lot was so nuts that I gave up. Oh dear. Have you seen this video?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU
so funny… so true… also, note… Have you ever tried a PB and banana sandwich? Instead of jelly? In an attempt to eliminate sugar from my lunch one day, I tried PB and sliced strawberries… and it was amazing!!
Oh my gosh, that is the best music video ever!! Finally somebody did a clean, hilarious rap — love it! How about I bring you a jar on Saturday? Only fair since you gave me that gift card for my birthday! 😉
I actually didn’t like jelly on my PB sandwiches as a kid! Just PB (and then a little extra for good measure). But I did make that PBB&J panini in January, and I loved it! I’ll have to try eliminating the jelly instead, or just adding strawberries like you. Such a great idea!
Peanut butter and jelly (ok, strawberries, but if they’re cooked they’re jelly!) in a CRUMBLE?! I think I’ve just gone to foodie heaven. I love the idea of those beautiful crunchy oats on top of the soft fruit. Mmmm. I’ve never seen PB2 for sale here (in Aussieland) though. I think I need to go hunting online. Thanks for the recipe Amy! x
Laura, you and I are definitely on the same page! 🙂 Have you seen powdered peanut butter or peanut flour in the grocery stores? Those are the same thing, even if they aren’t the PB2 brand!
I remember those helmets!!! SO cool. And this crumble – YUM!
Thanks Dorothy! I actually got 3 new helmets on this trip — my stack is threatening to topple!
Can you use regular peanut butter in place of the PB2??
I haven’t tried using regular peanut butter in the crumble topping. Most crumble toppings using a mixture of flour and oats, so I substituted the PB2 (essentially peanut flour!) for the regular flour. If you try using regular peanut butter, I’d suggest only using half (or a quarter) of the butter in the topping. Hope that helps!
Good Morning!! I did use regular peanut butter and it worked out fine. My niece and her danceline team devoured it quickly. 2 thumbs up!!
I’m so happy to hear that Laura!! Your compliment just brightened my entire day — thank you! 🙂 Did you still use the same about of butter in the crumble topping?
I did use the same amount of butter. The girls requested that the next one have double the amount of crumble!!
I don’t blame them at all — the crumble topping is always my favorite part!
I just made this and it is so delicious!! I can’t stop eating it haha. It made my house smell so good and it really DOES taste like a PB and J sandwich! Thank you for the recipe!!!!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Erin! I couldn’t stop either. I actually devoured 2 whole pieces as soon as I finished photographing them. I had to give the rest away to make myself stop! 😉