Apple and Blackberry Crumble

This Apple and Blackberry Crumble is the perfect balance between a cozy classic and a vibrant dessert. It’s easy to make and will satisfy a crowd. Make it for the holidays or your next get together so you can share the love. Don’t forget to top it off with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream!

The secret to a good crumble

In my opinion, the trick to a delicious and well-made crumble is the streusel topping. Despite the name of the recipe, you don’t want a super crumbly topping that doesn’t hold together. But you also don’t want an incredibly thick and dense layer either. 

This Apple and Blackberry Crumble recipe is the perfect balance between the two. It crumbles when it’s supposed to crumble. It stays together where it’s meant to and it all tastes absolutely delicious.

We are also looking for a good ratio between the fruit mixture and the crumble. This can be altered, depending on your preference. For a dessert that has more fruit compared to crumble, we will bake it in an 8×8” dish. If you’re looking for a thinner and more even distribution of fruit to streusel topping, we can bake it in a 9×9″ or even a 9×13” dish.

This addition of blackberries makes this a slight change from your classic apple crumble recipe but trust me on this combination. I love the colour, texture and vibrancy that the berries provide and they pair so well with the crisp and cozy apples.

Speaking of apples, the step that requires the most time, besides baking, is peeling and chopping the fruit. Other than that, this dessert comes together so quickly and easily. 

I’m confident this will be a crowd pleaser at your next dinner party. I can’t wait for you to try it!

Ingredients needed

The ingredient list for this crumble is short and sweet and is mostly composed of kitchen staples. All you need is:

• Apples
  • You can use whatever type of apple you have at home but some of the best apples for baking are honeycrisp, jonagold and granny smith!
• Blackberries
  • If you’re purchasing blackberries from the store, you will need about 2 clamshell containers (or 1 pint) for this recipe.
• Granulated sugar
  • White sugar, granulated sugar, “regular” sugar- whatever you want to call it, you need it here.
• Light brown sugar
  • You can use light brown sugar or any other kind of brown sugar in this recipe.
• Oats
  • I recommend using old fashioned rolled oats or quick oats instead of large flake oats so the mixture isn’t too crumbly.
• Flour
  • I suggest using all purpose flour for the crumble topping.
• Butter
  • We will be using cold butter for the crumble to provide the best texture.
• Lemon juice
  • You can use packaged or fresh lemon juice. This will help keep the apples from browning before we put them in the oven. 
• Cinnamon
  • The spice that pairs best with apples!

Substitutions and alternatives

If you don’t have some of the recommended ingredients or you would prefer to make some substitutions, here are my suggestions:

• Berries
  • If you don’t like or can’t get your hands on some blackberries, you can use whatever type of berry you would like in this recipe.
• Gluten free flour
  • I recommend using equal parts of a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour. Make sure your oats are also certified gluten free to achieve an entirely gluten free crumble.
• Other types of brown sugar
  • Any kind of brown sugar will work in this recipe.
• Unsalted butter
  • I use salted butter in this recipe to help amplify the flavours but you can use unsalted butter if the sodium is a concern for you.
• Maple syrup or honey
  • If you want the filling to be extra sweet and flavourful, you can add 1 tbsp of maple syrup or honey to the apple and blackberry filling before adding the white sugar. 

How to make Apple Blackberry Crumble

Keeping desserts simple and straightforward is key! Thankfully, this recipe doesn’t take much time to throw together. You’ll spend the majority of the prep time peeling and chopping the apples and the rest is a piece of cake (or should I say crumble)? 

1. First, preheat the oven to 375F and prepare an 8×8” baking dish by greasing it with cooking spray or butter.
2. In a large bowl, add the peeled and chopped apples and the fresh blackberries. To this, pour in the lemon juice and white sugar and toss gently. Try to ensure the fruit is coated with the sugar! Set this bowl aside while we work on the crumble.
3. In another large bowl, combine the flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir this together until it’s well combined. We then take ½ cup of cold butter, cut it into cubes and place these directly into the crumble mixture.
4. Using either a pastry blender, a butter knife or your hands, cut or combine the butter into the dry ingredients until it’s crumbly in texture. I prefer using my hands but it does get a little messy!
5. Pour the fruit filling ingredients into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. Next, pour the crumble mixture evenly over the apples and blackberries and use a spoon or knife to distribute this over the fruit and into each corner of the dish.
6. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the crumble topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Allow this to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

 

If you choose to bake the crumble in a larger dish (9×9″ or 9×13″), follow the assembly instructions as listed. When you put it in the oven, reduce the time to 30-40 minutes for a 9×9″ and 25-35 minutes for a 9×13″, and keep your eye on it so the thinner layers don’t burn.

 

Serving and storing the crumble

There are many ways to enjoy this Apple Blackberry Crumble. Here are a few of my favourites:

• Serve it in a bowl soon after it comes out of the oven so it is nice and warm and cozy.
• Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top.
• A spoonful of plain or vanilla yogurt on top would be delicious too!
• Sprinkle on some granola or chopped nuts (like almonds, walnuts or pecans) for extra crunch.
• Add extra fresh fruit on top so you have a mix of fresh and baked fruit all in one bowl.

 

To store the crumble, I recommend keeping it in the dish that it was baked in, if possible. This will keep everything intact and minimize your dishes. At first, you can cover it in plastic wrap or with any kind of lid and keep it on the counter for 2-3 days. Alternatively, transfer it to the fridge where it will stay fresh for up to 4-5 days.

Apple and Blackberry Crumble Nutrition

As a non-diet dietitian, I encourage my clients and foodies to include a variety of foods in their diet. Of course not everything we eat will have major nutrient benefits but we can still benefit in many other ways. That being said, some individuals may like to know what nutrients are in this crumble. This crumble serves between 8-10 people, depending on your appetite! If we stick with 8 servings per batch that’s made with enriched all-purpose flour, each serving provides roughly:

• 3 grams of protein
• 4 grams of fibre
• A variety of B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin A
• Some minerals such as iron, manganese and more!

 

If you choose to pair this crumble with toppings like yogurt, nuts or seeds, you will boost the protein and calcium or fibre content even more!

 

Dietary considerations

If you or someone you’re cooking for has dietary restrictions or you just prefer to make some adjustments to this recipe, here are ways to accommodate that!

• Gluten free: use a 1:1 gluten free all purpose flour instead of the regular all purpose flour. Make sure your oats are also certified gluten free to achieve an entirely gluten free crumble.
• Dairy free: opt for a dairy free butter.
• Vegan: use a vegan butter alternative, just make sure it’s solid so it can be cut it into the dry ingredients!
• This crumble is already vegetarian, nut and oil free.

 

Regardless of how you make it, I hope you love this Apple Blackberry Crumble!

FAQ

• Do you need to cook apples before making the crumble?
  • No. The apples should be fresh and they will bake alongside the rest of the ingredients when the crumble is in the oven.

 

• How long does apple and blackberry crumble take to cook?
  • Approximately 35-45 minutes. This can depend on the strength of your oven and the thickness of the crumble.

 

• How long does the crumble last?
  • On the counter at room temperature, the crumble will stay fresh for about 2-3 days.

 

• How long does it last in the fridge?
  • If the crumble is placed in the fridge in an airtight container, it should stay fresh for up to 4-5 days.

 

• Can you make Apple and Blackberry Crumble in advance?
  • Yes, absolutely! I recommend making it the morning of or about 1-2 days in advance so it doesn’t get too soggy. If you want to serve it hot, you can pop it back in the oven for 5-10 minutes to reheat it or microwave individual bowls of the crumble for 20-30 seconds.

 

• Can you freeze apple and blackberry crumble?
  •  I don’t recommend freezing the crumble. This texture will change significantly after it’s frozen and thawed. I suggest storing it in the fridge if you want to extend the freshness as long as possible.

More dessert recipes

• Cottage Cheese Chocolate Mousse
• Coconut Pecan Cookies
• Black Bean Brownies
• Almond Pistachio Cookies
• Lemon Olive Oil Cake
• Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Orange Yogurt Loaf with Vanilla Glaze

 

If you make this Apple and Blackberry Crumble, I would love to see your comment and rating below. It also makes my day seeing your creations of my recipes on Instagram- don’t forget to tag @allnutrition.rd!