Blackberry Crumble is one of my all-time favorite desserts, and it’s incredibly quick and easy to make. This delightful treat pairs perfectly with a cup of coffee, making it a wonderful choice for any occasion. Whether you’re serving it at a potluck, a family gathering, or simply enjoying it at home, this blackberry crumble is sure to impress.
With its juicy, sweet-tart blackberry filling and buttery, crunchy topping, it’s a delicious way to savor the flavors of summer. Not only is it easy to make, but it also fills your home with a wonderful aroma as it bakes.
Ingredients
Topping:
- Old-fashioned or quick oats
- All-purpose flour
- Packed light brown sugar
- Salt
- Butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
Fruit:
- Fresh blackberries, washed and dried well
- Granulated sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Fresh lemon juice
How To Make Blackberry Crumble
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the oven is at the correct temperature when you’re ready to bake the crumble.
Make the Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Stir these dry ingredients together to combine them evenly.
Add the butter (cut into tablespoon-sized pieces) to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles small pea-sized clumps. This step creates the crumbly topping for the crumble.
Once the topping mixture is ready, set it aside.
Prepare the Filling: In another bowl, combine the blackberries, sugar, flour, and lemon juice. Stir gently to coat the berries evenly with the ingredients. The flour helps thicken the fruit filling as it bakes, while the lemon juice brightens the flavor of the blackberries.
Assemble the Crisp: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. This will help ensure the crumble doesn’t stick to the dish while baking.
Spread the blackberry mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Evenly sprinkle the oat topping over the blackberries. Make sure the topping covers the entire fruit mixture for an even bake.
Bake the Crumble: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. The crumble is done when the fruit filling is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
If the topping isn’t golden enough after 45 minutes, you may need to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the crumble to prevent overbaking.
Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the crumble from the oven and let it cool for about 10-15 minutes. This cooling time allows the fruit layer to thicken slightly, making it easier to serve.
Serve the blackberry crumble warm or at room temperature. For an extra indulgence, serve it with a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of lemon frozen yogurt, or a spoonful of sweetened whipped cream.
Pro Tips
Use Fresh Berries: Fresh blackberries provide the best texture and flavor for this crumble. If you use frozen blackberries, make sure to thaw and drain them to avoid excess moisture in the filling.
Customize the Topping: For extra crunch, you can add chopped nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, or pecans) to the oat topping. About 1/4 cup of chopped nuts will add a great texture and flavor.
Adjust Sweetness: Depending on how sweet your blackberries are, you may need to adjust the sugar amount. If your berries are very tart, you can increase the sugar slightly. On the other hand, if you prefer a less sweet dessert, reduce the sugar in the topping or filling.
Make Ahead and Store: You can prepare the crumble ahead of time by assembling it and then covering it with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. This allows the flavors to meld together.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to warm it up.
Make it Gluten-Free: To make the crumble gluten-free, simply swap out the all-purpose flour for gluten-free flour or almond flour. Ensure that the oats you use are certified gluten-free as well.
Serving Suggestions:
Classic: Serve the crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic dessert combination.
Lemon Twist: For extra flavor, drizzle the crumble with a bit of fresh lemon zest or serve it with a dollop of lemon whipped cream.
For Breakfast: If you love having fruit-filled desserts for breakfast, this crumble makes a wonderful option, especially when paired with yogurt.
More Summer Desserts
Blackberry Crumble
Ingredients
For the Topping:
- 1 cup old-fashioned or quick oats
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces
For the Fruit Filling:
- 4 cups fresh blackberries washed and dried well
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the oven is at the correct temperature when you’re ready to bake the crumble.
- Make the Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Stir these dry ingredients together to combine them evenly.
- Add the butter (cut into tablespoon-sized pieces) to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture becomes crumbly and resembles small pea-sized clumps. This step creates the crumbly topping for the crumble.
- Once the topping mixture is ready, set it aside.
- Prepare the Filling: In another bowl, combine the blackberries, sugar, flour, and lemon juice. Stir gently to coat the berries evenly with the ingredients. The flour helps thicken the fruit filling as it bakes, while the lemon juice brightens the flavor of the blackberries.
- Assemble the Crisp: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. This will help ensure the crumble doesn't stick to the dish while baking.
- Spread the blackberry mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Evenly sprinkle the oat topping over the blackberries. Make sure the topping covers the entire fruit mixture for an even bake.
- Bake the Crumble: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes. The crumble is done when the fruit filling is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
- If the topping isn't golden enough after 45 minutes, you may need to bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the crumble to prevent overbaking.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the crumble from the oven and let it cool for about 10-15 minutes. This cooling time allows the fruit layer to thicken slightly, making it easier to serve.
- Serve the blackberry crumble warm or at room temperature. For an extra indulgence, serve it with a scoop of ice cream, a dollop of lemon frozen yogurt, or a spoonful of sweetened whipped cream.