There's nothing like the comforting aroma of baked fruits wafting from your kitchen. Our Apple and Blackberry Crumble delivers exactly that: a comforting, homemade dessert that's as simple to make as it is delicious. Ready in just 45 minutes, this baked fruit crisp is the perfect mixture of sweet and tart, topped off with a crispy, buttery, oat crumble layer.
Whether you know it as a crumble, crisp or cobbler, this easy-baked dessert makes the most of in-season fruit throughout the year.
Although there are some differences between them all, the premise is fresh or frozen fruit mixed with sugar and baked under an oat crumble topping like this rhubarb and ginger crumble or under a shortbread-type topping in the case of this peach and raspberry cobbler.
Jump to:
- ⭐️ Why We LOVE This Homemade Apple and Blackberry Crumble Recipe
- 🧾 Ingredient notes and substitutions
- 📖 Variations
- 👩🏻🍳 Making apple blackberry crumble in 6 easy steps
- 🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers
- Tips for making fruit crumble ahead
- 💡 Chef's Guide: Pro Tips for Recipe Success
- ❓Recipe FAQ's
- More baked fruit desserts
- Easy Apple and Blackberry Crumble
- Meet the Chef!
⭐️ Why We LOVE This Homemade Apple and Blackberry Crumble Recipe
- Seasonal Flexibility: Whether you're into summer fruit recipes or looking for a heartwarming winter dessert, this fruit crumble is a year-round go-to recipe.
- Beginner-Friendly Baking: This is a simple dessert recipe that even amateur home cooks can master.
- Flavourful Harmony: Our easy-to-follow dessert recipe hits all the right notes. The blackberries offer a tart contrast to the sweet apples, and the crumble topping adds that crunchy texture.
- Recipe Customization: From choosing gluten-free oats for the crumble topping to adding extra fruit or spices, this recipe is simple to make over.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: If you're craving something that ticks the boxes for both delicious and comforting, look no further. This fruit crumble is a classic comfort food dessert that pairs excellently with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
🧾 Ingredient notes and substitutions
Here I provide an overview of the key ingredients and what you may want/ need to use as a substitute for dietary requirements, accessibility or preference. As always, the exact quantities can be found in the recipe card below.
- Apples: Opt for sweet varieties like Gala, Jazz, or Pink Lady. These apples hold their shape well during baking and offer a delightful sweetness that complements the tartness of blackberries.
- Substitution: If you don't have these specific varieties on hand, Golden Delicious or Fuji apples make good alternatives.
- Blackberries: Fresh blackberries offer the best flavour and texture.
- Substitution: Frozen blackberries can also be used. There's no need to thaw; add them directly to the recipe.
- Oat Crumble: We recommend using rolled oats for a perfectly crumbly texture.
- Substitution: If you're gluten-sensitive, ensure you use gluten-free oats.
- Sugar: Regular white sugar works well in this recipe for both the fruit and crumble layers.
- Substitution: You can use light brown sugar as an alternative.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is ideal for controlling the dessert's sodium levels.
- Substitution: Vegan or dairy-free? Use a plant-based butter alternative.
- Cinnamon: This adds an aromatic warmth to the crumble.
- Substitution: Nutmeg or allspice can also be used for a different spice profile.
📖 Variations
While having a "tried and true" go-to recipe is comforting, eating the same thing can get monotonous. To help you mix things up without the learning curve of a completely new dish, I've listed some easy variations below. This way, you can refresh your favourite meal whenever you feel the need for a change.
- Fruit variations
- Mixed Berries: Use a combination of raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries along with blackberries.
- Peaches: A bit unconventional, but peaches can add a juicy element.
- Toppings
- Nuts: Almonds, pecans, or walnuts add a great crunch.
- Seeds: Pumpkin or sunflower seeds for an earthy flavour.
- Filling
- Spices: Nutmeg or allspice for a warming undertone.
- Citrus Zest: Lemon or orange zest can lift the overall flavour profile.
- Technique Variations
- Roasting: Pre-roast the fruits to deepen their flavours.
- Layering: Alternate layers of crumble and fruit for more texture.
👩🏻🍳 Making apple blackberry crumble in 6 easy steps
1 & 2 Mixing the fruit
- Peel and chop the apples and place in a bowl with the fresh blackberries and frozen berry mix.
- Sprinkle with the caster (granulated) sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Toss well to coat all the fruit.
3 & 4- Making the crumble topping
- Place all the crumble mix ingredients in a food processor and use the pulse setting to blend until the mixture looks like coarse bread crumbs.
- There should be very large, crumbly chunks. If the crumble gets over-mixed, it turns into dough rather than a crumble.
- Be sure to preheat the oven before you bake the crumble. This ensures a crispy oat topping and perfectly tender, juicy fruit.
- Place the fruit mixture into an oven-safe baking dish or a cast iron skillet. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the fruit and bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, until the oat topping is golden and the fruit underneath is bubbling up around the sides of the pan and looks thick and jammy.
🍯 Storing and reheating leftovers
- Fridge: Can be stored for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months, either before or after baking.
- Reheat: Warm in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
Tips for making fruit crumble ahead
- Prep the Fruit: Make the fruit filling 2 days ahead and store in the fridge.
- Freeze the Filling: Alternatively, freeze the filling for up to 3 months.
- Pre-Make Topping: Prepare the crumble topping in advance and store it in the fridge or freezer.
- Assemble Ahead: Assemble the unbaked crumble and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Portion and Freeze: Freeze individual servings in ramekins for future use.
- Reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven or use a microwave for single servings.
💡 Chef's Guide: Pro Tips for Recipe Success
Drawing from a decade in Michelin-starred kitchens and Cordon Bleu training, I'm sharing simple yet impactful tips for recipe success.
- Even Slicing: Uniform apple slices ensure even cooking.
- Sugar Adjustment: If your fruit is extra tart, consider adding an extra tablespoon of sugar.
- Baking Monitoring: Keep an eye on the oven after 20 minutes to prevent over-browning.
❓Recipe FAQ's
Yes! The texture of a cooked apple with the skin on just isn't very nice. The crumble will still cook the same, but you probably won't like eating it very much.
Any sweet dessert apple like a Gala, Jazz, Pink Lady, or Crispin works really well in this recipe, and they're all available at most grocery stores. In a baked fruit crumble, the cheapest fruit is usually the best!
Nope. Just add the frozen fruit into the bowl with the apples and blackberries and toss well. When using frozen fruit, it creates a very jammy consistency. If you thawed the fruit first, the juice would be too runny and wouldn't thicken properly.
More baked fruit desserts
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
If you tried this apple and blackberry crumble or any other recipe on my website, please let me know in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Also, please leave a star rating while you're there!
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You can also find more comfort food recipes using everyday ingredients over on our sister site Salted Mint.
Easy Apple and Blackberry Crumble
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 3 medium cooking apples, Bramley preferred
- 500 g (1 lb) blackberries, fresh or frozen
- 30 g (¼ cups) plain flour
- 75 g (½ cup) caster sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the crumble topping:
- 225 g (1 cup) cold butter, salted or unsalted
- 100 g (½ cup) soft light brown sugar, dark brown sugar works too
- 125 g (1 ½ cups) rolled oats, not quick-cooking
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 175 g (1 ⅓ cups) plain flour
Instructions
Preheat the oven:
- Set the oven to 160ºC (fan) or 180ºC (conventional).
Prepare the fruit:
- If using fresh blackberries, rinse them under cold water.
- Peel and chop the apples.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the apples, blackberries, lemon juice, flour, and sugar. Toss until the fruit is well coated.
Assemble the filling:
- Transfer the fruit mixture to an oven-safe baking dish or a cast-iron skillet.
Make the crumble topping:
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, butter, brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon.
- Rub the flour into the butter using your fingertips until the mixture resembles rough, pea-sized crumbs. Alternatively, use a food processor and pulse until the mixture looks like chunky breadcrumbs.
Top and bake:
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the fruit mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the fruit is soft and bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
Serve:
- Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Serve warm, dished into bowls with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Storage: Leftover crumble topping can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.
- Variation: You can substitute the apples with pears or mix different types of berries for a twist on the classic.
- Serving Suggestion: This crumble pairs wonderfully with custard or whipped cream as an alternative to ice cream.
Nutrition
Meet the Chef!
Hi, I'm Debs. Cordon Bleu trained chef. I help you get incredible dinners on the table fast with fool-proof recipes and meal plans designed for tiny budgets! You'll find easy recipes with step-by-step instructions along with tips and tricks that I've learned over a 10-year career in professional kitchens.
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