When it comes to making a mouthwatering dessert, nothing quite hits the spot like a homemade Blackberry Crumble. It’s a delicious mixture of tart blackberries and sweet, crunchy crumble topping, all baked to a golden brown perfection. The flavors are incredible, with the natural sweetness of the berries paired with the buttery notes of the crumble.
Blackberry crumble is a classic dessert that never goes out of style. It is the perfect way to enjoy fresh blackberries, making it a great dish to prepare at home during the blackberry season. Plus, it is surprisingly simple to make, requiring just a few basic ingredients and a little prep time.
What makes this recipe special is its balance of flavors and textures. The lemon juice adds a refreshing zest, enhancing the sweetness of the blackberries. And if you’re looking for other classics, you need to try this Dutch apple pie recipe.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Easy to Make: This blackberry crumble recipe is a cinch to whip up. With clear instructions and common ingredients, you’ll have a delicious dessert ready that’s perfect for any occasion!
Family Favorite: This recipe is a family favorite because it has flavors that everyone enjoys. The combination of tart blackberries, sweet brown sugar, and warm cinnamon creates a dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Vibrant and Versatile: This blackberry crumble can be easily adapted to include other berries like blueberries and raspberries, making it a versatile dessert that’s perfect for all seasons. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra deliciousness.
Crowd Pleaser: Whether it is a family gathering or a casual dinner with friends, this blackberry crumble is sure to impress. With its appealing look and irresistible taste, it is a dessert that never fails to please a crowd.
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Key Ingredients
Rolled oats: These will create a hearty texture in your crumble topping, adding a deliciously crunchy contrast to the soft fruit filling.
All-purpose flour: This is the foundation of your crumble topping, helping it hold together while giving it a soft, crumbly texture.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness to the crumble, while its molasses content brings a depth of flavor and a moist texture.
Chopped pecans: These add a delightful crunch and a nutty flavor to the crumble topping, enhancing its overall taste and making the recipe a bit savory instead of just sweet.
Baking powder: This ingredient makes your crumble topping rise slightly, giving it a light and fluffy texture.
Cinnamon: This spice adds a warm, sweet-spicy flavor to the crumble, complimenting the sweetness of the blackberries.
Salt: Just a touch of this enhances all other flavors in the crumble and balances the sweetness.
Butter: The fat in this recipe gives it a beautiful buttery flavor and a lovely golden brown color when baked.
Vanilla extract: This adds a sweet, creamy flavor that enhances the taste of other ingredients.
Blackberries: They are the star of this dessert, providing a juicy, sweet-tart flavor that contrasts beautifully with the crumble topping.
Fresh lemon juice: This adds a hint of freshness and tanginess that balances the sweetness.
Granulated white sugar: This sweetens the blackberry filling, while also helping to thicken it as the dessert bakes.
Equipment
Mixing Bowls – You will need a large bowl as well as a medium bowl for this recipe. We’ll use them to mix the ingredients, melt the butter, and combine it with other wet ingredients.
13×9” Baking Dish – This is where you’ll press a portion of your oat crumble to form the bottom crust of your blackberry crumble. The size is ideal for this recipe, providing ample space for the crumble and the filling.
Small Saucepan – You’ll use this to cook down your blackberries, lemon juice, and white sugar into a sweet and tangy filling. A small saucepan is the perfect size for this task, allowing you to easily stir and control the heat.
How to Make Blackberry Crumble
Preparations
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 F. Next, gather all your ingredients to make the entire process easy and efficient.
Step 1 – Mix Ingredients for Crumble Base and Topping
In a large bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. Stir them together until well mixed.
Step 2 – Melt Butter and Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, melt the butter and add vanilla. Whisk these ingredients together until smooth.
Step 3 – Combine and Press into the Baking Dish
Pour this butter mixture into the oat mixture and stir until you get a moist oat crumble. Press two-thirds of this crumble into the bottom of your baking dish and set aside.
Step 4 – Cook the Blackberry Filling
In a small saucepan, add the rinsed blackberries, fresh lemon juice, and white sugar. Cook over medium heat until the sugar melts and the mixture turns a deep red color. When the blackberry mixture starts to boil, add the cornstarch (or potato starch) mixed with water. Stir until the filling starts to thicken. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 5 – Assemble the Crumble
Pour the hot blackberry filling over the oat crumble in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture on top of the filling, distributing it evenly with your hands.
Step 6 – Bake the Crumble
Place the dish in your preheated oven and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes. You’ll know it is done when the crust is golden brown, and the filling is bubbly.
Step 7 – Cool and Serve
Let it cool for a bit before serving, and don’t forget the optional scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! Enjoy your delicious homemade Blackberry Crumble!
Expert Tips
Use fresh ingredients: For the best flavors, always opt for fresh blackberries and lemon juice in your blackberry crumble recipe. Fresh ingredients bring out the vibrant taste, making your dessert even more delightful.
Mix thoroughly: When combining your oats, purpose flour, brown sugar, and other dry ingredients in your bowl, make sure that you mix them properly. This will distribute the flavors evenly throughout your crumble topping.
Melt the butter completely: Make sure it is completely melted before adding it the vanilla. This will result in a smoother, more cohesive mixture and a more delicious crumble topping.
Cook the filling just right: Cook your blackberries, lemon juice, and white sugar mixture on medium heat until the sugar melts and you see a deep red color on your spoon. This will intensify the flavors and create a rich, juicy filling.
Spread the crumble evenly: When adding your crumble topping over your blackberry filling in your baking dish, sprinkle it evenly. This guarantees that every bite includes some of the delicious crumble, and the golden brown top is uniform.
Recipe Variations
Boost the Berries: If you love the taste of summer berries, try adding a cup of blueberries or raspberries to the blackberry filling. This will not only add more flavor but also make the color look even more vibrant!
Try Different Nuts: You can add any other nuts you prefer instead of pecans, such as chopped walnuts or almonds, to the oats mixture. The nuts will toast as the crumble bakes and taste incredible.
Apple Twist: For a fall-inspired variation, swap half the blackberries for chopped apples. The tartness of the apples will balance the sweetness of the blackberries and brown sugar, and the added cinnamon will bring a cozy warmth to your dessert.
What to Serve With
- For a late afternoon treat, why not serve your blackberry crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream? It is a classic combination that brings out the rich flavors of the berries and the buttery crumble topping.
- Want to add a touch of elegance to your dinner party? Serve individual portions of the blackberry crumble in chic dessert dishes, garnished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and a few fresh berries on top.
- For a cozy and comforting dessert, enjoy the blackberry crumble warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce. The sweetness of the caramel complements the tartness of the blackberries perfectly.
- For a wholesome snack, pack a slice of this blackberry crumble in your lunchbox. The oats in the crumble topping will keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! This recipe is versatile, and you can substitute blackberries with other berries, such as raspberries or blueberries. Just remember, the flavors might vary a bit.
Lemon juice is added to enhance the flavors of the blackberries, giving the dessert a nice tangy twist.
Yes, you can substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour. This substitution is great for those looking for a gluten-free option. However, the texture might be slightly different.
Definitely! This dessert pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy!
Storing and Reheating
Refrigerate: Once your blackberry crumble has cooled down, you can store it in the refrigerator. Simply cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the crumble to an airtight container. It can be kept in the fridge for up to five days.
Freeze: Unfortunately, blackberry crumble does not freeze well due to the crumble topping. Freezing can cause the oats, butter, and flour mixture to become soggy when thawed. To enjoy this dessert at its best, it is recommended to consume it fresh or refrigerated.
Reheating Instructions: To reheat your blackberry crumble, place the crumble in the preheated oven at low temperature and heat it until it’s warm and the topping turns golden brown again. Be careful not to overheat, as this can dry out the berries and make the crumble topping too hard.
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Serving Size
What to Expect: This recipe makes a blackberry crumble in a 9×9 pan, which is enough for 12 servings.
How to Scale: If you want to make more than twelve servings, you can double the recipe and follow the instructions as directed. Make sure you use larger bowls to mix the ingredients, as well a 13×9” pan.
Blackberry Crumble Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup rolled oats
- 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Cup brown sugar
- 1/2 Cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Cup butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract divided
- 18 oz. fresh blackberries rinsed
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Grease a 9×9 square baking pan. Rinse blackberries.
- In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder.
- In a separate bowl, melt butter and add 3/4 teaspoon vanilla. Whisk it all together. Pour your butter mixture into the oat mixture and stir until you get a moist oat crumble. Press 2/3 of the oat crumble into your favorite 9×9 square pan and set it aside.
- In a small saucepan, mix rinsed blackberries with fresh lemon juice and granulated white sugar. Using medium heat, cook the filling down until the sugar melts and you see a deep red color on your spoon.
- Mix the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. When the blackberry filling starts to gently boil, add the cornstarch water. Stir well just until the filling starts to thicken. Turn off the heat and stir in 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Carefully pour the hot filling onto your bottom crust. Sprinkle the remaining 1/3 oat mixture on top of the filling with your hands.
- Bake the squares in a preheated 350˚F oven for 35 – 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in 2015. It has been updated with similar ingredients.
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