Easy Apple And Blackberry Crumble
This apple and blackberry crumble is a cozy dessert with a spiced fruity filling and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble.
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You might also like Crockpot Apple Cider, Orange Cranberry Cake, and Pumpkin Spice Cake Bars.
Apple And Blackberry Crumble
Enjoy cozy fall flavors with this easy apple and blackberry crumble recipe. With a spiced fruity filling and a sweet crumble topping, this classic dessert is a must-try!
One great thing about this crumble recipe is that it is very quick to make. We love fall dessert flavors but don’t always have the time for more elaborate desserts like homemade pie. A crumble is an amazing alternative that offers similar flavors with much less hassle.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This apple and blackberry crumble has worked its way up to being one of our favorite fall recipes. Here are just a few reasons why:
- Crumbles are super easy to make with little hassle
- Different variations of fruit offer endless flavor possibilities
- You can make this recipe from start to finish in under an hour
- It pairs perfectly with a scoop of ice cream
- A crumble is a great easy alternative to pie
Ingredients
Apples: Honeycrisp apples work best for this apple and berry crumble. Their sweet flavor with a hint of tartness is great for baking. If you can’t find Honeycrisp, Gala apples are also a good option.
Blackberries: Combining blackberries and apples gives the fruit filling a multidimensional flavor that's far from boring. Make sure your blackberries are at peak ripeness so they aren’t too tart.
Lemon juice: The lemon juice adds a hint of citrus flavor while also keeping the apples from browning and ensuring the dry ingredients adhere to the fruit.
All-purpose flour: The flour acts as a thickener for the fruit filling so it’s not too runny. We recommend using all-purpose flour for the best flavor and texture.
Granulated sugar: The granulated sugar adds sweetness to the fruit filling and enhances the apple and berry flavors.
Ground cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a warm spice that’s a signature for fall baked goods.
Salt: Adding salt to both the fruit filling and crumble topping brings out the flavor and accentuates the sweetness of the dish.
Ground allspice: The allspice compliments the other spices and adds depth and richness to the flavor of the crumble.
Ground cloves: The cloves add another layer of warm spicy flavors to the crumble topping.
Brown sugar: Using brown sugar in the crumble topping gives it a sweet flavor and adds moisture to the other ingredients.
Butter: The butter provides the perfect crumbly texture and rich flavor for the crumble topping. We liked to use salted butter for the best flavor.
Pure vanilla extract: The vanilla contributes more depth of flavor to the fruit filling.
Walnuts: We love adding walnuts to our crumble to give it a little extra crunch.
Rolled oats: Adding rolled oats to the topping provides additional texture and flavor while complementing the fruit flavors.
How To Make This Recipe
make the fruit filling
Start by peeling, coring, and thinly slicing 3 large apples (or 4 medium apples). The easiest way to do this is with an apple peeler that cores and slices them for you. We love this apple peeler/slicer from Amazon - it’s a lifesaver!
Once your apples are thinly sliced, cut the slices in half and add them to a large bowl. Next, add in the blackberries.
Pour in the lemon juice and gently mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until it’s evenly mixed.
Add in the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Gently mix until the fruit is evenly coated and set it aside. Let the filling rest for at least 5 minutes to allow the fruits to release their natural juices.
make the crumble topping
To get started, slice the butter into cubes and place it in the freezer while you prepare the other ingredients. The butter needs to be very cold to get the perfect crumble topping.
In a food processor, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and salt. Remove the butter from the freezer and add it to the food processor.
Then, use the pulse button on the food processor to mix the ingredients in short increments until it has a sandy consistency. There should not be any large butter chunks remaining and no dry flour should be visible. Be sure not to overmix otherwise the butter will soften and it will form a pasty consistency.
Finally, add the walnuts and rolled oats to the crumble mixture. Pulse again just until the walnuts are chopped into medium-sized pieces (4-6 short pulses should do the trick). Again, take care not to overmix the crumble here.
assemble & bake
Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 10-inch glass or ceramic dish. Add the apple and blackberry filling to the dish and spread it evenly with a spatula.
Next, sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of the fruit filling. Be sure to fully cover the fruit with crumble topping.
Place it in the oven on the middle rack and bake it for 35-40 minutes. The topping will be golden brown and the fruit will be bubbling.
Remove the crumble from the oven and let it cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve with a side of ice cream, topped with whipped cream, or even on its own!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Properly measure the flour: The best way to accurately measure flour (without weighing it) is the spoon and level method. Use a spoon to fluff up the flour so it’s not packed down.
Spoon the flour into the measuring cup until it's full and level off the top. Don’t shake or tap the measuring cup to even the top as this will pack down the flour and could result in scooping too much.
Freeze the butter: When you freeze your butter before adding it to the crumble, it will help you achieve the right texture. If the butter is too soft, the crumble can take on more of a pasty consistency.
Use a food processor: The best way to fully combine all the crumble ingredients is by using a food processor. Not only can it ensure that the butter is evenly incorporated into the dry ingredients, but it also perfectly chops the walnuts.
Invest in an apple peeler: Save yourself so much time and effort by using an apple peeler/corer. If you plan to do any baking with apples, it’s so worth it! You can order this apple peeler/slicer on Amazon and have it delivered right to your door!
Tools You’ll Need
How To Fix Overmixed Crumble Topping
If your crumble starts to turn pasty from being overmixed or as a result of using butter that’s too warm, there’s a simple fix! Place the topping into the freezer until it firms up, then place it back into the food processor and pulse in short increments just until the texture becomes crumbly.
How To Store Leftovers
This apple and blackberry crumble can be stored well-covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let the crumble cool down completely to room temperature before storing it in the fridge.
Leftovers can be reheated in individual servings in the microwave or you can reheat the whole dish in the oven. To reheat the whole dish, cover it with foil and place it in the oven at 350°F until it's warmed all the way through (about 15-20 minutes).
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Recipe FAQ’s
Easy Apple And Blackberry Crumble
June 20, 2023Equipment
- Food Processor recommended
- Medium casserol dish
Ingredients
FOR THE FILLING
- 3 cups blackberries
- 3 large Honeycrisp apples or 4 medium ones
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
FOR THE CRUMBLE
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter cold
- ¾ cup rolled oats
- ⅓ cup walnuts
Instructions
FOR THE FILLING
- Peel, core, and thinly slice 3 large apples (or 4 medium apples). We recommend an apple peeler that also cores and slices them for you. Then, cut the apple slices in half and add them to a large bowl.
- Add in the blackberries and lemon juice. Gently mix with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Add the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla. Gently mix until the fruit is evenly coated and set aside. Allow it to rest for 5 minutes for natural fruit juices to release.
FOR THE CRUMBLE
- Slice the butter into cubes and place it in the freezer. The butter needs to be very cold when you add it to the crumble mixture.
- In a food processor, add the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and salt. Remove the butter from the freezer and add it to the food processor.
- Use the pulse button on the food processor to mix the ingredients in short increments until it has a sandy consistency without any large butter chunks and no dry flour visible. Be sure not to overmix to avoid a pasty consistency.
- Add the walnuts and rolled oats to the crumble and pulse again just until the walnuts are chopped into medium-sized pieces (4-6 short pulses should do the trick). Again, take care not to overmix the crumble.
ASSEMBLE & BAKE
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 10-inch glass or ceramic dish. Add the filling to the dish, spreading it evenly.
- Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top of the filling until the fruit is completely covered.
- Bake on the middle rack for 35-40 minutes. The topping will be golden brown and the fruit will be bubbling. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes and serve with a side of ice cream, topped with whipped cream, or on its own.
Notes
- Using an apple peeler/corer/slicer is the fastest and easiest way to prepare your apples for this recipe and get extra thin slices.
- Cube and freeze the butter before preparing the other ingredients to ensure it's cold enough before adding it to your crumble.
- You can omit the rolled oats and/or walnuts from the crumble if desired.
- You can use frozen blackberries instead of fresh ones if needed.
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