Blueberry and Apple Crumble Recipe
Combining sweet and juicy blueberries with tender apples and a very crispy crumble topping makes an irresistible dessert. This Blueberry and Apple Crumble Recipe is a quick and easy dessert that appeals to everyone. Two easy tips results in the best. most crisp and crumbly topping ever!
We are a family that loves our Crisps, Crumbles, Buckles, and Cobblers. For as long as my children can remember, dinner at Grammie’s house always finished with one of these fruity desserts. Many conversations centered on the differences and distinctions between these and related desserts. In fact, my son set about to create a document detailing the specifics of each, which is when we discovered that there is a similar dessert called a ‘boy bait.’ I swear… Look it up!
what’s the difference between crisps and crumbles?
In all honesty, these desserts are very similar. The only difference is that a Crisp includes oatmeal in its streusel-y, oat crumble topping, while a Crumble does not.
And that’s really the only way these desserts are different.
They both have in common that they are extraordinarily easy and quick to prepare, make great use of fresh fruit, and are universally welcome following any dinner. In fact, I’ll eagerly order a humble crumble (or crisp) even with much fancier desserts on the menu at any restaurant.
what are the ingredients in blueberry and apple crumble
I am a believer that the simplest ingredients make some of the best meals. This apple blueberry crumble is a prime example!
The crumble crust is made of:
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- flour
- butter
- cinnamon
The fruit-filling ingredients are simple:
- blueberries
- apples (Honeycrisp, Gala or Granny Smith apples are great in this dessert)
- cornstarch
- sugar (very little, and you could probably leave it out)
frozen or fresh blueberries?
While this is a great recipe to use up some of your bounties during blueberry season, you can absolutely use frozen blueberries or any frozen fruit in any fruit crisp or crumble recipe! Use the same amount of frozen as you would fresh fruit. The freezing process does break down the cell wall of the fruit, making it softer and juicier when it thaws. Accordingly, just add another 1/4 – 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch when you sprinkle it over the frozen fruit.
adjust the sugar
In all honesty, you could actually leave out the sugar sprinkled over the berries. I typically opt for the lower 1/8 of a cup of sugar with the fruit. But it’s a personal preference. With the sugar in the topping, I feel that very little is actually needed with the berries.
wait, what are the tips for the best crumbly topping?
First, leave your pastry blender in the drawer and use your fingers to really crumble the dry mixture with the butter, leaving no dry ingredients in the bowl. And second, make the topping first thing and freeze it while you dice the apples and prepare the fruit topping. Then, put the topping on right before you pop the whole dessert into the oven. If you have time earlier in the day, go ahead and make the topping early to make sure it gets good and cold; you will be rewarded with the best crumble topping…ever!
can you prepare this blueberry and apple crumble ahead of time?
Yup! You sure can. And you have options!
- Easily prepare the crumble topping and freeze it until you need it. In fact, if you are going to the effort, I’d double the crumble topping for use on another dessert later. Then you can prepare the fruit the day you need the dessert. This is my preferred method of prepping in advance.
- You can prepare the whole blueberry apple crumble and freeze it overnight. Then, thaw overnight in the fridge before you bake. The downside to this method is that you will need to defrost the whole dessert at the same time, meaning that your crumbles won’t be as crumbly.
- You can prepare, bake and then freeze the apple blueberry crumble recipe. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then pop in a 350º oven for 30 minutes.
Blueberry and Apple Crumble
Combining sweet and juicy blueberries with tender apples and a very crispy crumble topping makes an irresistible dessert.
Ingredients
Fruit Filling
- 2 1/2 cups diced apples (2-3 apples, approximately 1 pound), sprinkle with lemon juice to avoid apple browning.
- 2 1/2 cups blueberries
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/8 - 1/3 cup white sugar
Crumble Topping
- 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 stick of butter,4 ounces, at room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
Instructions
Prepare Crumble Topping
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon.
- Add softened butter.
- Mix topping ingredients by combining them in a medium bowl and pressing them together with your fingers. Ensure no flour remains and all the butter has been absorbed into the flour and sugar mixture. You will have large, heavy crumbs, more like chunks.
- Put the bowl with the topping mixture into the freezer while you prepare the fruit filling.
Prepare the Fruit Topping and Bake the Crumble
- While the topping is chilling, combine the diced apples and blueberries.
- Sprinkle cornstarch and sugar over the apples and blueberries.
- Place the fruit in an even layer into an 8" by 8" square baking dish or equivalent baking dish or baking pan.
- Evenly distribute the chilled topping over the fruit mixture.
- Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, until the crumble topping is browned and juices are bubbling up on the side.
- Let the crumble sit for a few minutes before serving.
- I prefer my crumble just plain, but my mom likes vanilla ice cream or whipped cream on hers.
looking for some other fruit recipes?
If strawberries are your thing, check out Strawberry Crisp or Strawberry Crumble.
This Yogurt Plum Cake is gorgeous AND delicious!
Bookmark this page or pin the following image to refer back to this Blueberry and Apple Crumble in the future.
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