This apple and blueberry crumble recipe is full of fruit flavor and a sweet, buttery, crunchy topping. This comforting dessert brings the natural sweetness of apples and the juicy goodness of fresh blueberries together for a delicious fruit-filled treat. It takes less than 10 minutes of prep time to get this crowd-pleasing dessert ready for the oven!
Just in time for late Summer and Fall harvesting, this apple and blueberry crumble recipe is the show-stopping dessert you’ve been looking for. Not only does it look gorgeous with its vibrant fruit filling and browned oat crumble topping, but it’s so easy to make that you’ll want to whip it up again and again. Whether you enjoy your crumbles in their truest form or like to indulge with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top, this simple dessert is sure to bring a smile to everyone's face.
This delicious crumble is perfect for busy weeknights where everyone needs a sweet pick-me-up but can also be the star of the table at gatherings. It uses mostly pantry staples, making it the ideal last-minute dessert to bake up at a moment’s notice when the occasion feels right.
If you love comfort food, try this quick and easy wild rice casserole to complete your dinner menu. Or try this simple steak and mushroom skillet dish that can cook while the crumble bakes. If you are preparing ahead, you can bake the crumble in the afternoon and avoid turning the oven on in the evening with this restaurant-quality stacked pressed sandwiches for a hassle-free evening.
Why You'll Love It
Comfort food- With each bite full of fresh fruit goodness and a toasty brown oat topping, this is comfort food at its finest. It’s warm, sweet, and can be enjoyed in any season. It’s also a budget-friendly gift for loved ones who might need extra care.
Easy to make- This fruit-filled recipe comes together very easily. It’s a breeze for those who know their way around the kitchen and can be the perfect recipe for kids who are starting to show their interest in baking. My clear and detailed instructions will have you whipping up this tasty dessert in no time.
Seasonal- Apples and fresh blueberries are plentiful in the summer and have an amazingly fresh taste during their peak seasons. Blueberries are juicier, and apples have a sweeter flavor when in season and making this dish truly shine. But don’t worry if it’s not summer; apples and blueberries are plentiful at the grocery store in all seasons, so you’ll have no trouble making this incredible crumble year-round.
How do I get my crumble crunchy?
A crunchy topping is a delicious part of a crumble but can easily turn into a soggy mess. Some of the reasons a crumble topping might turn out differently than expected are the ingredient ratios, mixing techniques, and oven temperature.
To ensure this crumble stays crunchy and delicious, it's important to use accurately measured ingredients with special attention to the recipe notes. Don’t skip the cornstarch because it allows the sauce to form and avoids an overly watery crumble that would soak into the topping. Using a high oven temperature also helps maintain the structure of the crumble topping, whereas baking at a lower temperature may cause the topping to cook more slowly and sink into the fruit.
How to fix a soggy crumble?
If it seems like it isn’t crisping up how you’d like, you can always give it a low-broil for 2-3 minutes to see if that helps; just be sure to watch it very carefully. If it still doesn’t work, no worries; it will still taste delicious.
Ingredients
Apples- For this recipe, I used both Honeycrisp apples and granny smith apples. Honeycrisp apples are known for their perfect balance of sweet and tart flavor. They’re excellent for both snacking and baking. In apple desserts, it’s common to use multiple types of apples to get a more dimensional flavor. Granny smith apples have a wonderfully tart flavor that gives the dish a needed boost of acidity that plays perfectly with the sweetness from the Honeycrisp and the crunchy topping.
Sugar- Both granulated sugar and brown sugar are used in this recipe. Granulated sugar is used in the base of the crumble to enhance the natural sweetness of the apples. Brown sugar is used in the oat topping for a deep, sweet flavor that goes well with the toasted topping.
Cornstarch- Cornstarch is a very important ingredient in crumbles. Crumbles are meant to have a rustic quality to them, but one of the most important qualities is a thick fruit filling. Without cornstarch, there will be too much water in the filling, and not create a thick, beautiful sauce that coats the fruit.
Cinnamon- Cinnamon adds flavor to the apples in the recipe and gives this delicious crumble a warm cozy bite. You can swap it with an apple pie spice blend for a mix of warming spices.
Blueberries- You can use fresh or frozen blueberries in this recipe. Depending on the time of year, you may find that frozen blueberries have more flavor, so feel free to use whichever is easiest and tastes the best.
Flour- Whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour come together for a nutritious and perfectly balanced crumble topping. Using a combination of the two creates a light topping that doesn’t have an overly strong whole wheat taste. Whole wheat pastry flour is my favorite because it’s similar to all-purpose, but you can also use white whole wheat, kamut, or einkorn.
Old Fashioned Oats- You won’t want to use quick oats or Instant oats for this recipe; old-fashioned oats are thicker and won’t burn during the cooking process.
Butter- Melted butter is used to coat the crumble topping ingredients, ensuring they bake up golden brown and are delicious.
How to make Apple Blueberry Crumble
Begin by collecting all of your ingredients and preheating the oven to 350 degrees. This will help ensure that your recipe goes as smoothly as possible. This is also a great time to prepare your baking dish with cooking spray.
Make the crumble topping
Combine all ingredients for the crumble topping until they are a coarse sand-like consistency and set aside.
Assemble and Bake
Peel and cut the apples into ½-inch pieces. Place the apples and blueberries into a bowl and sprinkle with sugar and cornstarch, then gently toss to coat with a rubber spatula or spoon.
Scrape the mixture into your prepared baking dish. Scatter the crumb topping in an even layer. Place into the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes until the top is browned and the edges are bubbling. When done, the apples will be tender but not mushy. Keep a close eye on it near the end of baking time to avoid overbaking. Allow a few minutes to cool, then serve hot or even refrigerate and serve cold. Top as you like and enjoy! Just be sure to let the crumble cool completely before placing it into the fridge.
How to store leftover apple blueberry crumble
Storing the fruit crumble is essential to maintain its freshness and prevent it from becoming soggy. It’s important that it cools completely before being stored to avoid excess moisture buildup. Place the crumble in an airtight container or cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to three days.
When reheating the apple blueberry crumble, it works best to reheat it in the oven at 300 degrees until it is warmed. This will ensure that the crumble topping stays crunchy. Microwaving it can work, too, but it will likely become very soft.
Can you freeze fruit crumble?
Absolutely! You can assemble the crumble in a freezer-safe dish and bake it. Once fully cooled, wrap it in plastic wrap, then aluminum
foil, and place it into the freezer for up to three months.
When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat it in the oven until warmed sufficiently.
Tips and Substitutions
- Add chopped nuts such as pecans to the topping for an extra crunchy texture.
- If you have some apples on hand, feel free to use a different variety. Honeycrisp and granny smith have distinct flavors but if you have other apples to use up, any will work.
- Bake the crumble in 4-inch ramekins for individual servings.
- Feel free to add a handful of raspberries or blackberries for even more berry flavor. This is a great way to use up small amounts of leftover fruit to ensure nothing goes to waste.
Other crisp and crumble recipes
Apple Blueberry Crumble Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9-inch pie pan or 9x9 pan
Ingredients
Apple blueberry filling
- 2 medium-size honey crisp apples
- 3 Granny smith apples
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Crisp recipe
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour
- ⅔ all-purpose flour
- ¾ cups regular oats
- ¾ cup brown sugar or granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 10 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all ingredients for the crumble topping and set them aside.
- Mix together the sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and salt together in a small bowl and set them aside.
- Peel and cut the apples into ½ inch pieces. Place them with the blueberries in a bowl and sprinkle the sugar/cornstarch mixture over all. Gently mix with a rubber spatula or spoon.
- Pour into your pan then top with the crisp topping. Move to the preheated oven and bake for 30-45 minutes. You want the apples to be tender, but not mushy, so don't overbake.
- This is delicious served hot, cooled, or even cold! Top as you like and serve.
Video
Notes
- Add chopped nuts such as pecans to the topping for an extra crunchy texture.
- If you have some apples on hand, feel free to use a different variety. Honeycrisp and granny smith have distinct flavors but if you have other apples to use up, any will work.
- Bake the crumble in 4-inch ramekins for individual servings.
- Feel free to add a handful of raspberries or blackberries for even more berry flavor. This is a great way to use up small amounts of leftover fruit to ensure nothing goes to waste.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!