Apple and Blackberry Crumble

Name: Apple and Blackberry Crumble
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup unsalted butter, (melted); 3 to 4 Honeycrisp apples, (peeled and cut into eighths (about 3 cups)); 10 ounces frozen blackberries; ½ cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons cinnamon; ½ teaspoon salt; Vanilla ice cream, (for optional serving)

Enjoy a delicious and indulgent treat with this apple and blackberry crumble which is an easy-to-make dessert loaded with juicy fruit.

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Table of Contents

Let’s Dish: About This Recipe
Apple And Blackberry Crumble Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Apple And Blackberry Crumble Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
More Apple & Blackberry Recipes
JUMP TO RECIPE
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Our apple and blackberry crumble recipe elevates this timeless dessert with the combination of tart blackberries and sweet, crisp apples baked under a blanket of golden, buttery crumble. Every bite offers a wonderful balance of textures — the softness of baked fruit paired with the crispness of the crumble — creating a sweet treat that feels both rustic and refined.

Let’s Dish: About This Recipe

Main Ingredients: Honeycrisp apples, blackberries, flour, sugar, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Quick Steps: Mix topping, prepare filling, layer in a baking dish, bake.
Total Time & Yield: 1 hour; serves 6.

Why This Recipe

This apple and blackberry crumble recipe stands out because of its focus on simplicity and the use of fresh ingredients.

While many similar recipes rely on extra sugar or a heavy-handed topping, this version emphasizes the natural sweetness of Honeycrisp apples and juicy blackberries. It allows the fruit’s flavors to shine without being overwhelmed by excess sweetness.

We used melted butter in the crumble topping instead of cutting the butter into the flour, as most recipes suggest. Stirring the melted butter in is easier and gives more consistent results. When cutting the butter into the flour, we found that it resulted in having some dry pockets of flour on top of the finished dessert.

Additionally, the buttery crumble topping is perfectly crisp, offering a great balance of texture without the heaviness of oats or nuts that some other recipes include. This makes it a more classic crumble that lets the fruit remain the star.

Other recipes can make the topping too complex or add unnecessary steps, but ours stays focused on delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.

This approach ensures a dessert that’s not only delicious but also retains the natural tang of the fruit, unlike versions that may over-sweeten or soften the blackberries too much by using frozen fruit.

Apple And Blackberry Crumble Ingredients

You’ll need:

For The Crumble Topping:

1½ cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of granulated sugar
½ cup of unsalted butter, melted

For The Apple Blackberry Filling:

3-4 Honeycrisp apples, peeled and cut into eighths (about 3 cups)
1 (10-ounce) bag of frozen blackberries
½ cup of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of cornstarch
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of salt
Vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

Substitutions And Additions

BERRIES: Strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries are all great substitutes in this delicious dessert recipe. If you use strawberries, you may need to quarter them if they are on the large side.

CINNAMON: You could use apple pie spice in this fruit crumble recipe instead of cinnamon for a slightly different flavor.

VANILLA: Almond extract would be an excellent substitute for vanilla extract in this easy dessert recipe.

FROZEN VS FRESH BERRIES: Fresh blackberries also work well in this blackberry apple crumble recipe. We developed this recipe with frozen blackberries because fresh berries are not always available.

How To Make This Apple And Blackberry Crumble Recipe

Making a sweet crumble dessert is so easy. All it takes is a base of your favorite fruit mixed with a handful of pantry staples. Our step-by-step instructions will walk you through the process:

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8 pan by spraying with pan spray.

STEP TWO: Mix the flour, sugar, and melted butter in a medium mixing bowl. Stir with a fork until the butter is incorporated. The mixture should be the size of small peas.

If the butter hasn’t cooled to room temperature, the crumble mixture may look pasty when you mix it. That’s ok. Placing the mixture in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes while you prepare the filling will help it firm up a bit, and you will be able to crumble it on top of the filling.

flour, sugar, and melted butter combined in a bowl

STEP THREE: Mix the sliced apples, blackberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt in a separate medium bowl. Stir the fruit filling until combined.

apples, blackberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt added in a bowl

STEP FOUR: Pour the blackberry and apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top of the fruit mixture evenly with the crumble topping.

Place the pan on a baking sheet in case the mixture bubbles over while baking.

STEP FIVE: Bake the crumble for 45 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is evenly golden brown and the juices are bubbling around the edges.

Check the crumble during the last 15 minutes of baking. If the top is getting too brown, cover the dish with foil.

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your crumble as the suggested baking time approaches.

How To Serve

This classic apple blackberry crumble is best enjoyed warm or at room temperature.

When serving your blackberry apple crumble, don’t forget a dollop of whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

You can also top it off with some freshly grated nutmeg or cinnamon for an added touch of flavor.

For those looking for something more indulgent, try serving your crumble with warm caramel sauce or toffee sauce.

No matter how you choose to serve your crumble, you’re sure to be rewarded with delicious results.

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Storage

This comforting dessert can be easily stored and enjoyed later, maintaining its scrumptious flavors. Here’s how to store your crumble:

IN THE FRIDGE: Allow the dessert to cool completely at room temperature. Store the baked crumble in a covered airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 5 days.

IN THE FREEZER: The cooked fruit won’t freeze very well, so we don’t recommend trying to freeze this easy blackberry and apple crumble.

a slice of crumble on a plate with blackberries

No matter how you choose to serve this apple and blackberry crumble, you can be assured of an indulgent treat. Made with simple ingredients, including juicy fruit and a buttery crumble topping, it’s sure to be a crowd favorite.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I store the apple and blackberry crumble?

You can store this blackberry apple crumble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze apple blackberry crumble?

The cooked fruit in this apple blackberry crisp won’t freeze very well. We recommend that you stick to making this recipe fresh.

Can I use other fruit for this apple blackberry dessert?

You can substitute your favorite berries instead of blackberries to make this blackberry and apple crumble. Try blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries in this recipe.

More Apple & Blackberry Recipes

Apple and Blackberry Crumble

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Enjoy a delicious and indulgent treat with this apple and blackberry crumble which is an easy-to-make dessert loaded with juicy fruit.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1

Servings

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Ingredients

Crumble Topping

1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling

3 to 4 Honeycrisp apples, peeled and cut into eighths (about 3 cups)
10 ounces frozen blackberries
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
Vanilla ice cream, for optional serving

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare an 8×8 pan by spraying with cooking spray.
Mix the flour, sugar, and, melted butter in a medium bowl. Stir with a fork until the butter is incorporated. The mixture should be the size of small peas. If it is pasty, place the crumble topping mixture in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
Mix the sliced apples, blackberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir until combined.
Pour the apple and blackberry mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
Bake the crumble for 45 minutes in the preheated oven until the top is evenly golden brown and the juices are bubbling around the edges. Check the crumble during the last 15 minutes of baking. If the top is getting too brown, cover the dish with foil.
Let cool slightly before serving with ice cream.

Notes

We used melted butter in the crumble topping instead of cutting the butter into the flour, as most recipes suggest. Stirring the melted butter in is easier and gives more consistent results. When cutting the butter into the flour, we found that it resulted in having some dry pockets of flour on top of the finished dessert.
The crumble mixture may look pasty when you mix it if the butter hasn’t cooled to room temperature. That’s ok. Placing the mixture in the refrigerator for 5 to 10 minutes while you prepare the filling will help it firm up a bit, and you will be able to crumble it on top of the filling.
Place the pan on a baking sheet in case the mixture bubbles over while baking.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your crumble as the suggested baking time approaches.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Kalisha Blair
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

Apple And Blackberry Crumble