Apple and Blackberry Crumble with Oats
This blackberry crumble is a popular dessert for summer in British cuisine and has become a favorite worldwide. If you’re a fan of Mary Berry recipes you can also try our sweet Blackberry and Apple Crumble Tart which can be easily turned into a crumble by skipping preparing the pastry base or Mary Berry’s Apple Crumble!
Why you’ll love it
- Comforting and warming: The warm fruit filling and the buttery crumble topped over sweet and tangy apples and blackberries mixture make this dessert incredibly indulgent and comforting.
- Spicy: I like the hint of cinnamon and nutmeg of the crumble combined with the lemon juice and zest mixed in with the fruit filling.
- Easy to make. Nothing else to say!
- Crowd-pleaser: Try to use it next time you have a family gathering, potluck, or backyard bbq. Sometimes we complicate are menu to impress our guests and forget the rustic charm and delightful taste of a simple crumble. Keep in mind that simple recipes will resonate more with your guests.
Tips & Variations:
- Add fresh lemon zest to the crumble: Adding lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the fruit filling brings a bright and tangy flavor . Complement by adding some zest to the crumble
- Adjust sweetness: I feel that most desserts are too sweet for me and I find reducing the sugar by half compromises between the sweetness expected from a sweet treat and my taste buds! For fillings I also omit all sugar and prefer to opt for maple syrup.
- Combination of oats and flour in the topping: For added texture and nuttiness, we mix rolled oats with the flour in the crumble topping. This will give your crumble a wholesome and satisfying bite.
- Adding spices: We enhance the flavour profile by adding spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger to the fruit mixture. These warm spices will beautifully complement the fruit flavours.
- Mixed Berry Crumble: Mix different berries like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.
- Gluten-Free Crumble: Substitute the all-purpose flour in the topping with a gluten-free flour blend, oat flour or almond flour for a gluten-free version of this dessert. Ensure that the oats you use are certified gluten-free as well.
- Nutty Crumble: Add chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans to the crumble topping for an extra layer of crunch and nuttiness. If you’re worried about the measurments you can try this version of Mary Berry’s apple and blackberry crumble with roasted hazelnuts.
How to serve the Apple and Blackberry Crumble Cake
Apple and Blackberry Crumble is best enjoyed warm, straight out of the oven. Add a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and perhaps garnish with a few fresh mint leaves for a pop of color.
Finally, enjoy this comforting dessert with a cup of warm tea or coffee, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a mug of spiced cider to enhance the cozy flavours. Personally, I enjoy a crumble with a hot cup of black tea.
Health Info
- Calories: 565.47
- Sugar: 46.99
- Sodium: 5.09
- Fat: 24.92
- Carbohydrates: 84.06
- Fiber: 5.31
- Protein: 5.55
Description
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 3-4 apples about 1kg/2.2lb, peeled, cored, and cut into small chunks
- 1/4 cup/50g/1 ¾oz caster sugar
- 1 cup/150g/ 5 1/4oz frozen blackberries
- 50 g/1 ¾oz unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the crumble topping:
- 200 g (7oz) all-purpose flour
- 125 g (4½oz) unsalted butter at room temperature
- 50 g (1¾oz) rolled oats
- 125 g (4½oz) demerara sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
For the filling:
- Melt the sugar in a large frying pan over medium heat until it turns a golden color.
- Combine the apples with the sugar for a few minutes
- Add the lemon zest and cinnamon stirring everything together.
- Add the butter and continue to stir for a few more minutes.
- Cover the pan with the lid and simmer without stirring, for 5 minutes until the apples have softened but retained their shape.
- Stir in the blackberries and continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes until all the fruit is tender.
- Set aside to cool.
For the crumble topping:
- Rub and squeeze gently together the flour and butter in a large bowl using your fingertips. You don't need to rub until you get fine breadcrumbs so that we achieve a courser texture.
- Add the sugar and oats making sure you mix everything well together.
- Mix the cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Set aside until needed.
For assembling the apple and blackberry crumble:
- Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan
- Transfer the cooked hot apples in a casserole
- Spoon the blackberries evenly across the apples and completely
- Cover evenly the fruit with the crumble mix.
- Bake the tart at 200C/180C Fan for 30 minutes, or until the crumble turns crisp and golden-brown.
- Allow it to stand for a few minutes.
- Serve the crumble warm in slices, with custard or cream on the side.
- Using fresh lemon zest and juice: Adding lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the fruit filling brings a bright and tangy flavor that complements the sweetness of the apples and blackberries.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste your fruit mixture before adding sugar and adjust the amount based on the natural sweetness of the fruits. You can also substitute some or all of the sugar with a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
- Combination of oats and flour in the topping: For added texture and nuttiness, we mix rolled oats with the flour in the crumble topping. This will give your crumble a wholesome and satisfying bite.
- Adding spices: We enhance the flavor profile by adding spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger into the fruit mixture. These warm spices will beautifully complement the fruit flavors.
- Mixed Berry Crumble: Instead of using only blackberries, try using a mix of different berries like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries. This variation adds a burst of vibrant colors and a medley of berry flavors to the crumble.
- Gluten-Free Crumble: Substitute the all-purpose flour in the topping with a gluten-free flour blend or almond flour for a gluten-free version of this dessert. Ensure that the oats you use are certified gluten-free as well.
- Nutty Crumble: Add chopped nuts like almonds, walnuts, or pecans to the crumble topping for an extra layer of crunch and nuttiness. Sprinkle them on top before baking for a delightful texture.
- Coconut Twist: Mix shredded coconut into the crumble topping for a tropical twist. The coconut adds a subtle sweetness and a hint of exotic flavor to the dessert.