Last Updated on July 10, 2022 by Karen
Warm apples and blackberries seasoned with fragrant spices, and topped with crunchy, buttery oat crumb topping. This scrumptious Apple Blackberry Crisp is always a crowd pleasing dessert!
Looking for the perfect dessert to make and enjoy with your family? This easy Apple Blackberry Crisp recipe is all you need! If you happen to have an abundance of fresh apples, try my other apple recipes such as Instant Pot Mulled Apple Cider, No-Churn Apple Pie Ice Cream, and Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins.
Fruit crisps are my go-to desserts all year round because nothing is better than warm, sweet fruits seasoned with fragrant spices, topped with crunchy, buttery granola-like bits and paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Made with pantry and fridge staples, this simple Apple Blackberry Crisp recipe has just the perfect ratio of crisp topping to fruit filling. This effortless, scrumptious dessert is always a crowd pleaser. It’s a dessert that everyone can enjoy, even those that are in a gluten-free diet.
What is apple crisp?
Apple crisp is a baked fruit dessert topped with a layer of oat-based toppings, baked until golden brown. The bottom layer consists of chopped, spiced, and sweetened apples, and the top layer is usually composed of oats, brown sugar, and flour baked to buttery, crunchy perfection.
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this Apple Blackberry Crisp:
Apples: I prefer to bake with Granny Smith apples but you can use whatever apples you have on hand. See below for more suggestions on apple varieties to use.
Blackberries: Fresh or frozen both work well.
Spices: Ground cinnamon and nutmeg, or you can swap in apple pie spice.
Brown sugar: You can use light or dark brown sugar.
Cornstarch: Helps thicken the apple blackberry filling
Lemon juice: Helps balance out the sweetness from the fruit and sugar. Fresh squeezed lemon juice adds a nice brightness to this dessert.
Gluten-free flour blend: I love using gluten-free flour blend in gluten-free baking, since it is formulated for baked goods with no additional specialty ingredients or custom recipes required. I’ve used this as a substitution in my baked goods recipes that call for regular all-purpose flour, and it turns out great every time. I like Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.
Almond flour: Almond flour is made from whole, blanched sweet almonds. I like Bob’s Red Mill Super Fine Almond Flour and use it for all my French macaron recipes too! You can omit this ingredient if you don’t have it, but it adds a delicious nuttiness to the topping.
Gluten-free old-fashioned oats: Also known as rolled oats. Not all oats are gluten-free (since they are usually processed in the same facility that processes gluten), so double check the label to make sure it says certified gluten-free.
Butter: Butter gives the topping a golden brown color and toasty flavor.
How to make Apple Blackberry Crisp from scratch
1. Peel and dice apples, then mix with the rest of the filling ingredients.
2. Prepare the crisp topping mixture. You can use a pastry cutter or your fingers to combine the ingredients into a crumbly paste.
3. Pour this mixture over the fruit filling, then bake until golden brown. Be careful about not overbaking since it can taste burnt if too dark.
Should you peel the apples for apple crisp?
I like the texture of apple crisp without the peel, but you can feel free to leave it on.
Can you assemble this Apple Blackberry Crisp ahead of time?
Yes, this Apple Blackberry Crisp can be prepared ahead of time. Simply follow all the steps up to the baking part, and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to bake. You may need to add another 5 to 10 minutes of baking time.
What other fruits work for this recipe?
You can get creative with different fruit combinations for different gluten-free fruit crisps: apple and cranberry with orange zest, pear and blueberry are some of my favorites.
Can you use other apple varieties?
Yes! Granny Smith apple keep their shape well when baked and the fruit crisp does not get overly sweet, but feel free to substitute with other apple varieties. Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, and Braeburn work well too.
Can you use frozen fruits for this recipe?
I have not personally tried using frozen apple slices for this recipe, but I always use frozen blackberries (or other berries) whenever fresh berries aren’t available. There’s no need to thaw them before tossing with the cornstarch mixture.
Can you make this recipe vegan?
Yes! You can easily turn this recipe into Vegan Apple Blackberry Crisp by swapping the regular unbutter for vegan butter (such as Earth Balance), or even coconut oil.
How to serve Apple Blackberry Crisp
Apple crisp is best served warm, with vanilla ice cream, frozen yogurt, or whipped cream.
How to store this dish?
Once prepared, this crisp will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a baking dish covered with foil in the oven at 350F until the filling is bubbly, then remove the foil and bake until the topping is crunchy.
Tips for making the best Apple Blackberry Crisp
– Make sure the filling and topping ingredients are mixed well, so there are no dry powdery parts.
– It’s important that the topping mixture is spread out evenly over the apple blackberry mixture so it bakes evenly.
– You can easily halve the recipe and bake in a smaller pan. The bake time should be about the same.
What are some variations to this Apple Blackberry Crisp
– Use all-purpose flour instead of gluten-free flour blend for a non-gluten free version.
– Use chopped nuts such as pecans and walnuts instead of almond flour.
Apple Blackberry Crisp
Ingredients
For filling:
- 4 medium Granny Smith apples peeled, cored and diced
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp lemon juice
For topping:
- 1/4 cup gluten-free flour blend
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup gluten-free old fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 5 tbsps unsalted butter diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- To make the filling, combine apples, blackberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl until coated evenly.
- To make the topping, whisk together flour, oats, sugar, salt and cinnamon in another bowl. Using a pastry cutter or fingers, mix in butter until topping has a crumbly consistency.
- Arrange apple mixture into a casserole dish or 9x9 pan and sprinkle topping evenly on top.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve warm.
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