This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
Get ready to fall in love with this blueberry and apple crumble recipe! This warm and comforting dessert features a combination of juicy blueberries and chopped apples with the most amazing buttery crumble topping.
Reasons To Love This Apple Blueberry Crumble
I’m going to warn you…this dessert disappears quickly! Warm, cozy and crazy delicious so it’s hard not to grab a large portion or seconds.
- Easy fruit-based dessert: Way easier to make than pie (and I actually prefer a good crumble anyways). You simply need to combine the fruit mixture and make a simple crumble topping.
- Delicious comfort food recipe: This cozy and warm fruit dessert is topped with a super yummy cookie-like butter streusel topping. Your home will smell absolutely delicious while this bakes! Serve with a scoop of ice cream, custard, vanilla sauce, whipped cream or simply enjoy on its own! Sometimes I also like to eat leftovers for breakfast with a scoop of yogurt on top.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To make this blueberry and apple crumble recipe, you will need…
- Fruit mixture: A combination of fresh blueberries and chopped up apples tossed with some sugar, flour, lemon juice and cinnamon.
- Streusel crumble topping: This is a more traditional German streusel crumble topping (large buttery cookie-like crumbles). It is a simple mixture of flour, butter, sugar, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
Detailed ingredient list and directions located in the recipe card below.
How To Make Blueberry Apple Crumble
Let’s get started! I love how easy it is to make fruit crumbles!
Step 1: Prepare fruit mixture
In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the fruit mixture ingredients. Set aside.
Step 2: Make the crumble topping
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the softened butter and vanilla extract. Beat until it forms large crumbles. Press any small crumbs together by hand to form bigger pieces (you don’t want the topping to be too fine).
Don’t stop the mixer too soon! At first it will turn into a dry “sandy” looking mixture and you might wonder what went wrong. No worries! Just continue beating longer until it comes together and forms large crumbs. You want big beautiful crumbs vs a topping that is fine.
No mixer? I love the ease of using the mixer but you can also make the topping by hand. Whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Drop in pieces of the softened butter and use your hands to press and pinch the butter into the flour mixture to form large crumbles.
Step 3: Assemble
Pour the fruit mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch baking dish (or similar capacity) and spread out evenly. I’m using this 7.5″ x 10.5″ baking dish (the larger one in the 2-piece set linked). Then scatter the crumble mixture evenly over the top.
Step 4: Bake
Bake in a 375F / 190C oven for 40 minutes or until the fruit mixture is tender and bubbly and the topping is lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and rest for about 15 minutes before serving. The resting period allows the fruit mixture to thicken up.
Step 5: Serve and enjoy
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, custard, yogurt, vanilla sauce or simply enjoy all on its own!
Tips For Success
- Use a kitchen scale! Let’s start off with the most important tip! I HIGHLY recommend using a kitchen scale to measure the flour, sugar and butter in the streusel crumble topping. It allows you to achieve the correct ratio and consistent results every time (vs. the huge variation you can get filling measuring cups). It’s also so much easier and way less messy! I use this Escali kitchen scale but you can also find others on Amazon (some for under $10).
- Place a baking sheet underneath if your baking dish is quite full in order to catch anything that might bubble over while baking. This helps to prevent a mess in the oven.
- If at any point the topping starts to brown too much before it is finished, you can tent the baking dish with a piece of aluminum foil and continue baking.
Storage + Make Ahead Tips
This blueberry apple crumble is best served fresh and warm from the oven but leftovers can also be stored and eaten warm or cold.
- To store: Store leftovers covered in the fridge for 3-5 days. Warm it up in the oven or eat straight from the fridge.
- To freeze: Once baked, cool completely, wrap up tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before warming up in the oven. The crumble topping tends to not be as crispy but otherwise still delicious.
- Make ahead: The crumble topping can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Once you are ready to bake, quickly prepare the fruit mixture, scatter on the prepped topping and pop it in the oven!
Variations
- Add extra spices: Add additional warming spices like cardamom, nutmeg, ground ginger or all spice.
- Add nuts: Add some chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds to the crumble topping.
- Make individual desserts: Instead of one large crumble, assemble individual crumbles in ramekins.
- Use less crumble topping: This recipe includes a generous amount of streusel topping. If you prefer a lighter topping, feel free to use less and store the extra for another use. Or double the fruit mixture and make two crumbles!
A Few Questions Answered
The difference is in the topping! Traditionally, a crumble topping is made of flour, butter and sugar (basically a simple streusel). A crisp topping on the other hand will also contain oats and sometimes nuts for a crispy texture when baked. The terms tend to be used interchangeably on a lot of recipes though. This Blueberry Apple Crumble recipe has a butter streusel topping which aligns with the traditional crumble definition.
You can use any type of apple you like that holds up well to baking. I personally tend to use Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady or Fuji apples. Other good options include Granny Smith, Jazz, Jonagold and Braeburn apples. I would avoid McIntosh and Red Delicious apples for this.
I love using fresh blueberries for this (especially while they are in season) but you can absolutely use frozen blueberries. Simply make sure that they are fully thawed and well drained before using since frozen blueberries tend to be softer and more watery as they thaw. You can also add a bit more flour to the fruit mixture to compensate for the extra liquid.
You sure can! Substitute the blueberries for another type of berry, cherries, chopped peaches or even plums like in this Plum Apple Crumble recipe.
More Crumbles and Crisps
Love fruit crumbles and crisps? Me too! Here are a few more recipes that I think you’ll enjoy:
- Plum and Apple Crumble
- Strawberry Coconut Crisp
- Butter Streusel Topping (add this on top of your favorite fruit mixture to make a delicious crumble)
Did you make this Blueberry and Apple Crumble recipe? I would love to hear about it! Please leave me a comment below.
Blueberry and Apple Crumble
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Total Time: 55 min
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: German, American, British
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Get ready to fall in love with this blueberry and apple crumble recipe! This warm and comforting dessert features a combination of juicy blueberries and chopped apples with the most amazing buttery crumble topping.
Ingredients
For the fruit mixture:
- 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) apples, peeled, cored and chopped into small pieces (approx. 4 medium sized apples)
- 1 pound (454 grams) fresh blueberries
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) organic cane sugar
- 3 tablespoons unbleached all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the streusel crumble topping:
- 250 grams (2 cups) unbleached all purpose flour
- 125 grams (1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons) organic cane sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 170 grams (3/4 cup or 1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 375F / 190C.
- Prepare fruit mixture: In a large mixing bowl, gently stir together the fruit mixture ingredients and set aside.
- Make the streusel crumble topping: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar and salt. Add the softened butter and vanilla extract. Beat until it forms large crumbles. Press together any smaller crumbs by hand to form bigger crumbs (you don’t want the topping to be too fine). No mixer? You can also make the streusel by hand (see notes for instruction).
- Assemble: Pour the fruit mixture into a lightly greased 9-inch baking dish (or similar capacity) and spread out evenly. Then scatter the streusel (crumble mixture) evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake for 40 minutes or until the fruit mixture is tender and bubbly and topping is lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and rest for about 15 minutes before serving to allow the fruit mixture to thicken up.
- Serve: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, custard, yogurt, vanilla sauce or simply enjoy all on its own!
Notes
- Apples: The weight listed is when still whole. Use any type of apple you like that holds up well to baking. Some good options include Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady, Fuji apples, Granny Smith, Jazz, Jonagold and Braeburn apples. I would avoid McIntosh and Red Delicious apples for this.
- Making streusel crumble topping by hand: I love the ease of using a mixer but if you don’t have one the topping can also be made by hand. Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Drop in pieces of the softened butter and use your hands to press and pinch the butter into the flour mixture to form large crumbles.
- Use a kitchen scale! I HIGHLY recommend using a kitchen scale to measure the flour, sugar and butter in the streusel crumble topping in order to achieve the correct ratio and consistent results every time. More accurate than measuring cups and also way easier and less messy too! I use this Escali kitchen scale but you can also find others on Amazon (some for under $10).
- Form large crumbs: This crumble topping is a German butter streusel which should have large, buttery cookie-like clumps. The crumble should not be fine. Press any small crumbs together with your fingers to form larger pieces. Note: Don’t stop the stand mixer too soon! At first it will look like a dry “sandy” mixture. Just keep on beating until it combines together to form large crumbs.
Looks so delicious and I love the streusel topping. I would happily make this for myself and not feel guilty enjoying it because you have used all healthy ingredients in it.
Adding vanilla to the streusel crumble really made this stand out. I served it with vanilla ice cream. The family loved it.
I’m so happy that your family enjoyed it!
Look at that crumble!! I could lick the screen now. I’m definitely trying this soon. Looks awesome!
crumbles are such easy desserts to throw together. Your’s is lovely and well balanced ! I love the combo of blueberry and apples
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this! And yes, we measured our ingredients and it was perfect!
What a great fruit combo for a crumble! 🙂 Perfect to bake up on a chilly fall weekend.
Definitely a cozy dessert for those chilly days!
Every bite does indeed look amazing! All of the flavors are incredible. And I love these vibrant colors.
Your Blueberry and Apple Crumble recipe is an absolute game-changer! The marriage of sweet, juicy blueberries with the tartness of chopped apples is genius. And that crumble topping? It’s a revelation!
Thank you! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it!
The crumble topping was melted in my mouth. So delicious!