Apple Berry Crisp gives you tart apples, juicy blueberries and a buttery granola topping that goes golden and crunchy in the oven. It takes twenty minutes to put together and forty-five in the oven. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.
I love fall because it’s apple season. Here are a couple of recipes I make all season long: my Homemade Apple Fritter and my Fresh Apple Cake
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Why this Apple Berry Crisp Recipe is a Keeper
This apple and berry crisp shows up on my table all fall. Here is what makes it work.
ONLY USE 2-4 OF THE MOST APPLICABLE FEATURES.
- Comforting: Warm fruit and a crunchy streusel topping is about as cozy as dessert gets.
- Low Maintenance: Assemble it, slide it in the oven and walk away for forty-five minutes.
- Feeds a Crowd: One berry apple crumble in a 13 by 9 pan serves twelve, so it handles a whole dinner party.
- Uses Granola: The topping starts with crushed granola, which saves you measuring out oats and nuts.
How Do I Know When the Crisp Dessert Is Done Baking?
Look for a topping that is golden brown and crisp to the touch. That is the clearest signal. The filling should be bubbling around the edges of the pan. If it is not bubbling, it needs more time.
Keep the oven at 350 degrees F. A hotter oven browns the topping before the apples soften. Forty-five minutes is the target, though a few extra minutes gets you an even crispier top for the apple and blueberry crisp.
What People Are Saying
“This is a seriously delicious apple crumble! Thank you so much for the recipe!”
Elena
Ingredient Notes for Blueberry Apple Crisp
A handful of these ingredients are worth a second look before you start.).
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Apples: Granny Smith apples hold their shape and stay tart. Honeycrisp and Pink Lady both work well too.
- Blueberries: Fresh blueberries hold together better than frozen, which release extra liquid into the filling.
- Granola: Crush it in a zip top bag first so the big clusters break down into the topping.
- Flour: Just a tablespoon in the filling, which thickens the juices as the fruit bakes.
- Butter: Use unsalted to control the salt level in the topping.
Variations and Substitutions for the Apple Dessert
This berry apple crumble takes swaps easily. Try one of these.
➡️ Spice the Filling: Add nutmeg, cloves and light brown sugar to the apples for a warmer flavor.
➡️ Brighten It With Lemon: Stir a tablespoon of lemon zest into the filling for a citrus note.
➡️ Swap in Oats: Use quick-cooking rolled oat topping in place of the granola for a more classic streusel.
➡️ Mixed Berries: Raspberries, blackberries, or strawberries all work alongside or instead of blueberries for the fruit filling.
➡️ Add Nuts: Fold chopped walnuts or pecans into the topping for extra crunch.
Kitchen Tools To Make The Apple Blueberry Crisp
Nothing unusual. These are the tools that make the berry crisp dessert recipe.
- Chef’s Knife: Ten cups of apples is a lot of slicing, so a sharp knife matters here. Shop here: Chef Knife
- Mixing Bowls: You need two, one for the filling mixture and one for the topping. Shop here: Mixing Bowls
- Measuring Cups: The sugar and flour ratios in the topping matter for the texture. Shop here: Measuring Cups
- Baking Dish: A good quality baking pan will allow for even cooking. Shop Here for Baking Dish
How to Make Easy Apple Berry Crispy
Here is the overview. The apple and berry crumble recipe card below has the full detail.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Slice Apples: Layer the apple slices in the pan and scatter the blueberries over top in an even layer.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sprinkle the sugar, flour and cinnamon mixture over the fruit.
- Crush: In a zip top bag crush granola until the big clusters break apart.
- Crunchy Topping: Combine the granola with the flour, brown sugar, leaveners and melted butter until crumbly.
- Bake and Serve Warm: Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Serve the blueberry and apple crisp warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips to Make this Apple Recipe
Most of this can happen well before dessert time. This easy dessert is a great prep ahead treat.
➡️ Assemble Early: Put the whole crisp together, cover it, and refrigerate until you are ready to bake.
➡️ Mix the Crisp Topping Ahead: Combine the crumble topping in a container and keep it chilled for up to two days.
➡️ Slice Apples in Advance: Toss cut apples with a little lemon juice so they do not brown while they wait.
➡️ Crush Granola Early: Break down a bag of granola whenever you have a free minute and store it sealed.
➡️ Add Bake Time: Give a cold, pre-assembled crisp an extra five to ten minutes in the oven.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Apple Berry Crisp Dessert
The oven is the standard, but there are other ways to get there.
- ➡️ Use the Air Fryer: Assemble in a smaller oven-safe dish and cook until the topping is golden.
- ➡️ Try the Slow Cooker: Layer the fruit and topping in the crock and cook on low until the apples are tender.
- ➡️ Bake in Ramekins: Divide into individual dishes and cut the bake time by about a third.
What Is the Difference Between a Fruit Crisp or Crumble?
A crisp has oats or granola in the topping, which is what gives it that crispy, crunchy texture. A crumble skips the oats and uses just flour, sugar and butter, so it bakes up more like streusel. This recipe uses crushed granola, which puts it firmly in crisp territory. The two names get used interchangeably all the time, so do not worry much about the distinction.
Can I Use Frozen Berries for the Apple Berry Crisp?
Frozen blueberries are totally fine in a crisp. They’ll give you great flavor and color, but they release more liquid than fresh, so you need a little extra thickening to keep the filling from getting soupy.
Store, Reheat, and Use Leftover Apple Crumble Recipe
- Storing: Keep the crisp in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days.
- Reheating: Microwave individual portions until warmed through, or reheat the pan at 350 degrees F for about fifteen minutes.
- Using Leftovers: Spoon it over vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt for breakfast. It also works stirred into oatmeal or alongside a rustic apple tart.
Expert Tips for Making this Easy Apple Berry Crisp Dessert
These are the things that make the difference between good and great.
➡️ Slice Apples Evenly: Keep the slices about the same thickness so everything softens at the same rate.
➡️ Do Not Skip the Water: Always add the quarter cup, since it keeps the filling from drying out.
➡️ Crush the Granola Well: Break it down thoroughly, because big clusters leave gaps in the topping.
➡️ Let It Rest: Give it ten minutes out of the oven so the filling sets before scooping.
➡️ Serve It Warm: Always serve this warm dessert with ice cream or whipped cream, since the temperature contrast is the whole point.
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Apple Blueberry Crisp
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Ingredients
Filling
- 10 cups Apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 cup Blueberries
- 1 cup Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Topping
- 1 cup Granola
- ½ cup Flour
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ cup Butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
Instructions
Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the sliced apples in an even layer in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the blueberries evenly over the apples.
- Combine the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl.
- Distribute the sugar mixture evenly over the fruit.
Topping
- Place the granola in a zip top bag and crush it until the large clusters break down.
- Combine the crushed granola, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and melted butter in a medium mixing bowl.
- Mix the topping until the texture becomes crumbly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the fruit mixture.
- Bake for 45 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling at the edges.
Christina’s Notes
- Bake at 350: A hotter oven browns the topping before the apples have a chance to soften.
- Crush the Granola: Large clusters leave gaps and keep the topping from browning evenly.
- Watch for Bubbling: The crisp is done when the filling bubbles at the edges, not just when the top looks brown.
- Use Fresh Berries: Frozen blueberries release extra liquid and make the filling runny.
- Store Refrigerated: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for three to four days.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
This was soo good! The apples and blueberries are so good together!
Never thought to mix blueberries and apples before. It’s scrumptious. I love the textural variety. My family ate this crumble in one day! lol Yes, it’s very good!
This is a seriously delicious apple crumble! Thank you so much for the recipe!