The Ultimate Blueberry Almond Crisp Recipe: Your Perfect Summer Dessert
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, there’s one dessert that truly encapsulates the essence of summer: a perfectly baked crisp. And when it comes to capturing that seasonal magic, nothing quite compares to this **Blueberry Almond Crisp**. Imagine a vibrant, bubbling filling of sweet, tangy blueberries, crowned with an irresistible, golden-brown topping featuring wholesome oats and crunchy almonds. This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a celebration of simplicity, fresh flavors, and the joy of home baking.
Crisps, often overlooked for more elaborate desserts, are truly the unsung heroes of summer baking. Their charm lies in their effortlessness and the beautiful way they highlight seasonal fruits. With just a few minutes of prep and a quick session in the oven, you’re rewarded with a warm, aromatic delight. The juicy blueberries burst with flavor under a sweet, textural topping that offers a satisfying crunch with every bite. Serve this delightful blueberry almond crisp warm, ideally with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, for a classic dessert experience that will be savored all season long.
Table of Contents
- Essential Ingredients for Your Crisp
- Step-by-Step: How to Make Blueberry Almond Crisp
- Expert Tips for the Perfect Crisp
- More Irresistible Crisp and Cobbler Recipes
- Get the Full Recipe Details
Essential Ingredients for Your Crisp
Crafting this delightful blueberry almond crisp requires a simple list of readily available ingredients, promising maximum flavor with minimal fuss. Below, you’ll find everything needed for both the luscious blueberry filling and the crunchy, golden almond-oat topping. The full, detailed recipe with precise measurements is available at the bottom of this article.
For the Juicy Blueberry Filling:
- Fresh Blueberries: The star of our show! Opt for ripe, plump berries for the best flavor. They become wonderfully jammy when baked.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the tartness of the blueberries and helps create that irresistible syrupy consistency.
- Cornstarch: This essential thickener prevents your crisp filling from becoming too watery, ensuring it sets beautifully.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: A splash of lemon brightens the flavors, adding a zesty counterpoint to the sweetness and enhancing the berries’ natural taste.
For the Crunchy Almond-Oat Topping:
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base of our streusel-like topping, binding everything together.
- Old-Fashioned Oats: Crucial for that classic crisp texture. Avoid quick-cooking oats, as they can become mushy.
- Sliced Almonds: Add a fantastic nutty flavor and an extra layer of crunch that complements the blueberries beautifully.
- Baking Powder: Contributes a slight lift to the topping, making it light and airy while still being crisp.
- Salt: A pinch enhances all the flavors, balancing the sweetness in the topping.
- Unsalted Butter (room temperature): Essential for creating a rich, crumbly topping. Room temperature butter creams easily with sugar.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the topping and helps it caramelize to a golden perfection during baking.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Blueberry Almond Crisp
As promised, this recipe is remarkably straightforward, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Here’s a simple breakdown of the process to achieve crisp perfection:
- Prepare the Blueberry Filling: In a large bowl, gently toss your fresh blueberries with granulated sugar, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice until the berries are evenly coated. The cornstarch will help thicken the juices as it bakes, and the lemon juice adds a wonderful brightness. Pour this vibrant fruit mixture into a medium-sized baking dish that has been lightly greased with cooking spray. While a 6×10-inch dish works wonderfully, an 8 or 9-inch square dish is also suitable. Just remember, a wider dish will result in a thinner crisp with more topping surface, while a deeper dish will yield a thicker fruit layer.
- Craft the Crunchy Crisp Topping: In the bowl of an electric mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy, which usually takes about 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air, contributing to a tender crumb. Next, add the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, old-fashioned oats, sliced almonds, baking powder, and salt. Mix on low speed until the mixture comes together into a “shaggy” consistency—meaning it will look crumbly, but you should be able to squeeze clumps of it together with your hands. Be careful not to overmix; we want a crumbly texture, not a smooth dough.
- Assemble the Crisp: Take the prepared crisp topping and evenly distribute it over the blueberry filling. Don’t worry if the clumps are of varying sizes; that’s part of the rustic charm! Gently drop spoonfuls or pinches of the topping over the fruit in a single layer, ensuring good coverage. If some pieces don’t clump perfectly, simply sprinkle them over the berries.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place your assembled crisp in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) and bake for approximately 45-60 minutes. The crisp is ready when the topping is beautifully golden brown and the fruit filling underneath is vigorously bubbling. Bubbling indicates that the cornstarch has activated and is properly thickening the juices. Once out of the oven, it’s crucial (if you can resist!) to let the crisp rest for at least 20 minutes before serving. This allows the fruit filling to set up slightly as it cools, preventing it from being too runny.
- Savor and Enjoy! Serve your warm, delightful blueberry almond crisp. For the ultimate treat, we highly recommend topping each serving with a generous scoop of rich, creamy vanilla ice cream. The contrast between the warm, sweet crisp and the cold ice cream is truly divine.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Crisp
Achieving a consistently perfect crisp is easy with a few simple tricks up your sleeve. Here are some invaluable tips to ensure your Blueberry Almond Crisp turns out fantastic every time:
- Fresh vs. Frozen Blueberries: This recipe is wonderfully versatile and accommodates both fresh and frozen blueberries. If you’re using frozen berries, there’s no need to thaw them beforehand. Simply add them directly to your baking dish with the other filling ingredients. Be aware that frozen berries may release more liquid and could slightly extend the baking time.
- Making it Nut-Free: If you or your guests have nut allergies, or simply prefer a crisp without almonds, you can easily omit the sliced almonds from the topping. The crisp will still be deliciously crunchy thanks to the oats and butter.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: For a gluten-free version, simply substitute the all-purpose flour in the topping with an equal amount of almond flour or almond meal. This not only makes the crisp gluten-friendly but also enhances the almond flavor and creates a lovely, tender crumb.
- Add a Pinch of Spice: A small addition of cinnamon (about ¼ to ½ teaspoon) to the almond-oat topping can introduce a warm, aromatic depth that complements the blueberries beautifully. Nutmeg or a touch of cardamom would also be delicious variations.
- Troubleshooting a Watery Filling: If your crisp filling seems too watery after baking, there are usually a few culprits:
- Not Baked Long Enough: The cornstarch needs sufficient heat and time to fully activate and thicken the fruit juices. Ensure the filling is vigorously bubbling in the center of the dish, not just around the edges, before removing it from the oven.
- Served Too Soon: Patience is key! The filling continues to set and firm up as it cools. Always allow your crisp to rest for at least 20 minutes (or even longer if possible) before serving.
- Frozen Blueberries: As mentioned, frozen blueberries naturally contain more water. If using them, you might consider adding an extra half-tablespoon of cornstarch to the filling to account for the increased moisture.
- Storage Recommendations: This blueberry crisp is best enjoyed fresh and warm. However, any leftovers can be stored at room temperature, loosely covered, for up to 1 day. For longer freshness, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Reheating for Optimal Crispness: To revive that delightful crunch in your topping, reheat leftover crisp in the oven. Place it uncovered in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 20-30 minutes, or until warmed through and the topping has regained its crisp texture. Microwaving will warm the fruit but will soften the topping.
- Serving Suggestions: While vanilla ice cream is a classic pairing, consider serving your crisp with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, a spoonful of Greek yogurt for a tangy contrast, or even a drizzle of custard.
baking tip:What’s the difference between a crisp, cobbler and crumble?
These classic fruit desserts are often confused, but their distinction lies primarily in their delicious toppings. All three feature a warm, sweet fruit base baked underneath a delightful layer, but it’s the texture of that topping that defines them:
- Cobbler: Distinguished by a soft and tender topping that resembles dropped biscuits or a cake-like batter. These toppings are typically dolloped over the fruit, expanding into a soft, golden crust as they bake.
- Crisps: As the name suggests, crisps boast a crunchy, streusel-like topping. This topping is traditionally made from a mixture of flour, sugar, butter, and often includes oats for extra texture and a pleasing chewiness. Nuts, like the almonds in this recipe, are also a common addition, contributing to the crisp’s signature crunch.
- Crumbles: Very similar to crisps but typically less common in American baking. Crumbles feature a topping that has a sandier, more fine-grained texture compared to a crisp, and crucially, they do not contain oats.
More Baking Tips »
More Irresistible Crisp and Cobbler Recipes
If you’ve fallen in love with the simplicity and comfort of this Blueberry Almond Crisp, you’ll be delighted to explore more fruit-filled dessert options. Here are a few other fantastic crisp and cobbler recipes that are perfect for any season or occasion:
- Ultimate Summer Fruit Cobbler
- Strawberry, Raspberry and Rhubarb Crisp
- Slow Cooker Peach Cobbler
- Brown Butter Peach and Blackberry Crisp
Get the Full Recipe Details
Ready to bake this incredible Blueberry Almond Crisp? Below you’ll find the complete, printable recipe card with all the precise measurements and step-by-step instructions. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this timeless summer treat!
5 from 6 reviews
Blueberry Almond Crisp
Servings: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Rest Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
This blueberry crisp with almond oat topping is a classic summer dish, perfect for any occasion!
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Ingredients
For the filling:
- 6 cups (510 grams) fresh blueberries
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
For the topping:
- ⅔ cup (80 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50 grams) old-fashioned oats , not quick cooking
- ½ cup (43 grams) sliced almonds
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter , at room temperature
- ⅓ cup (65 grams) granulated sugar
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Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease an 8-inch baking dish with cooking spray (or a 6×10-inch dish, as preferred).
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In a large bowl, gently toss together the fresh blueberries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and fresh lemon juice until the berries are well coated. Transfer this mixture into your prepared baking dish.
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To prepare the topping, combine the flour, old-fashioned oats, sliced almonds, baking powder, and salt in a separate medium bowl. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until just combined and a shaggy, crumbly mixture forms. Use your hands to gently clump the mixture together and then evenly drop it over the blueberry filling in the baking dish.
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Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 45-60 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit juices are visibly bubbling. If the topping begins to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the dish with aluminum foil. Once baked, let the crisp sit and cool for at least 20 minutes before serving. This resting period allows the filling to set properly. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Notes
This delightful recipe is adapted from Martha’s American Food, a trusted source for classic American dishes.
Calories: 320kcal, Carbohydrates: 51g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 23mg, Sodium: 149mg, Potassium: 188mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 32g, Vitamin A: 322IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 42mg, Iron: 1mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Annalise Sandberg
Have you tried this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.
This delightful recipe was originally published in July 2014 and has been a summer favorite ever since.