Winter Berry Crumble with Oats (Printable)
A comforting dessert with mixed winter berries and crisp oat topping. Warm, satisfying, and ready in under an hour.
# What You Need:
→ Fruit Filling
01 - 4 cups mixed frozen or fresh winter berries (blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries)
02 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
04 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Oat Crumble Topping
06 - 1 cup rolled oats
07 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
# How-To:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine berries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Gently toss until berries are evenly coated.
03 - Pour berry mixture into a lightly greased 8x8 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together rolled oats, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and salt.
05 - Add cold cubed butter to the oat mixture. Using your fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
06 - Evenly scatter oat crumble topping over the berry filling.
07 - Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes until topping is golden brown and berry filling is bubbling at the edges.
08 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes. Serve warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or custard.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast between the warm, jammy berries and the buttery, cinnamon-scented crumble topping creates an almost magical comfort that feels like a hug on a cold evening.
- It strikes that perfect balance between effortless preparation and impressive results, making it ideal for both casual family nights and impromptu gatherings when neighbors drop by.
02 -
- The filling will continue to thicken as it cools, so dont panic if it seems a bit loose when first out of the oven.
- Adding just a small pinch of salt to the crumble topping dramatically enhances all the other flavors without making anything taste salty.
03 -
- Work the butter into the crumble mixture just until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining for that perfect texture contrast.
- Let frozen berries thaw just slightly before mixing with other ingredients, which helps them release their juices while baking without becoming too watery.