This is the perfect blackberry crisp recipe that I have been baking since my early childhood, exactly how my Granny Janny made it. For 40+ years, this berry crisp has been a summer tradition for my family and I just love sharing the dish with you. The buttery oatmeal topping combines with the tangy but sweet blackberries for a quintessential summer dessert.
For more great berry desserts, try my roasted berries, blueberry dump cake, or my granny's strawberry shortcake.
Jump to:
Growing up, I knew it was blackberry season when my trusty horse, Dusty, returned from the fields with a tell-tale sign: purple-stained lips (from feasting on the ripe blackberries).
If I were lucky enough to outpace Dusty in harvesting these juicy berries, I'd gather a generous amount and head back home to bake this fantastic dessert for breakfast.
Inspired by childhood memories and the simple joys of berry picking, this blackberry crisp recipe is not just about creating a dessert; it's about reliving those golden, sun-kissed days.
With a perfect balance of juicy blackberries and a golden, crispy oatmeal crumble topping, each bite is a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.
🥘 Ingredients
Blackberry Filling
- Blackberries (fresh or frozen)
- Sugar
- Lemon Zest (optional; lime zest can also be used)
Oatmeal Streusel Topping
- Flour
- Oats
- Light brown sugar
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg
- Butter (cold)
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
🔪 How To Make Blackberry Crisp
This recipe is really quick to assemble, so start your oven preheating before you begin.
This recipe makes about 8 servings.
Preheat. Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4) and generously butter a baking dish. You'll need a 10" springform pan, cast iron skillet, or 2+ quart casserole dish.
Prepare the Blackberry Filling. In a mixing bowl, combine the blackberries with 4 tablespoons of sugar. If desired, add lemon zest or lime zest for extra flavor. Stir gently to coat the berries evenly.
Make the oatmeal streusel topping. In a separate large bowl, mix 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 cups of rolled oats, 1½ cups of packed light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg. Cut in 1½ cups of cold butter using a pastry cutter or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse pea-sized crumbs.
Assemble the crisp. Transfer the sugared blackberry mixture to a buttered baking dish, spreading it evenly. Then, evenly distribute the oatmeal streusel topping over the blackberries.
Bake until bubbling. Bake the blackberry crisp for 40-45 minutes at 350°F (175°C/Gas Mark 4). The topping should turn golden brown, and the berries should bubble around the edges.
Cool and serve. Remove the crisp from the oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and makes serving easier.
Serve with my vanilla no-churn ice cream or top with whipped cream. Enjoy!
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💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- Berry variations to try. Experiment with different types of berries or a mix of berries for varied flavors. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or a combination can offer a delightful twist to the traditional blackberry crisp.
- Berries to topping ratio. The secret to its irresistible taste lies in the perfect balance between the berries and the oatmeal topping. I prefer a 50/50 ratio, as each spoonful creates my perfect blend of flavors and textures.
- Enhancing the topping. Add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the oatmeal streusel topping for added texture and a nutty flavor. Alternatively, consider adding a handful of granola for extra crunch.
- Reduce calories. This topping is very calorie-dense, to reduce the overall calorie count use half the topping ingredients.
- Spice it up. Experiment with different spices like my apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or garam masala (which tastes lovely with blackberry sweets).
❓ Blackberry Crisp Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can use frozen blackberries. There's no need to thaw them; just use them directly in the recipe. You may need an additional minute or two, but the baking time overall should be the same.
Yes, you can prepare the crisp topping in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
In the case of blackberry crisps, this is a difficult question to answer.
Typically a crisp has a sugar streusel topping (no oats) and a crumble has the topping with oats.
However, blackberry crisps have been so commonly made with an oatmeal topping that this version is the most common.
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📖 Recipe Card
Blackberry Crisp
Ingredients
Blackberry Filling
- 5 cups blackberries (fresh or frozen)
- 4 tablespoon sugar
- lemon zest (optional, or use lime zest)
Oatmeal Streusel Topping
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1½ cups light brown sugar (firmly packed)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1½ cups butter (cold, cubed)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
Preheat & Mix Blackberry Filling
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃/Gas Mark 4), then butter a 9-10 inch pan or 1.5-2 quart casserole dish.
- In a medium to large-sized mixing bowl, add the 5 cups blackberries and 4 tablespoon sugar, plus the optional lemon zest or lime. Stir gently to coat the berries.
Mix Oatmeal Streusel Topping
- In another mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups rolled oats, 1½ cups light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon nutmeg. Mix the evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Add the cold 1½ cups butter and use a pastry cutter to cut it in until it reaches pea-sized crumbles.
Assemble & Bake
- Add the sugared blackberry mix to your prepared baking dish, making an even layer that covers the bottom. Top the berries with the dry crumble oatmeal streusel crust mixture.
- Bake in preheated oven at 350℉ (175℃/Gas Mark 4) for 40-45 minutes or until berries are bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven when done and cool for 5 minutes before serving while warm.
Notes
- Experiment with different types of berries or a mix of berries for varied flavors. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or a combination can offer a delightful twist to the traditional blackberry crisp.
- The secret to its irresistible taste lies in the perfect balance between the berries and the oatmeal topping. I prefer a 50/50 ratio, as each spoonful creates my perfect blend of flavors and textures.
- Add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts to the oatmeal streusel topping for added texture and a nutty flavor. Alternatively, consider adding a handful of granola for extra crunch.
- This topping is very calorie-dense, to reduce the overall calorie count use half the topping ingredients.
- Experiment with different spices like my apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or garam masala (which tastes lovely with blackberry sweets).
Nutrition
donald alexander says
Worth it! I made and I added the vanilla to the berries prior to mixing, delicious. Thanks for the recipe!