The Easiest Apple Blackberry Crumble: 🍎 Berry & Pecan Perfection with Apple Skulls

The days are getting shorter, the air is crisp, and it’s time to lean into the comforting magic of baked fruit desserts. Forget complicated pies! This Apple Blackberry Crumble is so simple, you can have it in the oven in minutes. The secret? A quick, crunchy topping that uses a clever shortcut for maximum flavor and texture.

Finished product

This crumble hits all the right notes: tart, juicy blackberries, sweet apples, and a deeply buttery, crunchy topping with a hint of warm spice from the graham crust breakfast bar. It’s pure, cozy perfection!

👩‍🍳 The Crunch Factor: An Unconventional Topping

We're going to create an intensely flavorful, fast crumble topping using a secret weapon: a crunchy breakfast bar. I used a crunchy pecan graham and oat bar, but you can experiment! The oats, nuts, and grain in the bar give you a head start on that perfect texture.

Ingredients

Ingredients For the Crunchy Topping:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

• 1 crunchy breakfast bar roughly chopped or crumbled

Topping

Ingredients For the Blackberry & Apple Filling:

• 2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries (about two small 6 oz packages, minus a few for the chef!)

• 2 Large granny smith apples

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

📝 Easy-Peasy Instructions

Step 1: Prep & Preheat

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Lightly grease a small oven-safe dish (an 8 x 8 or a similar-sized deep dish works well. I used a ghost shaped baking dish to add to the theme).

Step 2: Make the Filling

1. In a medium bowl, combine the blackberries, 1 tablespoon of flour, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar.

   
   

2. Gently stir the berries around so they get lightly coated in the flour and sugar mixture. Don't worry about perfection!

   
   

   Tip for Frozen Berries: If you’re using frozen berries, do not thaw them. Just toss them with the sugar and flour and expect a slightly wetter, more syrupy filling.

   
   

3. Peel the apples, cut them in half and carve scary faces in the convex sides. (I used a melon baller for the eyes.)

   
   

   Tip: Soak your apple halves in a bowl of ice water so it doesn't brown while you are working on the other faces.

4. Similar to the berries, gently stir the apples in 1 tablespoon of flour, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar so they get lightly coated.

   
   

5. Arrange the apples in the baking dish and place the blackberries around them in a way it isn't covering the apple faces.

Step 3: Mix the Crumble Topping

1. In a separate bowl, combine the 2 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup chopped pecans, and the crumbled breakfast bar.

2. Use a fork or your fingers to mix everything together until it forms a chunky crumble.

3. Scatter the topping over the blackberry filling.

Carved apples

Step 4: Bake & Finish

1. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 to 40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the berry filling is bubbling around the edges.

Tip: After the initial bake, check the dish. If the topping or filling looks dry, drizzle a little honey and/or a small pat of butter over the top. Bake for another 5 minutes to let the drizzle soak in and caramelize slightly.

2. Let the crumble cool for a few minutes before serving.

✨ Serving Suggestions

This crumble is fantastic on its own, but to take it over the top, serve it warm with:

• A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

• A dollop of freshly whipped cream.

• A drizzle of extra heavy cream or custard.

Enjoy this ridiculously easy and delicious dessert!