At the end of Summer, we reach that point where the Summer produce starts to overlap with the Fall produce. It's a glorious time when it's perfect to make this apple and blackberry crumble.

The tart flavors of fresh juicy blackberries pair perfectly with sweet apples. Add in my crunchy, brown sugar crumble topping for a delicious treat that's just begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I know you're going to love this recipe - it's as simple to prepare as it is tasty!

A bowl of apple blackberry crumble topped with vanilla ice cream sitting on a marble counter.

If you love blackberry recipes, you must also try my fresh blackberry cobbler or these delicious gluten free blackberry pie bars.

Jump to:

What is the difference between a crisp, a crumble and a cobbler?
Ingredient Notes
Substitutions & Variations
How to Make an Apple Blackberry Crumble
Expert Tip
Storage
More blackberry recipes to try:
Recipe

What is the difference between a crisp, a crumble and a cobbler?

When it comes to fruit desserts, you might think the monikers are interchangeable. When in fact a crisp, a crumble and a cobbler are three different things.

A crisp is a fruit filling topped with a streusel topping that includes oats. The topping is usually crispy and not super thick.
A crumble is also fruit filling topped with a streusel topping. But the topping is thicker and does not include oats.
A cobbler is also a fruit filling, but topped with a biscuit or cake-like topping.

Ingredient Notes

This easy dessert recipe is made with simple ingredients that can be found in an grocery store. It is both gluten free and vegan as written, so everyone can enjoy it!

Ingredients for an apple and blackberry crumble sitting on a white counter.

Gluten-Free Flour Blend - I used Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Flour Blend for this recipe. You can use the gluten free flour of your choice, but I have not tested any other brands so your results may vary.
Vegan Butter - I used Country Crock plant butter for this recipe, but any stick type of vegan butter will work fine. If you're not dairy free or vegan, use unsalted butter in the same measure.
Fresh Blackberries - I just went blackberry picking, so I had plenty of fresh berries on hand. You could use frozen berries too, although I'd recommend thawing and draining the liquid before adding them to the filling.
Apples - I used Golden Delicious apples here because I like their soft texture and sweet flavor. Granny Smith would be another great option for this dessert, although the apple pieces will be a little firmer after baking. Make sure to cut the apples into small, bite-sized pieces so they cook through during the baking time.
Cornstarch - This starch helps to thicken the sauce that is produced by cooking down the fruit. If you avoid corn, you can replace it with the same measure of tapioca starch.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Substitutions & Variations

Not Dairy Free - Use unsalted butter in the same measure.
Not Gluten Free - You should be able to replace the gluten free flour in the crumble topping with all purpose flour without any trouble.
Frozen Blackberries - Thaw and drain the berries before adding them to the filling.
No Blackberries - Replace them with an equal measure of blueberries, raspberries or strawberries.
No Pecans - If you don't have them on hand or don't like them, you can replace the pecans with another nut, like walnuts, or omit them from the recipe. No other adjustments are needed.

How to Make an Apple Blackberry Crumble

This simple recipe is so quick and easy to make. The filling can even be mixed right in your baking dish to save washing a bowl.

Flour, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, salt and melted butter combined in a medium bowl to create the crumble topping.

STEP 1: Combine all of the ingredients for the crumble topping - flour, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, salt and melted butter. Stir well until a chunky mixture forms. Place the crumble mix in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.

Blackberries, apples, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt combined in a large mixing bowl.

STEP 2: Add the blackberries, apples, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt to a large bowl. Stir well to coat the fruit.

Fruit mixture spread in a casserole dish.

STEP 3: Transfer the fruit mixture, including the juices, to a 2-quart baking dish or a cast iron skillet.

An unbaked apple and blackberry crumble sitting on a white counter.

STEP 4: Crumble the topping mixture over the fruit in an even layer. Place the baking dish on a baking sheet and now you're ready to bake.

Expert Tip

Bake your crumble until the filling is very bubbly. This will help to set the starches so the fruit juice will thicken as it cools.

A freshly baked apple and blackberry crumble sitting on a marble counter.

Storage

Allow the crumble to cool completely before storing. I typically wrap my whole casserole dish with aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator. This helps to keep the top crunchy.

You can also transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

A spoon scooping up a bite of apple blackberry crumble with vanilla ice cream.

More blackberry recipes to try:

If you try this recipe, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.

Recipe

Tiffany

Tiffany is the recipe developer, stylist and food photographer behind Well Fed Baker. As a lifelong baker who had to go gluten free and dairy free in 2016, Tiffany strives to share allergen friendly recipes that never feel like they are free from anything.