Winter Berry Crumble Oats (Print View)
A cozy dish combining sweet winter berries with a crunchy oat topping for warming dessert moments.
# What You'll Need:
→ Berry Filling
01 - 21.2 oz mixed frozen winter berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants)
02 - 6 tbsp granulated sugar
03 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
04 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Oat Crumble Topping
06 - 1 cup rolled oats
07 - 3/4 cup plain flour
08 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar
09 - 7 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
10 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
11 - Pinch of salt
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large bowl, gently toss frozen berries with granulated sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and vanilla extract until evenly coated.
03 - Transfer the berry mixture to a 9-inch baking dish and spread into an even layer.
04 - Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl. Rub in cold, cubed butter using your fingertips until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
05 - Sprinkle the oat crumble evenly over the berry filling.
06 - Bake for 35 minutes, until the topping is golden and berries are bubbling at edges.
07 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving warm, optionally with vanilla ice cream or custard.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The crumble comes together in 15 minutes of prep, leaving your hands free to do other things while the oven works its magic.
- Frozen berries mean you're not hunting the farmers market in winter or paying a small fortune for fresh fruit.
- That moment when the topping turns golden and the filling bubbles at the edges is genuinely exciting, even after making it a dozen times.
02 -
- Cornstarch is your friend—I learned this the hard way after a crumble that ran like soup. That 2 tablespoons makes the difference between a proper berry compote and a watery disappointment.
- Cold butter actually matters here in a way it doesn't for some baked goods. If your kitchen is warm, pop the cubed butter in the freezer for 10 minutes before starting.
03 -
- Make the crumble topping ahead of time and store it in the fridge—you can assemble everything in minutes when you need dessert.
- This keeps beautifully for two days, reheats in a 160°C oven for about 10 minutes, and honestly tastes even better the next day when all the flavors have settled into each other.