Winter Berry Crumble Dessert (Print View)
A warm dessert with winter berries and a crisp, buttery crumble topping, perfect for cold nights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fruit Filling
01 - 1.1 lbs mixed frozen or fresh winter berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries)
02 - 6 tbsp granulated sugar
03 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
04 - Zest of 1 orange
05 - 1 tbsp fresh orange juice
→ Crumble Topping
06 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
08 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
09 - 1/2 cup rolled oats
10 - 1/4 cup chopped nuts (almonds, hazelnuts; optional)
11 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
12 - Pinch of salt
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 - Set your oven to 350°F (180°C) to warm up while preparing the components.
02 - In a large bowl, gently toss together the berries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, orange zest, and orange juice until evenly coated.
03 - Evenly spread the berry mixture into a 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) baking dish.
04 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, chopped nuts if using, cinnamon, and salt.
05 - Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients and rub together with your fingertips until the mixture achieves a coarse breadcrumb texture.
06 - Evenly distribute the crumble topping over the berry filling in the baking dish.
07 - Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling.
08 - Allow the dessert to cool for 10 minutes prior to serving to enhance flavors and texture.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It's deceptively simple to make, yet tastes like you've spent hours in the kitchen—perfect for impressing people without the stress.
- The contrast between the tart, juicy berry filling and that buttery, crunchy topping is genuinely addictive and keeps people coming back for seconds.
- You can make it with frozen berries from your pantry, which means it's always ready when you need comfort food on a grey afternoon.
02 -
- The butter absolutely must be cold—this is non-negotiable. If your kitchen is warm, pop the butter and even your mixing bowl in the freezer for 10 minutes before you start. Cold butter creates the texture that makes this crumble special.
- Don't skip the resting time after baking. I learned this the hard way when I served it straight from the oven and the filling was still too liquid. Those 10 minutes transform it from good to genuinely impressive.
03 -
- Toast your oats in a dry pan for a few minutes before adding them to the crumble—it deepens their flavor and makes the topping taste more complex.
- A tiny pinch of nutmeg added to the topping creates an almost imperceptible warmth that people will taste without quite knowing what it is, and they'll keep asking for another bite.