A Beautiful Summer Fruit Crumble Recipe

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Looking for a summer fruit crumble that’s easy, comforting and simple to make from scratch? This fruity crumble is packed with juicy berries and sweet apples, all topped with a golden, buttery crumble topping. Keep reading to see just how easy this classic dessert is to make at home.

An apple and berry crumble in a decorative dish on hessian fabric.

Why you’ll love this recipe

I have such fond memories of this Summer fruit crumble recipe. Not only because it’s my Gran’s wonderful crumble topping recipe – but also because it reminds me of when she came blackberry and apple picking with me and my daughter. I truly love how food brings us all closer together, no matter the generation gap or occasion.

Apple and berry crumble in a dish over a sheet of hessian.

Ingredients

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Berries – As always, blackberries and raspberries are best when in season, and even better picked fresh! You can just as easily use bought or frozen though.
Apple – A nice sharp green apple gives the best flavour and texture. It’s worth knowing that apples are usually ready for picking at the same time as blackberries. Cooking and Granny Smith apples work well.
Sugar – I love to use golden caster sugar as it gives a slight caramel flavour, but regular caster sugar (superfine in the US) works great too.
Butter – Always use unsalted butter in abking unless instructed otherwise. And make sure it’s cold when making a crumble.
Flour – Plain flour (all purpose flour) works best. We don’t want any raising agents.

A vibrant Summer fruit crumble in a white dish surrounded by blackberries and raspberries.

Emma’s top tips

Here are tips you’ll find helpful when making this recipe.

Make sure you wash your fruit, especially if you’ve picked it yourself. If it’s late in the season, you may need to soak your berries before using them.
Use cold, cubed butter when making your crumble. Otherwise the butter will melt, which makes crumble making very difficult.
Using a pastry blender makes quick and easy work of the crumble. They’re cheap and very handy, I highly recommend them (and so did my Gran!).
Pop a baking tray/sheet under your oven proof dish when you bake, as there’s always a chance your fruit might bubble over.
Don’t skip scattering extra sugar over the top at the end. It’s adds a lovely extra sweet crunch!

A serving spoon next to a dish filled with an inviting Summer fruit crumble.

Timings

Have limited time? Struggle with recipe timings? Or juggling around other things? Here’s some time managing info to make your life easier!

Preparing the fruits should take no more than 5-10 mins.
Making the crumble will take you around 10 minutes.
Assembly and topping with sugar will only take a few minutes.
Baking your Summer fruits crumble will take between 40-45 minutes.

A bubbling Summer fruit crumble in a decorative dish.

Best served with…

Serve your Summer berry crumble with some vanilla ice cream, homemade custard or even a splash of white chocolate sauce.

A dish filled with warm Summer fruit crumble set over hessian fabric.

Easy Summer Fruit Crumble – Step by Step Picture Recipe

(For a printer friendly version, see the recipe card at the end of this post)

Ingredients

Here is what you will need to serve 6-8.

Please note, this recipe includes both UK metric and US Cup measurements.

For the fruit

250g (1 + 2/3 Cup) Blackberries, washed
110g (7/8 Cup) Raspberries, washed
200g (1 + 5/8 Cup) Green Apple, peeled, cored and chopped
1 tbsp Golden Caster Sugar
1 tbsp Water

For the crumble

85g (1/3 Cup) Unsalted Butter, cold and cubed
140g (1 + 1/8 Cup) Plain Flour
Pinch of Salt
50g (1/4 Cup) Golden Caster Sugar
Extra Sugar, for sprinkling

Essential equipment

Ovenproof Dish (mine is 22 x 15 x 5 cm Oval)
Spoon
Large Mixing Bowl
Pastry Blender (optional)
Baking Tray

Instructions

First preheat your oven to 190°C/Fan 180°C/374ºF and grease the sides of your ovenproof dish with butter.

Then place the blackberries (250g | 1 + 2/3 Cup), raspberries (110g | 7/8 Cup), apple (200g | 1 + 5/8 Cup), sugar (1 tbsp), and water (1 tbsp) into your greased dish. Mix it all together, gently but thoroughly.

A dish filled with apples, blackberries and raspberries.

Next, let’s make the crumble. Put the butter (85g | 1/3 Cup), flour (140g | 1 + 1/8 Cup), salt (pinch) and sugar (50g | 1/4 Cup) into a large mixing bowl.

A bowl with crumble ingredients in it ready for mixing.

Then, either using a pastry blender (optional) or rubbing the mixture lightly between your forefingers and thumbs – mix until you get a light crumble texture.

Don’t worry if there are a few larger pieces left, it all adds to the texture.

A mixing bowl filled with crumble mixture.

Next, scatter the crumble topping mixture over the prepared fruit.

Summer fruits topped with homemade crumble mixture in a decorative dish.

And finally, a tip from my Gran… scatter 2 tsp – 1 tbsp of extra sugar over the top. This makes it really nice and crispy.

A Summer fruit crumble sprinkled with sugar ready for the oven.

Now place your dish onto a baking tray (just in case the fruit bubbles over) and bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes. Until the fruit is bubbling, and the crumble is golden and crisp.

When it’s ready, serve warm along with your favourite dessert sauce.

An apple berry crumble in a dish with a serving spoon to the side.

How to store Summer fruit crumble

Allow your Summer fruit dessert to cool completely before storing any leftovers. Cover and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze your unbaked fruit crumble for another day. Just make sure you wrap it well and consume within 1-2 months.

A Summer fruit crumble on hessian, with a serving spoon at the side.

FAQs

If you’re not a confident baker yet, you might like to read baking for beginners. It’s full of baking tips and basics that you may find helpful.

What is crumble topping made of?

Crumble topping is made of 3 simple ingredients. Butter, flour and sugar. Different recipes use different ratios but the ingredients are almost always the same.

Can fruit crumble be frozen?

Yes, fruit crumble can be frozen for another day. Wrap very well, defrost and consume within 1-2 months.

Can I use frozen fruit for summer fruit crumble?

Yes, frozen fruit works really well. There’s no need to defrost it first, just add a couple of extra minutes to the cooking time if needed.

Do I need to peel the apples?

It’s up to you. Peeling gives a softer texture, but you can leave the skins on if you prefer a bit more bite.

Why is my crumble topping not crispy?

This is usually because there is too much moisture in the fruit or not enough butter in the topping. Baking it until golden and slightly firm will help it crisp up.

How do I know when fruit crumble is cooked?

The topping should be golden and crisp, and the fruit underneath should be bubbling around the edges.

Can I make summer fruit crumble in advance?

Yes, you can prepare it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. You can also freeze it too.

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A decorative white dish filled with a bubbling Summer fruit crumble, set on hessian fabric with berries scattered around it. A text overlay says ""Beautiful Summer fruit crumble".