How to Make an Easy and Delicious Blueberry Crisp

Blueberry Crisp - also sometimes called a Blueberry Crumble - is a quick and easy dessert that is one of my family's favorites. The perfect crisp has a juicy fruit base with a crunchy, buttery, streusel topping - a delicious alternative to pie that is much quicker and easier to make. It can be made with fresh or frozen blueberries and served warm or cold. Add ice cream or whipped topping or just serve it plain.

Crisps are traditional old-fashioned desserts and recipes have been handed down from generation to generation. The recipe on this page is the one that my mother used. It is simple, can be modified to include optional ingredients and is easily doubled or tripled to feed a big crowd. It makes a great dessert or a yummy breakfast, so at my house none ever goes to waste. If you've never made a blueberry crisp before, just print out the recipe and follow along with these easy step by step instructions.

All photos by the author, Vicki Green, unless credited otherwise.

Making a crisp doesn't require any special tools. Most people will find everything they need already in their kitchen. Here is the simple list:

1. Measuring cups

2. Measuring spoons

3. Mixing bowls

4. Baking dish

5. Pastry blender (or just a fork will do)

Notice that it doesn't require a rolling pin or pastry cloth! If you are just starting out with trying some baking, an inexpensive glass set of bowls, measuring cup and baking dish will have everything you need.

The ingredients to make a blueberry crisp are easy to find and many people will find most, if not all of them right in their kitchen or pantry.

Blueberries - fresh or frozen

Lemon juice

Flour

Brown sugar (or white sugar can be used)

Quick cooking rolled oats

Salt

Cinnamon

Butter

Nuts and/or coconut (optional)

This recipe can be doubled tripled or modified in any number of ways to suit your needs. Lemon zest can be added for a stronger lemon flavor or an orange can be used instead. The same basic recipe can be used for other types of berries and fruits, with modification to the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of the fruit.

Serves: 4-6

Start by picking through and cleaning the berries by removing any stems, leaves, green or moldy berries and bugs. Then rinse the berries under cold water to remove any dirt, dust or other residue.

Set the oven temperature at 375 F.

Since it is so quick and easy to put together a blue berry crisp, remember to preheat your oven to 375 F. before you begin. If you use a glass pan, usually it is a good idea to reduce the temperature 25 degrees.

(Photo credit: mrbill on Flickr - creative commons license)

Either Fresh or Frozen Berries May be Used

This step can be skipped, but coating the berries with a light dusting of flour and sugar helps to keep the juices in the crisp from being too thin and runny. Many recipes include the instruction to thaw and drain frozen berries, but as long as frozen berries are mostly separate and not frozen together in a big block, I use them without thawing and draining and it seems to work just fine. The only thing I've noticed when using frozen berries is that It may take a few more minutes of baking time.

Margarine or Coconut Oil Can Also be Used

The next step is to grease your baking dish. Take a little bit of butter and spread a thin layer on the bottom and sides of the baking dish. Although this recipe calls for a smaller 8' x 8" x 2" baking dish (or just a pie pan), I used this larger 9" x 13" pan because I usually double the recipe. If you prefer, margarine or coconut oil can also be used.

Arrange the blueberries that have been lightly coated with flour and sugar in the greased baking dish. Try to keep them in an even layer as much as possible.

Lemon Juice Brings Out the Flavor

Since blueberries are naturally sweet, adding some lemon juice adds a little tartness that really brings out the flavor. A little lemon zest can be added as well or for a different flavor other citrus juices or zests from oranges or limes can be added or substituted for the lemon. I prefer to use fresh squeezed lemon juice, but bottled or frozen lemon juice can also be used.

Add the remaining ingredients to a mixing bowl and use a pastry blender or fork to blend them together. This is the part of the recipe where you can be the really creative. Either brown sugar or white sugar can be used and you can also add your favorite type of nuts or coconut.

After the crisp topping ingredients are blended together, they still should have some lumps and resemble the consistency of fine gravel.

Cover the blue berries as evenly as possible with the topping. I usually drop large spoonfuls on top of the berries and then make sure they are all covered out to the edges and then smooth it out until the topping is at the same level in the baking dish all the way around. Then the crisp is ready to go in the oven for about 30 minutes.

After about 30 minutes the blue berry crisp will be browned on the top and berry juice will bubble around the edges. Remove from the oven and let it cool for about 20 minutes before serving.

Blueberry crisp can be served warm or cold, plain, topped with whipped cream or ice cream. It can be served as a dessert or for breakfast. Be sure to keep blueberry crisp refrigerated to prevent mold from growing. It will keep in the refrigerator for several days - if it lasts that long before being eaten.

Make a blueberry crisp from your own home-grown blueberries. Blueberries are fairly easy to grow if you select a variety that is appropriate to your climate and meet their requirement for acid soil. For the plants to yield berries the flowers need to be cross pollinated with another variety, so be sure to plant 2 different bushes.

In addition to having a supply of delicious juicy berries, blueberries are an attractive ornamental shrub. There are many varieties of blueberries that have been selected to grow in many climates, so almost anyone can find one that will be suitable for their area.