Here’s an Apple Blueberry Crisp Recipe with a surprise twist of candied ginger. This unique twist on a classic dessert combines the natural sweetness of apples and blueberries with the warmth of cardamom and a zing of candied ginger. Top it with a dollop of vanilla ice cream, or enjoy it as a morning breakfast. Either way, you’ll love this classic blueberry apple crisp dish with a modern take.
The crisp topping made from oats, flour, and butter brings a satisfying crunch to the dessert. The contrast between the soft, juicy fruit filling and the crisp topping creates a great blend of tastes and textures. I love that this crisp topping remains crunchy even when you enjoy it the day after.
The combo of apples and blueberries in a dessert is amazing. I love the sweetness of the apples and the wonderful blueberry syrup. And I added a modern twist to this combination. I added sweet heat from the candied ginger.
But, if you aren’t a fan of ginger, you can leave it out of your crisp.
Feel free to make this simple recipe your own by giving it a little twist that suits your taste buds.
Make it a classic blueberry apple crisp, or go a bit more modern with the recipe. The choice is yours to make!
What is candied ginger, and where do I find it?
Candied ginger is a ginger root cooked and crystallized in sugar, resulting in a sweet and slightly spicy confection. The ginger root is peeled, sliced, and then simmered in a sugar syrup until it becomes tender and impregnated with the syrup’s sweetness. Afterward, the ginger slices are coated in additional sugar and left to dry, creating a chewy and flavorful treat with a unique blend of sweet and zesty flavors.
I found my candied ginger in our local grocery store. They have an area dedicated to nuts and dried fruit. But if you can’t find it locally, here’s a link to some you can buy online.
Here’s why you’ll love this crisp!
- Flavor Fusion: The blend of sweet apples, zesty blueberries, and spices creates a comforting and exciting taste.
- Texture Play: The crunchy oat topping combined with the soft, juicy fruit filling offers a delightful contrast.
- Secret Ingredient: Adding candied ginger and cardamom brings an unexpected twist that elevates the dish to a new level.
- Day-After Freshness: Even after some time, the crisp topping maintains its satisfying crunch, ensuring its taste is the same the next day.
- Customize: Easily adjust the recipe to your liking to create a truly unique dessert.
- Effortless Preparation: Besides all the deliciousness, you’ll love how easy it is to whip up this dessert with simple steps and essential ingredients.
Apple Blueberry Crisp Recipe
This recipe is so simple, which makes it easy to augment if you like. So, as I mentioned earlier, if you don’t like ginger or cardamon, leave it out of your crisp. If you want only blueberries or apples, that is doable as well.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need
- Sliced Apples create a luscious and tender fruit base.
- Blueberries burst with a vibrant pop of flavor.
- Sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness.
- Lemon Juice zests up the filling with a tangy kick.
- Vanilla Extract infuses a delightful aromatic note.
- Cinnamon brings a warm and comforting spice.
- Cardamom, the secret ingredient, adds an exotic twist.
- Cornstarch helps thicken the filling to perfection.
- Candied Ginger, a unique addition, offers a sweet and zesty surprise.
- Brown Sugar contributes a rich and caramelized sweetness.
- Cinnamon in the topping enhances the overall warmth of the dessert.
- A pinch of Salt elevates the flavors in the topping.
- Cold Butter creates a crumbly and irresistible texture.
How to make the fruit crisp
Step 1 – Preheat the Oven
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Step 2 – Make Fruit Filling
Mix the granulated sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
Combine the sliced apples and blueberries in a large bowl with the sugar mixture. Next, add lemon juice, vanilla extract to the fruit. Mix well until the fruit is coated. Gently fold in the finely chopped ginger.
Transfer the fruit mixture to a greased 8×8-inch baking dish or a similar-sized oven-safe dish.
Step 3 – Make Topping
In a separate bowl, prepare the crisp topping.
Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Next, add the cold butter. Use a pastry cutter or hands and blend in the butter. Add oats, and blend in with your fingers.
Place the crisp topping evenly over the fruit mixture in the baking dish. I broke up the crisp topping into chunks.
Step 4 – Bake Crisp
Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch any potential drips and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
When the crisp is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Apple Blueberry Crisp
Ingredients
Filling
- 3 apples 3 to 4 apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1½ cups blueberries
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cardamom optional
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup candied ginger Chopped ginger finely. It is an optional ingredient.
Topping
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter Cold and cubed.
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
Pan Prep
- Crisco
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
Fruit Filling
- Mix the granulated sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and cornstarch in a small bowl.Combine the sliced apples and blueberries in a large bowl with the sugar mixture. Next, add lemon juice, vanilla extract to the fruit. Mix well until the fruit is coated. Gently fold in the finely chopped candied ginger.Transfer the fruit mixture to a greased 8×8-inch baking dish or a similar-sized oven-safe dish.
Topping
- In a separate bowl, prepare the crisp topping.Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Next, add the cold butter. Use a pastry blender or hands and cut in the butter. Add oats, and blend in with your fingers.Place the crisp topping evenly over the fruit mixture in the baking dish. I broke up the crisp topping into chunks.
Bake Crisp
- Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch any potential drips and bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.When the crisp is done, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
List of Apples for Baking
- Granny Smith: Granny Smiths are ideal for apple pies as their tartness holds up well during baking, providing a nice contrast to the sweetness of the filling. I went with Granny Smith apples because they have minimal liquid content.
- Fuji: Fujis are suitable for apple pies as they have a pleasing sweet-tart flavor and maintain their shape during baking.
- Honeycrisp: Honeycrisps work well for apple pies with their sweet and juicy characteristics, creating a delightful texture and flavor.
- Golden Delicious: Goldens are suitable for apple pies, delivering a mellow sweetness and tender texture when baked.
- Red Delicious: Red Delicious apples are not the best choice for apple pies as they tend to become mushy when baked and lack the necessary tartness.
- Jonagold: Jonagolds are great for apple pies, combining the best attributes of Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples, offering a well-balanced flavor and texture.
- Braeburn: Braeburns are suitable for apple pies as they hold their shape, providing a sweet and slightly tart taste.
- Cortland: Cortlands are suitable for apple pies with a crisp texture and mildly tart flavor.
- Honey Gold: Honey Golds work well for apple pies, featuring a honey-sweet taste and maintaining their firmness during baking.
- Pippin: Yes, they are suitable for apple pies, offering a tangy taste that enhances the overall flavor of the filling.
- Pink Lady: Pink Ladys are excellent for apple pies, providing a delightful sweet-tart balance and a firm texture that holds up during baking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Similar to apple crisp, an apple crumble is a baked fruit dessert featuring a layer of topping. However, in contrast to the crisp, the crumble’s topping seldom incorporates oats or nuts. Instead, the crumble’s topping resembles streusel, comprising flour, sugar, and butter.
These desserts share many similarities, such as their buttery crumb toppings. However, the key distinction lies in the toppings: Apple Brown Betty relies on a mixture of flour, brown sugar, and butter for its crispy texture, while apple crisp typically uses oats in its topping.
Here are a couple of reasons this is happening.
Insufficient Butter: If the butter in the topping is not adequately distributed or not cold enough, it might prevent the crumbly texture from forming.
Underbaking: If the crisp is not baked long enough, the topping might not have sufficient time to crisp up and achieve the desired crunchiness.
Excessive Moisture: If the fruit filling is too watery, it can seep into the topping, causing it to become soggy rather than crispy.
Here are some of my favorite fruit dessert recipes:
- Blueberry Hand Pies Recipe
- Blueberry Muffin Recipe
- Apple Blueberry Pie Recipe
- Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
I thoroughly enjoy creating desserts and this one is now a family favorite. Its versatility makes it suitable for any season or any meal. According to my husband, it doubles as a fantastic breakfast fruit dish.
Also, it’s an absolute delight when paired with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream and a cup of coffee or tea.
But whatever way you eat this apple blueberry crisp, one thing’s for sure – it’s bound to be a tasty homemade fruit treat that took little effort to make!
Cheers,
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
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