Winter Berry with Oats (Printable version)
A comforting blend of tart berries and golden oat topping, ideal for warming up on cold nights.
# List of ingredients:
→ Berry Filling
01 - 21 oz mixed winter berries (fresh or frozen; e.g., blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries)
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
04 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
05 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Oat Crumble Topping
06 - 1 cup rolled oats
07 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 7 tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
09 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
10 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
11 - Pinch of salt
# Directions:
01 - Set oven temperature to 350°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine mixed berries, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Gently toss until evenly coated. Transfer to a lightly greased 9-inch baking dish.
03 - In a separate bowl, stir together rolled oats, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold, cubed butter and rub with fingertips until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
04 - Evenly distribute oat crumble topping over berry mixture in the baking dish.
05 - Bake for 35 minutes or until the topping is golden and berry filling bubbles at edges.
06 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Best enjoyed warm, optionally accompanied by vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes less than an hour from start to table, making it the perfect last-minute dessert that tastes like you planned it all along.
- The contrast between tart berries and buttery, nutty crumble is honestly addictive, and somehow it feels elegant without being fussy.
- It works with whatever berries you can find, so there's no excuse to skip it based on what's available.
02 -
- Using frozen berries is absolutely fine and often tastes better because they're frozen at peak ripeness; just don't thaw them before using, as they'll release too much liquid and the filling becomes watery.
- The cornstarch is crucial for preventing a soupy filling, but it needs to be mixed in with the berries before baking so it distributes evenly and thickens everything properly.
03 -
- Keep your butter genuinely cold by cutting it into cubes and even chilling it for a few minutes before mixing if your kitchen is warm; this is the difference between a crumbly, tender topping and one that's dense and cake-like.
- Don't be tempted to skip the lemon juice thinking the berries are already tart enough; it adds brightness that makes people say they can't quite put their finger on what makes this taste so good.