Berry Crisp with Frozen Berries

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This Berry Crisp with Frozen Berries is an easy baked fruit dessert consisting of a triple berry filling topped with a tasty oat crumble topping. It’s the perfect sweet dish for potlucks, spring gatherings, and summertime celebrations.

berry crisp in dessert dishes with a pan of crisp in the background

Berry crisp, also known as “berry crumble,” is a classic dessert that showcases the natural sweetness of berries with a crunchy, golden topping. This dish is typically made in summer with a bounty of fresh berries.

However, this berry crisp recipe calls for the convenience of frozen berries because they’re available year-round, pre-washed and prepped, and bursting with only the best-flavored berries.

As for the topping, you can easily make it gluten-free with simple ingredient substitutions, and in the end, your gluten-free berry crisp will have the same comforting taste and texture as the traditional version.

So, grab that bag of frozen berries from the freezer, and get ready to indulge in the berrylicious bliss of freshly baked berry crisp!

Why you'll love this berry crumble

Healthy and easy to make gluten-free. It's much healthier than traditional fruit crumble recipes, and making it gluten-free is a breeze. You'll never know it's gluten-free!
Quick and easy. This crumble is failproof regardless of your baking skills, and it comes together in minutes!
Perfect year-round dessert. Berry crisp is often served during the summer when berries are in season, but thanks to the reliability of frozen berries, this one is excellent all year long.

Ingredients you'll need

berry crisp ingredients measured out into dishes on a counter

For the berry filling:

Frozen berries – You can use any combination of frozen berries. I used blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, but frozen strawberries and black raspberries would also be great!
Flour – Berries tend to release a lot of juice when baked. Coating them in flour helps absorb the excess liquid so the filling doesn’t become runny and soupy. You can use regular unbleached flour or an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend.
Brown sugar – Coating the berries in brown sugar (or coconut sugar) helps balance the tartness and enhances the berries’ natural sweetness.
Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds a refreshing zing to the crumble.

For the crumble topping:

Oats – When baked, the oats become slightly toasted and crispy, creating a pleasant contrast to the juicy berries. It’s worth noting that oats are often processed in non-gluten-free facilities, so if you or someone you’re serving has a gluten sensitivity, you must use certified gluten-free oats to be safe.
Brown sugar – Or coconut sugar, adds sweetness and helps the topping develop delectable caramelized edges.
Unbleached flour – Or gluten-free all-purpose flour helps prevent the topping from becoming soggy during baking.
Sea salt – A small amount of salt enhances the overall flavor of the finished dish.
Cinnamon – Adds warm, aromatic notes.
Lemon zest – Provides a burst of bright, citrusy flavor to enhance the sweet berries.
Maple syrup – Adds natural sweetness and moisture to help bring the ingredients together.
Nuts – For some satisfying crunchy, you can use chopped walnuts, pecans, or silvered almonds,
Butter – I used an olive oil blend spreadable butter (in the tub), but cold, stick butter works great too. *The original sponsored recipe that I posted was made with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Deliciously Simple. However, that product is no longer available.

How to make berry crisp with frozen berries

step photos for making crisp with frozen berries: mixed in a bowl, berries in a baking dish and topped with crumble oat topping

Ready to make an easy berry crumble with frozen fruit? Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Prepare for baking. Preheat the oven to 350℉. Grease an 11x8” casserole dish and set it aside.

Step 2: Prep fruit filling. Add the berries, flour, sugar, and lemon juice to a large bowl, and toss until the berries are fully coated. Then, spread the berries in the bottom of the casserole dish.

Step 3: Make the topping. Add the topping ingredients to the bowl of an electric mixer, and mix on low-medium speed until everything is fully incorporated and a moist, crumbly texture forms.

Step 4: Assemble, bake, and serve. Spread the topping over the berries, and bake until the filling is bubbly and the topping is golden brown (45-50 minutes). Enjoy with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or topping of choice, and enjoy!

a pan of crumble with served up dishes with ice cream

Recipe tips

Use rolled oats. It’s better to use old-fashioned rolled oats instead of quick-cooking oats for the crisp topping. The larger oats provide a better texture and give the crumble a heartier consistency.
Cover to prevent burning. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil if you notice the topping is overbrowning. This allows the berries to continue cooking and helps protect the topping from burning.
Make mini berry crisps. Instead of assembling the crumble in a casserole dish, layer the berries and topping mixture in oven-safe ramekins before baking.

Variations

The beauty of this frozen berry crisp is the ability to mix and match the frozen berries with other frozen fruits. Here’s a list of fruit & berry filling flavors to try:

Mixed berry peach crisp. Make the filling with 4 cups of frozen mixed berries and 2 cups of frozen diced peaches.
Strawberry rhubarb crisp. Make the filling with 3 cups of frozen strawberries and 3 cups of frozen rhubarb.
Blackberry mango crisp. Make the filling with 3 cups of frozen blackberries and 3 cups of frozen mango.

Storing & freezing

Storing: Allow leftover frozen berry crisp to cool to room temperature. Then, cover the baking dish or transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F until heated through. Or reheat in the microwave in short intervals, stirring occasionally.

Freezing: If you can't finish the leftovers within a few days, freeze it in individual portions in airtight containers for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as mentioned.

FAQ

What's the difference between a "crisp" and a "crumble?"

The terms "crisp" and "crumble" are often used interchangeably, and in many regions, they refer to the same type of dessert. In some instances, crisps contain oats while crumbles do not, but all in all, they’re the same dish.

Is this recipe good to make ahead?

Yes! You can make the berry filling and crisp topping up to 24 hours in advance. If you plan to bake it within a few hours, go ahead and sprinkle the topping over the filling and keep it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Otherwise, refrigerate the filling and topping separately and assemble the crisp before baking.

How do you serve fruit and berry crumbles?

Berry crisp is best served straight out of the oven while the filling is warm and gooey, and the oat crumble topping is hot and crispy. This dish is typically served with vanilla ice cream, but it’s also delicious with whipped cream, powdered sugar, or a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

More baked fruit desserts

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a dish of berry crisp topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

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Amee Livingston

Hi, I'm Amee and I'm completely obsessed with all things fitness, recipe makeovers, and creating tasty, time-saving, recipes. Born and raised in South Carolina, I have a deep love for southern food culture. I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Cancer Exercise Specialist, recipe developer, and freelance content creator. I believe that anyone can be an amazing home cook, and there's nothing better than family time around the table!