There are a few reason why I’m not fond of the first week of August.
First, there’s the unavoidable realization that it’s going to be fall soon. And fall means rain and impending winter, both of which I loathe.
Then, I realize that school starts soon (a very, VERY good thing) but I haven’t prepared for that at all. Time to scurry and make appointments for physicals and eye exams, shop for school supplies and, worst of all, new clothes for the world’s fussiest tweens.
Ok, I’m panicking a little bit now.
Don’t even get me started on the freaking cicadas. For the love of god. Stop. Making. That. Horrid. Noise.
The one saving grace of the first week of August is that we pick our annual supply of fresh blueberries.
My husband’s family has a blueberry patch in Short Tract, NY. I’m not even sure exactly where that is but sometimes it seems like it’s near the end of the world. A 2-hour drive across the bumpiest and hilliest of roads leads us to this little town that even Google doesn’t know anything about.
But that’s where we go to find the plumpest, sweetest, juiciest, (and free-est) blueberries.
I was going to show you some photos of my family frolicking through the field, picking and eating blueberries in equal amounts, and occasionally starting a blueberry food fight. But this year I didn’t go. For the first time in fourteen years I decided to stay home and float in the pool. It’s kinda too hot for me to be laboring in open fields this year.
Instead you’ll have to look at a few photos of this delicious blueberry crisp. The first 9-inch pan I made disappeared in five minutes. And there may or may not have been only two of us eating it. Luckily I made a healthy(er) version of it.
Blueberries are a superfood, people!
This crisp features less butter and sugar, and a little less topping overall. It’s packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries and healthy oats so you can enjoy it while feeling slightly less guilty about eating half the pan. Perfect by itself or with a dollop of vanilla yogurt. (Or ice cream. No one’s judging).
- 3 cups fresh blueberries
- 6 tablespoons brown sugar, divided
- zest of ½ a small orange
- ¾ cup quick-cooking oats
- 2 tablespoons whole wheat white flour (or any flour you prefer)
- ⅛ teaspoon apple pie spice (or cinnamon and nutmeg to taste)
- dash of salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pea-sized pieces
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Place blueberries in a large bowl. If they were just washed leave them a little wet. If they are already dry add a teaspoon of water.
- Add 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar and the orange zest and gently mix until berries are coated. I use my hands for this.
- Pour berries into a 9-inch pie plate or divide evenly among individual ramekins.
- Wipe out the bowl and use it to combine the oats, flour, remaining 4 tablespoons of brown sugar, spice, and salt.
- Incorporate the butter pieces with your hands until you have a coarse, crumbly mixture and then sprinkle it evenly over the blueberries.
- Bake for about 25 minutes or until blueberries are bubbly and topping is lightly browned and crisp.
Adapted from Cocoa and Lavender.
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks absolutely delicious! I’ve totally eaten half (or maybe all) of a fresh fruit crisp before
Elana @ The Inventive Vegetarian recently posted..Baked Beet Chips
But it’s fresh fruit so it’s ok. Right?!
Free blueberries are the best kind of blueberries. These lightened up crisps look delicious.
Good luck shopping for your, tweens! Looking back, I feel kind of bad dragging my mom through endless stores.
I know, me too!
Fall is coming! It is starting to get darker out earlier here! So sad! But blueberries make me happy - love them! Your crisp looks great!
Jane recently posted..Radish and Green Tomato Salsa
I know. It got colder and gloomier here practically overnight! So sad
Lovely. Would you like to link this in to Food on Friday: Berries and Currants?
Have a great week.
Carole recently posted..Getting ready for Food on Friday: Chart of Pork Cuts
It’s been so hot here I’m really looking forward to fall. I know I’ll eat those words when it’s cold and rainy, but at the moment it sounds wonderful. And wonderful is what these blueberry crisps are! I haven’t made a crisp out of anything for months - time again, don’t you think? Nice recipe - thanks.
kitchenriffs recently posted..Fog Cutter Cocktail
It is time! Maybe peaches?
I’m sure this perfect crisp will stop your worried my friend
Delicious!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Choc Chip Uru recently posted..Wishing For Spring
This looks amazing!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Rolled Spelt Flakes Cheddar Crackers
Ahhh, blueberry crisp is one of my absolute favorite summer desserts! This looks so delicious!
Thank you!
The cicadas have been driving me insane, too! Somehow my husband actually like the sound of them, how is that even possible?! Anyways, I think eating this crisp would make the transition into fall much easier!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction recently posted..Barbecue Chicken and Jalapeno Pizza
My husband likes them, too. He’s nuts. They make me want to shove chopsticks in my ears!
Yuma muma! This sounds amazing. I wish I had Free-est blueberries to pick! I just bought some tho and was literally contemplating making a baked somethin or other with em. This might have won.
Part Time House Wife recently posted..Grandpa’s Favorite Salmon ~ A Quick ‘N’ Easy Marinade
Oh, I hope so. It’s so yummy and easy!
Your husband’s family has a blueberry patch?! That is awesome! I’m jealous. I was going to head to the farmers market tomorrow morning to pick up some blueberries myself. And perhaps I too will make a crisp with them!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies recently posted..What I Ate This Week | We all need a mug brownie sometimes.
It is pretty sweet. If only it wasn’t so far and car-sickness inducing!
Aren’t crisps, especially “healthier” ones the best?! This looks SO good! We still have 2 weeks before the kids go back to school and the weather is just starting to heat up here, so I’m still in full swing summer mode. Have fun with your tweens before they head back to school
EA-The Spicy RD recently posted..WEEKLY MEAL PLAN AND MY HAPPY THINGS: KLEENEX ANYONE?
Yum! These look so good, I would happily eat both of those in the picture haha. PS I’m completely jealous your fam has a blueberry field!
Abby recently posted..Almond Flour Zucchini Muffins {Gluten Free}
This is absolutely beautiful. I adore crisps, but I find that when I make them I have a hard time not eating the whole thing myself! Hope you have fun with your family before school starts up!
Hi Julie,
Wow, you certainly will have a plateful of activity in the coming days and weeks. But at least you have the beautiful blueberry crisp to cheer you up. Have a great weekend!
Nancy/SpicieFoodie recently posted..Mini Pork, Grilled Onions & Blue Cheese Sandwiches, Plus A Taste From The Past
Thanks, Nancy. I STILL haven’t done the back to school shopping! Yikes!
TastefullyJulie recently posted..Lightened-up Blueberry Crisp
Yum! Not a breakfast person, but this could change my mind! Cant wait for the new issue
)
A little soak in the pool sounds pretty perfect. I’m not ready for summer to be over either!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen recently posted..Goat’s Milk Frozen Yogurt with White Tea Infused Cantaloupe
I love fruit crisps- all year, actually, not just in the summer- and this is a very light topping you’ve created with just 2 Tbsp. of butter. I’ll bet you have a bunch of those blueberries in the freezer! We don’t have a free source, but my dear husband has been stocking up like mad at the farmer’s market on berries to freeze, especially the blues. You wouldn’t believe the stack of half-flats he brought back to the farmer last week, I think there were 19.
Mary@FitandFed recently posted..Date Sweetened No Oil No Sugar Granola
I love that there’s no judging … I could definitely eat more than I should
CJ at Food Stories recently posted..NEW Food Story Photo Submissions + Contest Status
I wish fall was right around the corner for us here in Israel! It is still so hot out that you cannot even spend time outside! Ack!
Your blueberry crisp looks delicious. My husband loves blueberries and would eat this in a heartbeat!!
Beth Michelle recently posted..Mango Pomegranate Mousse
Crisps, Crumbles, and Cobblers are the world’s best desserts as far as I’m concerned. As good as you can get without chocolate, of course.
Yum! I bet those super fresh blueberries were just the best!
Chrissy recently posted..A Simple Picnic Menu
There’s nothing like the color (and flavor!) of cooked blueberries. I just made an apple crisp for the first time in a year and I would so love a blueberry crisp right now! (YOUR blueberry crisp, to be exact.)
Julie, this is so elegantly presented. A fine dish with a strong sense of poise and taste. Marvelous!
Viviane Bauquet Farre recently posted..Boston lettuce with corn, fresh tomato vinaigrette and grilled zucchini skewers
Made this last night and mmmm… its almost gone. Mom helped (okay she had a couple spoonfuls). This is “healthier” than bberry pie, but still darn dangerous when you like it too much! 5 stars. Great recipe and will be making again. Thanks!
It is June and I just picked the first gallon of fresh blueberries from our bushes (in Mississippi). I was looking for a great recipe (looks like I found it) that is not all flour and sugar for my blueberries. Thanks for the recipe. I haven’t made it yet, but I am on my way to the kitchen
I know this is an older post, but I stumbled upon it while looking for something to make with summer berries i had. I followed the recipe exactly but added in some raspberries and blackberries because I didn’t have enough blueberries… And wow! I love this recipe! The orange zest adds such a great dimension to the berries and i didn’t miss the sugar and butter in other similar recipes. Thank you for the great recipe- I plan on making this again and again. Also, for anyone who is curious, I calculated the calories and it’s around 250/serving if you make 4 servings.
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