Berry Crumble (No Bake, 10 Minutes)

Name: Berry Crumble (No Bake, 10 Minutes)
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 6 cups any combination of berries (blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries, blackberries); 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or more if berries are not sweet enough); 1/2 teaspoon orange zest (optional); 1 cup pecan pieces; 1/2 cup walnut pieces; 1/2 cup pitted dates, chopped into small pieces (1/2 inch); 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 cup cold [heavy] whipping cream (35%) (about 1/2 pint); 1 1/2 tablespoon granulated (regular) sugar; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (preferably pure); orange zest (optional), 1/2-1 tsp

Jump to Recipe

If you’re looking to serve something healthy and light and several notches above plain berries, this no-bake Berry Crumble is the ticket.

Fresh berries topped with a rich nut and date mixture and whipped cream if you like. And the best part is, this delicious dessert is ready in 10 minutes.

berries with nut mixture topped with whipped cream on plate.

My friend Monique made this berry crumble for a luncheon along with a few more decadent treats. I thought to myself “Ok Cheryl, just have a tiny taste of the chocolate torte (I couldn’t resist) and stick to the [probably boring] fruit dessert”.

Well, what a surprise. Definitely not boring. The crumble topping made a huge difference adding texture and taste. Just delicious. I’m not going to lie. I added a good blob of whipped cream which rounded out the dessert beautifully. But I’ve tried it plain several times since and it’s still great. Even the next day.

The recipe is from Whole Foods. The topping is a combination of walnuts, dates, pecans and cinnamon. The only tweak I made is to add orange zest to both the berries and whipped cream (if using). A nice flavor zing, but of course optional.

Bottom Line: This berry crumble is an elevated fruit dessert that ticks off a lot of boxes. It’s pretty low calorie as desserts go. It’s dairy free, gluten free and vegan. And it’s the perfect berry dessert for a potluck or after a big holiday dinner.

Ingredients – tailored to your taste

bowl of mixed fresh berries, pecans, walnuts, dates, cinnamon, heavy cream, orange, maple syrup. — berries, pecans, walnuts, maple syrup, cinnamon, dates, (optional whipping cream, orange)

Berries: Use a berry mixture of whatever types of berries you like or have on hand – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries.

Nuts: I use pecans and walnuts, but try others, too, like sliced almonds or pistachios.

Dates: I buy Medjool dates which are considered one of the best choices for baking. They are large, soft, and moist, with a rich, caramel-like flavor and natural sweetness. Other types of dates are fine too. I buy them at my local bulk food store.

Variations:

Sprinkle toasted coconut on top.
Toast the nuts before making the nut-date mixture.
Add other fresh fruit such as peaches or mangoes to the berries.
Substitute the dates with dried cranberries.
Add a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness if you have tart berries.

Step-by-step instructions

mixed fresh berries in a white serving dish. — Toss the mixed berries with maple syrup in a serving or baking dish. Add a little lemon zest or orange zest (optional).

date and nut mixture in food processor bowl. — Process date nut mixture for the topping.

whipped cream with orange zest in glass bowl. — Add whipped cream to your berry dessert if you like, or serve with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

berries topped with a date-nut mixture in serving dish.

Tips

Wash berries ahead of time? No. It is best to rinse and dry berries not more than a few hours before serving them.

Date-nut topping prep: Be careful not to overprocess the date-nut topping in the food processor. This can turn the mixture into a paste.

Shortcut

Buy dates that are already pitted – no hassle. If the dates have pits you have to remove the pits yourself by slicing the date open and taking out the pit. Here’s a cool way to remove pits from dates with a chopstick (without slicing the date open).

Make Ahead

This dessert is best fresh, but leftovers still taste good the next day. The texture is admittedly softer, but the flavors are more blended.
You can make this dessert several hours ahead and keep it chilled in the fridge.
If you need to make the dessert the day before, store the berries and nut-date mixture separately. Keep the berries in the fridge and the nut mixture on the counter

How to serve berry crumble

I typically make this easy recipe as a quick fix for a dessert craving, served room temperature or chilled in a nice serving dish with whipped cream. It’s also good with a scoop of ice cream or yogurt. Here are a few other serving options:

Mix the berries and nut mixture together instead of using the nut mixture as a topping.
Serve the berry crumble in individual bowls or ramekins.
Serve the berry crumble over oatmeal for breakfast.

Recipe FAQs

What’s the difference between berry crumble, berry cobbler, and fruit crisp?

Berry crumble typically has a topping made from a mixture of nuts, sugar, flour and oats to create a streusel topping and is baked.
Cobbler topping has more of a biscuit-like topping compared to the crumbly topping of a crumble. The fruit filling is often made with berries or stone fruit.
Fruit crisps can also be made with a variety of fruits, including berries. The fruit is typically spread in a baking dish and topped with a classic crisp topping of melted butter, brown sugar, and sometimes nuts, spices, old-fashioned oats, or quick oats.

Can I use frozen berries?

Fresh summer berries are best for this no-bake berry crumble, but if it’s not berry season and berries are too expensive, you can use frozen berries. They will have a softer wetter texture. Make sure to thaw and drain them well.

What to serve with this easy berry crumble

If you’re like me, you like a little extra treat on the side. Here are a few good ones: Crispy Lace Cookies, Skor Chocolate Chip Cookies, Microwave Brownies in 8 Minutes or Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats.

Other fruity desserts

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