Blackberry Crisp is the ultimate berry crisp. From the buttery, crispy oat topping to the juicy, plump sweet berries, this Blackberry Crisp recipe is easy to make and downright divine.

Bowl of blackberry crisp with scoop of vanilla ice cream in white bowl.

When it comes to summer desserts, I love using seasonal fruit, like berries, cherries, and peaches to make delicious treats. From peach cobbler to raspberry cheesecake bars to cherry crumb pie. to one of my all-time favorites, blackberry crisp! Made with sweet, plump blackberries and a buttery oat topping, this Blackberry Crisp is sure to become your new favorite summer dessert--scratch that, this berry crisp is so so delicious, it deserves to be enjoyed year round!

Why You Will Love Blackberry Crisp

Super Easy Recipe. It takes less than 10 minutes of hands-on work to prep this crisp. And while it is easy to prepare, it doesn't sacrifice anything on flavor!
Unbeatable Flavor and Texture. This Berry Crisp is perfectly sweet, without being cloyingly sweet. It has the most delightful contrast in texture thanks to the warm blackberries and crunchy oat topping.
Use Any Berry You Like. Don't have blackberries on hand? Swap them out for blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. I sometimes use a combination of a variety of berries with delicious results.
Use Fresh or Frozen Berries. Just like Peach Crisp, this Blackberry Crisp can be made using fresh or frozen fruit, making it one dessert you can enjoy year-round.
Allergy-Friendly Modifications. This blackberry crisp can easily be made dairy-free, gluten-free, and corn-free using the tested modifications I have provided in the recipe card.

Notes on Ingredients

Ingredients for Blackberry Crisp labeled on counter.

Berry Filling: The fruit base in this blackberry crisp is made with sugar to sweeten, cornstarch to thicken, and lemon juice to brightened up the flavor in the crisp. And of course you need berries! Use fresh or frozen blackberries, or any combination of berries you like.
Crisp Topping: The oat topping is irresistible! it is made with rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and butter. It is my go-to topping for any crisp, including apple crisp and peach crisp.

How to Make Blackberry Crisp

The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Prepare the Fruit Base

To create a juicy, sweet crisp, you want to toss the berries with lemon juice, sugar, and cornstarch. The sugar and lemon juice will help to sweeten and flavor the berries, and the cornstarch will help to thicken the berries.

Blackberries tossed with sugar and cornstarch in buttered baking dish.

Use Your Hands to Make the Crisp Topping

The buttery crisp topping adds an incredible texture and flavor to this blackberry crisp. To prepare this simple oat topping, simply mix together the flour, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter together until the mixture is crumbly and evenly combined. I find it is best to do this with your hands, as that helps to evenly distribute the butter throughout the ingredients, creating a deliciously balanced crumble.

Side by side photo before and after mixing the oat crisp together in mixing bowl.

Top the Berries with the Oat Mixture

Using your hands, sprinkle the crumble evenly over the berries, ensuring that every part of the crisp has a generous sprinkle of the oat topping.

Bake until Golden

Bake the blackberry crisp until the berries are soft and the juices are bubbly and the crisp topping is golden.

Serving Suggestions

Just like Apple Crisp and Peach Cobbler, finishing this Blackberry Crisp with a scoop of no-churn ice cream, homemade vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream, is always a good idea!

Substitutions

Dairy-Free Blackberry Crisp: I have made this blackberry crisp using vegan Earth Balance butter sticks in place of the butter with fabulous results. My family didn't even suspect a difference.
Gluten-Free Blackberry Crisp: Be sure your oats are certified gluten-free and replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. The results are superb.
Omit Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps to thicken up the juices the berries release as they bake. If you have a corn allergy, you can substitute arrowroot powder for cornstarch.
Using Frozen Berries: Do not defrost the berries, simply mix the frozen berries with the cornstarch, lemon juice, and sugar and proceed with the recipe as directed.

More Delicious Dessert Recipes

If you tried this Blackberry Crisp, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.

Blackberry Crisp

Why You Will Love Blackberry Crisp

Notes on Ingredients