Fresh cherries and blueberries topped with an oatmeal cookie crumble and baked until golden and crunchy! The perfect summer dessert for all of that beautiful fruit! Perfect for topping with ice cream.
Now, this is a little embarrassing.
This is the first time I’ve made anything with fresh cherries.
And I don’t just mean the first time I’ve made anything for the blog, I mean the first time Ever Ever.
We just didn’t have a lot of cherries around growing up – it’s not like they’re something that’s abundant here. And they’re rarely available and pretty much always expensive.
And I actually wasn’t planning on making anything with cherries for the blog this summer at all, but I keep seeing them pop up on Instagram…. And Facebook….. and Pinterest…… and when I passed the display at the grocery store and they were “on sale”, I just couldn’t walk by.
They’re just so darn pretty!
And it turns out they’re also pretty tasty.
I think one of the reasons I’ve never been brave enough to really experiment with cherries is because I detest maraschino cherries. I kind of think they’re gross and rubbery. I don’t eat fruit cake. I don’t eat anything with maraschino cherries in it.
I do, on the other hand, like cherry pie filling. Quite a lot.
So I figured I probably would actually like a nice, warm, gooey cherry pie with ice cream quite a lot.
But, you know how it goes. It’s summer. Do I want to make pie crust? Eh…. Not really.
And crisp trumps pie in my book anyday.
How about you? Would you rather a fruit crisp or a fruit pie? Or maybe more important, would you rather make a fruit crisp or a fruit pie? For me, streusel/crumble/crisp trumps everything.
I try to be pretty good about planning ahead to bring you posts that are relevant when I post them, but this recipe I created on a whim. I threw some berries and some other random things in a bowl. Then I threw some butter and some other things in another bowl. I combined them. I baked them.
And we were totally blown away by the results! I might just be a true fresh cherry convert. And the streusel ended up being more like an eggless cookie dough (and believe me I tasted it before I put it in – it tastes like eggless oatmeal cookie dough! And if you want to just spoon it into your mouth, feel free). But I like my streusel with a good amount of butter so it stays together and isn’t dry and crumble. We’re all about maximum crunch to complement the warm, oozing cherries!
Berry Cherry Crisp
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 3 cups pitted fresh cherries roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries or other berries of your choice
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tbsp water
- 1/2 cup butter cubed, cold
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup large oats
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or sub all-purpose
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease 4 individual ramekins or skillets or an 8×8” pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine cherries, blueberries and granulated sugar. In a small bowl, combine corn starch and water. Stir into cherry mixture. Spoon into prepared baking dish(es).
- In another medium bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, oats and flour with a pastry cutter or your hands until crumbly (it will have a cookie dough-like texture). Crumble over top of cherry mixture in baking dish(es) and press down gently.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until bubbly and thickened and crumble is golden brown.
- Serve warm with ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Danielle says
I’m really not a fan of maraschino cherries either, but regular cherries are a different story! This looks so delicious, I love fruit crisps especially during the summer!
Ashley says
Thanks Danielle!
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
I am SO glad that you decided to bake with cherries, Ashley. This crisp has tons of goodness in it. I definitely would want a big bowl of this after a hard day of work. We only have on cherry orchard in the entire state of Connecticut. I want to get there before the season is gone. How fun would it be to pick fresh cherries? 🙂
Ashley says
I love fresh picked produce in the summer! There’s nothing better 🙂
Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says
For your first time with fresh cherries, you nailed it! This looks incredible!
Ana | Espresso My Kitchen says
Your photos look amazing! I’ve never baked with cherries either… time to change that, YUM. Pinned!
Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says
Crisps are my fav and I love that you used cherries! I’ve never baked with fresh cherries either. Oops. 🙂 These look great and delicious!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Oh my – Ashley this looks so good – why have I never thought to make a crisp with cherries?? Fantastic idea!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Fresh cherries are the BEST! They are so darn expensive, though, so I don’t blame you for almost skipping them! So worth it, though, right?! This crisp looks amazing!!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
This looks so good! Berries and cherries are constantly in my tummy during the summer, and this crisp looks like a way more delicious way to enjoy them 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I don’t think I’ve ever made anything with fresh cherries either. This crisp looks amazing. Love the crumbly topping. 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Girl, don’t be embarrassed!!! you came out with your first fresh cherry recipe with a BANG! These are fabulous!!! I’ve been baking with fresh cherries for years and JUST got a cherry pitter!!! I was using a make shift pit remover (big fat plastic straw) for the longest time! 😛
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
I couldn’t pass up the fresh cherries on sale this weekend either! I think I’m in the minority, but I tend to prefer a pie over a crisp most days. I just love pie crust! 🙂 I just made a cherry pie yesterday, but had to add a crisp topping. Best of both worlds! 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Fruit crisps and anything with a streusel is the best and totally trump pie. I can’t get enough of fresh cherries and they sound amazing with the blueberries. Love the adorable skillets too! So delicious!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I love fresh cherries, and I want to move to the Okanagan so I can be surrounded by them all summer long 😉 I am most definitely a crisp girl, especially when I’m cooking, because they are just so simple and so easy! Love this blueberry/cherry combo, it looks to die for! Yet another reason for me to get a cherry pitter!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
I love this dessert so much Ashley! Even the name made me giggle! It’s winter over here so I can loving all my creature comforts at the moment, including beautiful oven baked desserts like this one!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
This berry crisp looks like the most comforting dessert ever. I want some warmed with ice cream pretty please.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Well then I should be embarrassed too, because I’ve never cooked or baked anything with fresh cherries. Eeek! That is going to need to change asap. Especially since cherries are neck-and-neck tied as my favorite summer fruit (tied with peaches of course). This crisp sounds delicious! And yes, crisp always trumps pie : )
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! I’m a big fan of pie, but a crisp is also high on my list (and, as you said, much easier)! I’m originally from Michigan which is famous for cherries (and blueberries). Every year when we lived there a good friend would bring me cherries and I would make him a pie in return – he did the same with rhubarb (his wife didn’t bake).
Ashley says
Our growing season is so short here I knew I definitely had to try to make something with them while I had the chance! Thanks Dorothy!
Emanuele @ guyslovecooking says
Wow, that does not look bad as a first time to me at all 🙂
I have also never made anything with fresh berry, so you are definitely not alone.
Thanks for sharing
Ashley says
Thanks Emanuele! I will definitely have to keep experimenting 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Crisp is the best! This looks delicious 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I’ve never made anything with fresh cherries, either! I definitely need to change that after seeing this crisp. I’m in love with those mini skillets, Ashley! And of course, this recipe, too. That crumb topping is just calling my name! Pinned!
Ashley says
Haha, me too Gayle! I was SO excited when I saw them in the clearance section of our supermarket for under $5! Lol. Thanks!