Healthy Berry Crumble Recipe that's Gluten-Free & Wholesome

Juicy, crisp, tart, simply wholesome, and absolutely delicious. That’s what you’re in for with this easy one pan healthy berry crumble recipe! Sure, this recipe is the perfect after meal treat, but in truth it’s fantastic for breakfast too.

It is packed with antioxidants, fiber, protein, and it is refined sugar free and gluten-free. So those with gluten intolerance and basically everyone else who wants dessert minus the guilt will absolutely love it.

Even though it is wholesome, it does not change how this gluten-free berry crumble is mouth-wateringly delicious! How amazing is that?! And that’s all thanks to our Cosmic Cookware friend Liv Kaplan (@livkaplan) who specially developed this wonderful dessert for us so we can share it with you!

Without further ado, here’s the recipe so you can start baking this deliciously crisp and gooey berry crumble! (Pssst, if you're looking for a vegan version, we've got you covered! Just scroll down further for vegan substitutes for the ingredients.)

Gluten-Free Healthy Berry Crumble Recipe

Ingredients for Healthy Crumble Topping:

• 1 ½ cups blanched almond meal

• 3 tbsp coconut flour

• ¼ cup erythritol based sweetener OR coconut sugar

• ¼ cup raw buckwheat groats

• ½ cup raw chopped pecans 

• 1 tsp ground ginger

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ¼ tsp sea salt

• ¼ cup almond butter

• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil

• 1 egg, beaten

Ingredients for Berry Filling:

• 2 cups frozen blueberries

• 1 cup frozen cherries

• 2 cup frozen mixed berries

• 1 tbsp tapioca starch (not to be confused with tapioca flour!)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. 

2. Using a large bowl, combine the almond meal, coconut flour, your choice of sweetener, buckwheat groats, chopped pecans, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt. Then set aside.

3. In a small bowl, combine the almond butter with melted coconut oil. Pour this mix into the dry crumble mixture and stir to fully coat.

4. Add the beaten egg into the mixture and combine thoroughly. We’d recommend using your hands for best results. Set aside the crumble mixture while you prepare the berry filling.

5. Place all the frozen fruit in a prepared pan that is oven-safe with approximately 2 tbsp of water. (We use the Cosmo Fry because its non-stick and oven-safe properties allow for easy release and direct serving from oven to table.) Bring to a boil and allow it to simmer for 15 minutes. Occasionally stir and squash the berry mixture with your spoon.

6. Remove your pan from the heat (the mixture should be watery by now), and sieve over tapioca starch. Quickly stir the disperse and thicken the mixture.

7. Add the crumble over the mixture in the same pan, and bake it in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes until nice and golden. 

8. Serve directly from oven to table in style and enjoy it on its own or serve with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and maybe a cheeky whipped cream on the side!

What makes this gluten free berry crumble healthy?

Instead of using refined sugar and refined flour like traditional recipes, this recipe takes an unconventional approach with healthy ingredients. 

For starters, the crumble uses a hearty (and healthy!) gluten-free blend of coconut flour, almond meal, and buckwheat groats. Almond meal is high in healthy fats, protein, antioxidants, and fiber while also being packed with vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium.

Then we have coconut flour made from ground coconut, which is a gluten free flour that is low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. It’s also rich in healthy fats and it contains iron, potassium, and magnesium.

Not forgetting our buckwheat groats. Sure it isn’t too common an ingredient for a crumble, but this particular ingredient is a gluten-free, nutrient-dense seed that is high in fiber, protein, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. All of that while giving the crumble its lovely crunchy texture.

Lastly we have our refined sugar replacements of either erythritol based sweetener or coconut sugar to make this crumble refined sugar free. Both of which are healthier sugar alternatives that do not spike your blood sugar levels, unlike refined sugar.

See why we say it’s such a wholesome yet delicious dessert? The crumble alone is a powerhouse with anti-inflammatory ingredients while still allowing you to enjoy a guilt-free and satisfying dessert. Add in the mixed berries and you have a gluten-free and healthy dessert for everyone in the family.

Can I use frozen berries instead of fresh ones for this gluten free berry crumble?

This recipe is so versatile that you can use both fresh or frozen berries! This recipe calls for frozen berries because they are usually flash frozen shortly after they are harvested. Which means they’re packed with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants as they’re pretty much “locked in” from being frozen.

Frozen berries are also cheaper than fresh berries and you can store extras in the freezer for your next batch of berry desserts. Now you won’t have to force yourself to eat the extra fresh berries or feel guilty of any waste!

Am I able to substitute mixed berries for other fruits?

Of course! Another way to cook this recipe is to make it into a healthy blueberry crumble by only including fresh or frozen blueberries. A blueberry crumble is certainly more affordable than a mixed berry one, while still getting the crumble’s delicious tartness.

Is this berry crumble recipe vegan? How do I make a vegan version?

This berry crumble is not vegan. We do use 1 egg to hold the crumble together and give the berry crumble its beautiful golden brown hue. Not forgetting that the recipe currently calls for almond meal and almond butter. Both of which are not suitable for vegans. But you can still make a vegan version that is egg-free with a couple of simple substitutes. 

How to make it egg-free

For starters, you can exchange the egg for a mixture of ground flaxseed and warm water for a slurry that binds the crumble. All you need are 1 tbsp of ground flaxseed and 2 ½ tbsp of warm water.

Substitute almond meal for ground oats

You can switch out the almond meal for an equal amount of ground gluten-free old fashioned rolled oats. Just grind an equal amount in your food processor and you'll have the perfect substitute with a naturally sweet, oaty touch.

There's only one thing to watch out for. Some brands process old fashioned rolled oats in an environment that also handles ingredients with gluten. So do check the label to ensure the old fashioned oats are gluten-free before diving into it!

Replacing almond butter with a vegan butter alternative

Finally, you'd have to substitute almond butter for a vegan butter alternative like cashew butter which is more neutral in flavour compared to other nut butters. That will make the recipe suitable for vegans now!

How long will it take to make this healthy berry crumble and how many servings does it make?

This berry crisp takes up to 60 minutes to make from scratch, and it serves up to 6. You’ll need about 20 minutes to prep and 40 minutes of baking time. Perfect for last minute group dining plans and the occasional lazy weekend treat!

Would you recommend erythritol based sweetener or coconut sugar for this recipe? What about other types of sweeteners?

Both sugars have low glycemic index so you can choose either an erythritol based sweetener or coconut sugar! We prefer coconut sugar as its naturally earthy sweetness makes a delicious crumble that goes delightfully well with the tartness of the mixed berries.

But if you are on a calorie deficit or looking to watch your blood sugar levels closely, you may prefer using erythritol based sweeteners for the crumble topping. We don't recommend other types of sweeteners like refined sugar or even brown sugar. That's because brown sugar is simply cane sugar with molasses added to it so it still has a high glycemic index.

I don't have a non-stick oven safe pan. Can I use a baking dish instead?

You can certainly use a baking dish in place of a non-stick oven safe pan! You may need to adjust the baking time just a little since a baking dish naturally has a larger surface area and deeper depth compared to the non-stick oven safe frypan used in our recipe.

Check the crumble after about 20 - 30 minutes of baking and stop when the crumble topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

Another thing to note is that you may have to grease the baking dish with fat to prevent the crumble topping and filling from sticking. You can use melted butter if you're sticking to the original non-vegan recipe. But if you'd like to make it vegan, then we'd recommend using canola oil to grease your baking dish.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time and reheat it?

Sure you can! Before we start on the how, it’s worth noting that we don’t recommend making it the night before or one day ahead. The crumble will soak in the juices from the berries overnight so its texture will not be as crisp as when it is fresh out of the oven. But the overall flavour of the dish will still be delightful.

That said, you can make this recipe a couple of hours before you need it and reheat it later. To reheat the crumble, simply cover your oven safe pan with a foil and place it in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 10 - 15 minutes or until it is heated through. Or you can reheat individual servings in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

If you really do want to make this recipe a day ahead, then here’s what you can do. Just assemble the crumble completely first, but hold off on baking it until about 1 - 2 hours before you need to serve.

You can store the unbaked crumble in the refrigerator for 1 - 2 days, covered with an eco-friendly reusable wrap. Simply remove it from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before you start baking.

What is the best way to serve this dessert?

Instead of tossing out a whole lot of ideal accompaniments to serve with this dessert, we’re gonna keep it simple with either a dairy free option or non-dairy free option.

Dairy Free Option

Serve this healthy berry dessert with a side of sliced strawberries to really bump up the tartness in each bite. You can also simply serve it with your favourite assortment of sliced fresh fruit. Want a creamier option? Serve it with a dollop of dairy free coconut yoghurt for a creamer yet neutral touch!

Dairy Lover's Option

Dairy lovers can enjoy this delicious berry crumble the traditional way with a side of vanilla ice cream or even your favorite ice cream flavour. A healthier option would be to have it with Greek yogurt to keep this dessert wholesome. Just make sure to serve the crumble warm together with the ice cream or yogurt for best results.

If you don't mind a little extra calories, you can always top it off with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle on pure maple syrup for a classic touch. Just avoid pancake syrup as it typically comes loaded with refined sugar unlike pure maple syrup.