My Healthy Blueberry Crisp features fresh, plump summer blueberries, maple syrup, and perfect oatmeal-based crumbly topping. Are you looking for Healthy Blueberry Desserts? This one substitutes apple sauce for butter in the topping making it oil-free, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free BUT still totally delicious.
Healthy Blueberry Crisp
This Healthy Blueberry Crisp is one of my favorite desserts. If you are looking for healthy blueberry recipes to enjoy all summer long, this is it. When blueberries are ripe, sweet, and plentiful there is nothing like this simple combination of plump blueberries with a crumbly oat topping. It's sheer summer perfection in a bowl.
If you are thinking making homemade healthy blueberry desserts is hard, you are wrong! This dessert comes together with very little hands-on cooking time and very little mess. It's the perfect recipe to whip out on any hot summer day.
Sure you could make a traditional Blueberry Crisp with lots of sugar and butter (no shame in that,) but I also love to lighten mine up and let the actual nutritious ingredients shine like the blueberries and oats. This recipe uses a few healthy substitutes including maple syrup instead of white sugar and apple sauce instead of butter in the crisp topping.
This recipes really let's the blueberries shine and you get the full health benefits of eating them including the vitamins and antioxitants.
The result is a lighter dessert that still tastes incredible BUT one I can feel better eating more often AND serving to the twins, who asked for seconds of this!
Healthy Blueberry Crisp from Running in a Skirt Share on X
Looking for Healthy Blueberry Desserts or Healthy Blueberry Recipes? This is it!
Healthy Blueberry Desserts are perfect for this summer season, and my whole family loves this one. No summer picnic is complete without one of these. This really is the best healthy blueberry recipe.
I don't have a problem with enjoying the full-fat version of desserts like these, but I really do enjoy ALSO finding space for healthier versions like this. This recipe is healthy because it is refined sugar-free, has no oil or butter, and just so happens to be vegan and dairy-free. If you need it to be gluten-free you can easily use gluten-free oats and gluten-free all-purpose flour OR almond flour!
How many calories are in a blueberry crisp?
A typical blueberry crisp can have 400 calories or more plus whatever ice cream you put on top. My lighter version is only 180 calories a serving. If you want to keep this super healthy you can serve it with vanilla greek yogurt (regular or dairy-free) or dive right in with traditional vanilla ice cream. Both ways are totally delicious.
Ingredients:
For the Filling:
- Blueberries: I created this Healthy Blueberry Crisp to use fresh blueberries that are ripe in the summer but you can also use frozen ones making this a fabulous recipe to enjoy year-round.
- Corn Starch: I think this crisp needs just a little cornstarch to make the filling thick. If you don't use it the blueberries will not thicken and just be a runny juice. If you don't eat corn starch, I have substituted chia seeds before as a thickening agent.
- Lemon Juice: I like adding just a dash of lemon juice to my blueberries to bring out the flavor.
- Maple Syrup: Instead of white sugar I use maple syrup to sweeten my crisp. If you are not vegan, you can also use honey. Any other sweetener will also work including coconut sugar.
For the Healthy Blueberry Crisp Topping:
- Oatmeal: A traditional crisp has an oatmeal-based topping. This one uses old-fashioned rolled oatmeal.
- Pecans: I like the texture and flavor a bit of nut adds to my crisp. Chop them up well before using them. You can substitute almonds or walnuts as well. If you don't want nuts in your crisp, use more oatmeal.
- Flour: I like the taste and texture of white wheat flour for this recipe.
- Maple Syrup: A touch more maple syrup sweetens the crisp topping.
- Apple Sauce: Instead of using butter or oil, I used apple sauce to make my crisp topping. If you want to use oil, coconut oil works great.
- Cinnamon, Vanilla & Salt: A touch of cinnamon, vanilla, and a dash of salt bring out the flavors of the topping.
How to Make the Healthy Blueberry Crisp Filling:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x9 baking dish.
- In a large bowl mix together the blueberries, corn starch, lemon juice, and maple syrup.
- Put the blueberries in the bottom of the baking dish.
How do I make this with frozen berries?
It's super easy to substitute frozen berries for fresh ones in this Healthy Blueberry Crisp. Just toss the frozen blueberries in the corn starch, lemon juice, and maple syrup and put them in the pan the same way you would with fresh. Allow a few extra minutes of cooking time to ensure the berries have time to thaw.
How to Make the Topping:
- In a medium bowl mix together your oatmeal, pecans, flour, maple syrup, apple sauce, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
- Carefully crumble the topping over the blueberries, spreading it out with your hands to cover as much as the blueberries as possible. The photo below shows how it should look.
- To cook the Healthy Blueberry Crisp bake it in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until the berries become bubbly. The crisp topping should turn golden brown and you should start to see on the sides of the pan that a thick fruit glaze starts to form.
- Allow the crisp to cool completely before eating it. That allows the fruit mixture to continue to thicken.
- Serve by itself or with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream (or dairy-free ice cream,) whipped cream, coconut whipped cream OR Greek yogurt.
Healthy Blueberry Crisp Variations & FAQ
How do you store this? How long does a blueberry crisp last in the fridge?
Store this blueberry crisp in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
How to I reheat this crisp?
You can serve this crisp cool, room temperature, or warm. To reheat it, microwave it for 15-30 seconds until it's as hot as you'd like.
Can you freeze this blueberry crisp?
Yes, you can freeze this recipe but the topping might not as crisp when you reheat it.
Variations
- You can make this with any other type of summer berry including strawberry and raspberry. You can also use a mixture of berries.
- You can substitute almond or walnuts for the pecans.
- Make a blueberry crisp for two by cutting this recipe in half.
What to Serve with Healthy Blueberry Crisp:
- Vanilla Ice Cream - regular or dairy-free
- Blueberry Ice Cream
- Whipped Cream
- Coconut Whipped Cream
- Vanilla Greek Yogurt
- Blueberry Greek Yogurt
I LOVE this Healthy Blueberry Crisp and hope you will too! If you are looking for healthy blueberry recipes, you've come to the right spot.
Healthy Blueberry Crisp from Running in a Skirt Share on X
More Healthy Blueberry Recipes to Love:
- Healthy Blueberry Banana Bread
- Blueberry Pie Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothie
- Blueberry Caprese Salad
- Greek Yogurt Blueberry Pancakes
- Blueberry Pineapple Salsa
If you make this Healthy Blueberry recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!
Healthy Blueberry Crisp
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 6 cups blueberries
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
For the Topping:
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- ¼ cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup white wheat flour
- ⅓ cup apple sauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9 x 9 casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together the filling by carefully folding the blueberries, corn starch, lemon juice and maple syrup together. Put the mixture into the bottom of your baking dish.
- Next prepare the crisp topping. In a medium bowl mix the oats, pecans, flour, apple sauce, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl.
- Carefully crumble the topping on top of your blueberry filling. Use your hands to spread it over the top.
- Bake 40-45 minutes or until the topping is brown and the blueberries start to form a rich glaze.
- Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes so the healthy blueberry crisp can continue to thicken.
- Serve with ice cream or greek yogurt.
Notes
Nutrition
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Danielle says
So disappointed to see this recipe was so dramatically changed. I went to find the chia seed blueberry crisp recipe and it's gone! Replaced with corn starch and a different topping! I know I'm not imagining this, because many of the comments reference chia seeds. Does anyone have a copy of the original recipe?
JulieWunder says
Hi Danielle! I went through the revistion archives and found this! I hope it helps!
For the berry mixture: 4 cups fresh blueberries 1 lemon (juiced) 1/4 cup chia seeds 3 tablespoons coconut sugar
For topping: 1 cup old fashioned oats 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/4 cup coconut sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup butter or coconut oil (room temperature)
Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9 x 9 casserole dish.Mix fruit mixture.Mix the oats, flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl. Break the butter or coconut oil into chunks and blend into the dry mixture well using fork, pastry cutter or clean hands. You want the butter or coconut oil to be in small well incorporated pieces.
Put the berry mixture into the greased pan and top with an even layer of the topping.Bake 40-45 minutes or until the topping is brown.
Irene says
I am desperately looking for healthy recipes and this one it is. I will take good note to try as a snack. Thanks for sharing.
Tisha says
Perfect sweet treat that doesn't make you feel bad! I love blueberry!
Amber Myers says
Oh yum, thank you for this. We just love blueberries, so this will be a tasty treat.
Heather says
My all time favorite dessert is apple crisp. I can't believe I haven't ever tried blueberry crisp!
Mimi says
Such a delicious treat, I'm dieting so i really appreciate the healthy part
Jen says
Yum!! Just found this and I can't wait to try it! I'm a huge fan of fruit desserts.
JulieWunder says
Thanks Jen! It's a good one. The chia seeds work amazing in it!
Farrah says
Ahh, this looks awesomely delicious! I adore blueberries (well, really just berries of any kind, but still)! :]! This sounds like the perfect dessert!
JulieWunder says
Me too! I'm just a bonafide fruitaholic!
Miz Helen says
There is nothing better than a fresh Blueberry Crisp and your recipe looks delicious. Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
JulieWunder says
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!
Alli @ Tornadough Alli says
This looks great! I've never had a blueberry crisp before! I might need to give this a try soon! I would love for you to come link over with us at Throw Back Thursdays!
JulieWunder says
Thanks for the invitation Ali! I'll try to remember next week.
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
The chia seeds are totally genius!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Sue! It's so yummy!
Jaime says
This looks SO GOOD, Julie! I love making cobbler this time of year. I need to give this recipe a try!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Jaime! It's pretty simple too.
Heather@hungryforbalance says
This looks like the perfect and healthy summertime dessert! Blueberries are so good this time of year. Thanks for sharing this!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Heather! I agree!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says
Great idea to add chia seeds! Can't wait to try this!
Annette @ Sweating Through Life says
I made a blueberry crisp not that long ago from a website I found on pinterst....but this one looks much healthier! I can't wait to make it!
JulieWunder says
Yay! I hope you enjoy it!
Ivanna says
This looks great I love blueberries
JulieWunder says
Me too! So yummy!
Danyelle Musselman says
Blueberries are a family favorite, I'm going to have to try this
JulieWunder says
Thanks Danyelle!
Gingi says
Mmmmm, I love making crisps and cobblers this time of year, when the berries are all ripe!! <3 - http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
JulieWunder says
One of my favorite things about this time of year!
Jess @hellotofit says
Banana ice cream has been my favorite dessert to health-ify for the past...six months, haha. This looks AWESOME! I've been craving a crisp recipe, and now I have a reason to make one!
JulieWunder says
Love banana ice cream! I hope you enjoy it!
Robin @ Simply Southern Baking says
What a lovely recipe Julie and just right for blueberry season!
JulieWunder says
Thank you Robin! Now to go blueberry pickin...
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
oh my yum! I want to make this this weekend!!
JulieWunder says
I thought you'd like this!
Andrea says
I love all crisps!!! Favorite dessert. Do you have to grind up chia seeds to get the benefits like flax seeds or is that different?
JulieWunder says
For this recipe no grinding necessary! They get kind of gelatin-y when you soak/ bake them.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says
Blueberries are so good right now! That looks amazing yum! Thanks for linking up
JulieWunder says
Thanks Deborah! I could survive on fruit this time of year!
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
This looks almost too pretty to eat! But don't worry I would quickly get over that.
JulieWunder says
Haha! Me too!
Debbie@debbiethisandthat.blogspot.com says
Julie, this recipe looks wonderful and I would love to try it! I am wondering where to find coconut sugar? Is it available in the grocery aisle or a specialty store? Thanks for sharing a great and healthy recipe!
JulieWunder says
I just found it in Publix. I've also seen it in Whole Foods. It's becoming much more popular. Grocery with other sugars.
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
Can I marry Lori? Do you think Alex would mind?? I DON"T CARE
JulieWunder says
haha!!! You too food wise are a perfect fit!
Blane Sherer says
I believe Lori deserves two thumbs up !!
I do remember the black bean brownie.
I believe this blue berry crisp is a winner too.
JulieWunder says
She does! She's a great girl!