Apple-Blueberry Crisp With Panko-Pistachio Topping
Published Oct. 11, 2024

- Total Time
- 1½ hours
- Prep Time
- 15 minutes
- Cook Time
- 1¼ hours
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
Ingredients
- ¾cup/110 grams shelled pistachios or other nuts (pecans, walnuts and/or almonds), coarsely chopped
- ¾ cup/105 grams all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup/75 grams panko bread crumbs
- ¾cup/175 grams light brown or granulated sugar
- 1½teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1teaspoon kosher salt
- ½cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3pounds tart, firm apples such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady or Granny Smith (about 6 medium apples)
- 2½cups/12 ounces blueberries
- ¼cup/58 grams light brown or granulated sugar
- 1tablespoon cornstarch
- 1tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vanilla ice cream or cold heavy cream, for serving
For the Panko-pistachio Topping
For the Fruit Filling and Assembly
Preparation
- Step 1
For the topping: Combine the pistachios, flour, panko, sugar, cardamom and salt in a medium bowl. Drizzle in the melted butter and work the mixture with your fingers or a fork until there are no dry spots remaining; it should look very crumbly but hold together when squeezed. There will be crumbles that are as small as sand and larger ones that are about the size of a quarter.
- Step 2
For the filling: Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Peel and core the apples then cut into 1-inch wedges. Using your hands or a wooden spoon, toss together the apples, blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice and vanilla in a 3-quart baking dish.
- Step 3
Scatter the panko-pistachio topping over the fruit filling. Bake until the crisp is browned, the apples are tender and the filling is bubbling around the edges, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving with a scoop of ice cream or a splash of cold cream.
Private Notes
Comments
We really enjoyed this variant on the crisp. The panko added a lovely crunch, and the cardamom brought a lovely warmth and paired well with the nuts and other flavours. Will definitely use this recipe again, with a touch less sugar. Also pairs well with yoghurt for a less sweet option.
I just made this as written, using Honeycrisp and frozen wild blueberries. After 40 minutes, apples were still fairly hard but topping was quite brown. I covered it and baked 15 more minutes. Must have been the chill from the frozen berries. Next time I’ll cover at the beginning and remove later to let it brown.
Are frozen blueberries ok to use?
I love my old old standby with oats and cinnamon, but this version is terrific. Husband, one dinner guest and myself, so I reduced by 1/3 and used a glass pie dish instead of 9 x 13. Also, sliced the apples thinly; used frozen wild blueberries; toasted my pecans before chopping. Cardamom was great too. Don't skip a big spoonful of H-D vanilla ice cream....
What a lovely combination of flavors and textures. Mystified about the need for peeling the apples; they are just fine as they are.
Made with GF flour, GF panko and DF butter, swapped in walnuts and cinnamon. Excellent!!