Black Forest Crumble with Oats

If you are looking for an interesting twist on a classic crumble, you must try this black forest crumble recipe. This dessert combines the rich cherry and chocolate flavours of black forest with the satisfying crunch of an oat topping crumble.

black forest crumble

This unique twist will leave your taste buds begging for more. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this irresistible chocolate cherry crumble dessert!

By embracing the crumbly oats topping with the cherry-chocolate medley, this dessert takes on a whole new level of indulgence.

Indulge in the ultimate twist on a classic crumble that will transport your taste buds to dessert heaven. Picture this: a luxurious blend of cherries and chocolate, harmonising perfectly with the delightful crunch of an irresistible oat topping. It’s a symphony of flavours and textures that are guaranteed to make your mouth water.

Welcome to the world of the perfect Black Forest Crumble with Oats.

Why you’ll love this black forest crumble recipe

Tangy cherries, and rich velvety dark chocolate are a combination made in heaven. Especially with the oat crumble topping.

It’s so easy to make and you can even make it in advance and freeze for later. Then bake from frozen.

It’s the kind of dessert that brings people together and puts smiles on their faces, making it an irresistible choice for any occasion.

Black forest crumble is an unusual dessert but it’s so easy and so luxurious.

A Crumbly Twist: Adding Oats to the Mix

Adding a delightful twist to the traditional crumble recipe, oats take this Black Forest Crumble to the next level. Incorporating oats into the crumble topping mix not only enhances the texture but also elevates the overall flavour profile, giving your dessert a unique and irresistible twist.

The addition of oats also brings a host of nutritional benefits to your chocolate cherry crumble dessert. Packed with fibre, oats contribute to a healthier digestive system and promote a feeling of fullness.

black forest crumble with a scoop of custard

black forest crumble Ingredients

For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.

Apples

As you revel in the delightfulness of the cherry-chocolate medley, it’s time to turn our attention to another star ingredient: apples.

Crisp and juicy apples bring a refreshing element to the Black Forest Crumble. Apples perfectly complement the richness of the chocolate and the tartness of the cherries and stop them from being overpowering.

Whether you prefer the sweet and crisp flavour of a Gala apple or the tangy bite of a Granny Smith your favourite choice will work.

Cherries

Cherries, with their vibrant red colour and delightful juiciness, are the secret ingredient of this recipe. They elevate this crumble to new heights of deliciousness. Bursting with flavour, these fruits add a sweet and tangy note that intertwines harmoniously with the other components of the dessert.

You can choose to use fresh cherries or opt for the convenience of frozen ones. Their natural tartness provides a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the other ingredients, creating a delightful flavour explosion in every bite.

Blackberries

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Dark Chocolate

Chocolate plays an essential role in elevating the already incredible crumble to new heights. Its velvety richness and deep cocoa flavour perfectly complement the tartness of the cherries, creating a harmonious taste that will leave you craving more.

You can use dark chocolate or milk chocolate for this recipe.

How to Make Black Forest Crumble- Step by Step

Keep scrolling to find the full printable instructions and ingredient quantities.

Making the crumble

Combine your flour, sugar and oats. (Add some cinnamon if you fancy).

Add your cubed room temperature butter.

rubbing butter and flour together to make bread crumbs for crumbles

Crumble together all the ingredients until they form the classic crumbly texture.

Crumble Topping with Oats ready to go on the crumble

Now your easy healthy crumble topping with oats is ready to top your favourite fruity crumbles with.

If you are looking to make more oat topping for your freezer check out my oat crumble topping recipe post.

Preparing the fruit layer for the black forest crumble

Peel your apples and chop them roughly. Pour the lemon juice over and turn them with a spoon so they are coated. This will help stop them from going brown.

Mix in the frozen or fresh cherries and blackberries.

Roughly chop the chocolate.

black forest crumble

Sprinkle most of the chocolate over the fruit.

black forest crumble

Sprinkle over the crumble topping to add a nice layer.

It will look beautiful from the mixed in oats.

Scatter over the remaining chocolate Bake for 30-40 minutes.

chocolate and oat crumble topping golden brown from the oven

The oat topping will be golden brown the chocolate will gooey on top. Then it is ready to serve.

Chocolate Cherry Crumble Top Tips

Use oats that are rolled, rather than instant, as they add a heartier texture and nutty taste to the crumble.

Don’t skimp on the chocolate—use high-quality dark chocolate to enhance the richness of the chocolate cherry crumble.

With every spoonful, you’ll experience the delightful crunch of the oat topping, the sweet burst of cherries, and the rich decadence of chocolate. It’s a symphony of flavours that will leave you craving more.

black forest crumble Serving Suggestions

Custard

I adore hot and fresh from the oven crumble with a hot custard poured over the top. Custard works so well with cherry chocolate crumble.

Ice Cream

Vanilla ice cream is the perfect pairing to the warm black forest crumble. Scoop it out while the crumble is cooking and serve with chocolate sauce on top or some more cinnamon sprinkled.

Equipment

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spoonful of black forest crumble

black forest crumble Substitutions and variations

Add cinnamon to the black forest crumble

Try adding cinnamon to your apple crumble for that extra hint of warming spice. Cinnamon also works so well with the cherries and chocolate flavours.

Easy to make this crumble gluten free

As desserts go making this black forest crumble gluten free couldn’t be easier. simply swap out the plain flour for gluten free flour. You might need a little more to get the same contisentcy but it’s a simple swap.

Bake the crumble topping first to make it extra crisp

To ensure that your crumble topping is perfectly golden and crisp try pre-baking the crumble topping separately before assembling the dessert. Spread the oat mixture evenly on a baking sheet and bake it for a few minutes until it turns a light golden brown.

This extra step ensures that the cherry chocolate crumble remains crunchy, even after it absorbs the luscious cherry juices.

Add summer berries

Adding summer berries like strawberries and raspberries is a lovely way to add in extra fruit.

Add nuts

If you want to add an extra layer of flavour to your black forest crumble, consider incorporating some toasted nuts. Whether it’s chopped almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts, toasting them before adding them to the crumble adds a delightful crunch and a hint of toasty warmth.

Simply spread the nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for a few minutes until they become fragrant. Then, sprinkle them over the cherry filling for that extra special touch.

chocolate, cherries and blackberries in crumble

Storing black forest crumble / Making ahead of time options

To make your black forest crumble ahead of time, start by following the recipe as instructed up until the layering step. Instead of popping it into the dish, cover the fruit and crumble topping tightly with plastic wrap, place it in a sandwich bag or transfer it to an airtight container.

Then, store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake them. Then all you need to do is assemble and bake

Freeze the crumble topping and fruit

Like above you can make the cherry chocolate crumble components and freeze them until you need them. The best part about this is that you can cook the fruit and crumble from frozen.

black forest crumble with custard

black forest crumble FAQS

black forest crumble spoon in a bowl

Can you add chocolate to crumble?

Yes, you can add chocolate to a crumble! In fact, it’s a delicious addition that elevates a classic crumble to the next level.

What is the secret to good crumble?

My secret to a good crumble is adding oats and cinnamon to the crumble topping. It adds flavour, and texture and crisps up beautifully.

Is it better to freeze fruit crumble cooked or uncooked?

From my experience, it is better to freeze crumble uncooked. For the best results freeze the topping and filling separately.

When you are ready to cook it add each part to an oven-proof dish and bake. You can either cook it from frozen or allow it to thaw beforehand.

Top view of a scoop of black forest crumble on a blue plate

Can you eat fruit crumble cold?

You can absolutely eat fruit crumble cold. It will still be juicy and full of flavour. this cherry chocolate crumble tastes delicious cold.

Can you cook apple crumble in the air fryer?

Yes, cooking apple crumble in an air fryer is a great way to make crumble quickly without turning on your whole oven. Your crumble will also cook quicker as there is less oven to heat up!

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Recipe

Black Forest Crumble

Sisley White
If you are looking for an interesting twist on a classic crumble, you must try this black forest crumble recipe. This dessert combines the rich cherry and chocolate flavours of black forest with the satisfying crunch of an oat topping crumble.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert, Pudding, Sweet Treats
Cuisine American, British, English
Servings 6 portions
Calories 436 kcal

Ingredients
 

Crumble Ingredients

  • 150 g (1 ½ cups) plain flour / all purpose flour
  • 150 g (5 2/7 oz) unsalted butter (cut into cubes)
  • 75 g ( cups) golden caster sugar (or normal caster sugar)
  • 100 g (1 ¼ cups) oats
  • 150 g dark chocolate

Fruit Layer

  • 4 apples (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 200 g (2 cups) cherries (fresh or frozen)
  • 100 g (1 cups) blackberries (fresh or frozen)

Optional Extras

  • 1 tsp cinnamon (add it to the crumble ingredients)
  • 100 g flaked almonds (or ground. Mixed into the crumble layer)

Instructions
 

Making the crumble

  • Measure and add the plain flour, caster sugar and oats into a mixing bowl.
    150 g (1 ½ cups) plain flour / all purpose flour, 75 g (⅓ cups) golden caster sugar, 100 g (1 ¼ cups) oats
  • Add 150g cubed unsalted butter into the dried ingredients.
    150 g (5 2/7 oz) unsalted butter
  • Rub the ingredients together with your fingers and thumbs to create a crumble texture. Set aside until you're ready to cook.

Preparing the Fruit

  • Peel and chop the apples and add them to the oven-proof dish. Add the lemon juice and
    4 apples
  • Mix in the cherries and blackberries.
    200 g (2 cups) cherries, 100 g (1 cups) blackberries
  • Chop the chocolate and add most of it to the fruit. Save a handful to sprinkle on to the crumble topping.
    150 g dark chocolate
  • Sprinkle over the crumble topping to add a nice layer to the fruit and chocolate. If you have any extra crumble leftover you can place it into a freezer-proof bag and save it for later.
  • Add the remaining chocolate to the top of the crumble.

Baking the black forest crumble in the oven

  • Preheat the oven to 180ºC fan/ 356ºF/ Gas mark 4.
  • Pour over the crumble topping and put it in the oven for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.

Baking the black forest crumble in the air fryer

  • Bake at 180ºC / 338ºF for 12-15 minutes and golden brown.

Notes

A great way to make this more affordable is to use frozen fruit. Some supermarkets, like ASDA, have frozen bad of black forest fruits ready to go.
This recipe is hugely adaptable. If you only want to make a small crumble you can save any leftover crumble topping in the freezer. You can then use it from frozen next time you want to make a crumble.
Best served with custard or ice cream.
Keeps very well in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Make the crumble topping ahead of time and store it in the freezer and bake from frozen. (It will still be malleable).
Reheat in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 436kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 6gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 5mgPotassium: 248mgFiber: 5gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 709IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 2mg

Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Keyword Black Forest, black forest crumble, cherries, cherry, chocolate, chocolate cherry crumble, crumble, oat crumble topping, oats
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