Mixed Berry Crisp and Gift Basket
This Mixed Berry Crisp is the ultimate summer treat! It’s incredible how fresh summer fruit can turn any dessert into something special with very little effort. This crisp comes together very quickly and is casual and rustic – perfect for any summer celebration! I have also included a gift basket how-to in this post. Who wouldn’t love good quality ingredients and an abundance of fresh summer fruit in a large wicker basket? I know I would!
Here are easy to follow photos:
Put all the berries in a large bowl. Aren’t they gorgeous?
Then mix sugar and vanilla bean or vanilla extract together.
Add sugar-vanilla mixture, cornstarch, lemon zest and lemon juice with the berries and mix until combined!
Place berry mixture in a (pretty) baking dish. I love this white one of mine with the scalloped edges.
Sprinkle the topping over the berries, trying to coat as evenly as possible.
Bake until golden brown and juices are oozing out…yum!
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, halved
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 lemons, washed and zested
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats, I use Quaker
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 stick unsalted butter, diced, at room temperature
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place baking dish on sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small bowl mix together sugar and vanilla until combined.
- In large bowl, toss together berries, sugar-vanilla mixture, cornstarch, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Place berry mixture and all the juices in the prepared baking dish.
- For the crumble, combine flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and mix with your hands until crumbly.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over berries.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden.
Berry Crisp Gift Basket
This gift basket idea is so easy, really unique and something others would love to receive. It’s a “make your own dessert” gift basket.
I measured out the amounts of sugar, flour, and oats and placed them in individual clear bags. I added berries, and vanilla bean paste as well. You can add every ingredient in the recipe to the basket, but I figured most people have butter, cinnamon, cornstarch and salt, so I left those out.
Whenever I give a gift (especially when it’s homemade) I include a card. With a “make your own” dessert gift basket like this one, I also make sure to include a recipe card.
I love the idea of giving quality ingredients, like the vanilla bean paste, and some freshly picked produce. Sometimes, I need a break from store bought pastries. This, to me, is a refreshing change.
Like you may have seen me do in the past, and will surely see me do in the future, I first lay everything I am putting in a gift basket out in front of me.
Play around with all the items to see where everything fits best. This will vary depending on the size and shape of the basket you are using.
I usually place the taller items towards the back.
I couldn’t resist taking a close-up of the newest member of my pantry. I try to use vanilla bean paste whenever I can now. I just love to see the vanilla bean specs and the flavor just doesn’t compare to extract.
This Mixed Berry Crisp and Gift Basket was adapted from Ina Garten’s Triple berry crumble recipe.
