Farmers Market Blueberry Crumble Recipe Celebrates Our Midwest Summer
Jun 30, 2025 ● By Janie Maxwell, MS, RDN Executive Director, Illinois Farmers Market Association
Photo credit Janie Maxwell
There is nothing like summer in the Midwest. Farmers markets are brimming with a full variety of fresh produce. Mid-summer is also fresh fruit season. I cannot get enough blueberries. Each year, I buy and freeze about 25 pounds of blueberries to be sure I have the wonderful goodness of berries all year long. And you can add blueberries to just about anything: yogurt, salads or just eat them by the handful.
I do love blueberry desserts as well. This recipe is a slightly different take on fruit crumble. It can be made with fresh or frozen berries, and if the berries are local, fresh and sweet, there is no reason to add the typical flour, sugar or lemon juice to the berries! Just make the crumble topping and add to the blueberries. I prefer to mix the topping into the berries, so every bite is the wonderful combination of berries and topping.
Blueberry Crumble
Yield: 6-8 servings
8 cups fresh or frozen* berries**
1 cup flour
½ cup brown sugar
¾ cup rolled oats
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Grease an 8x11-inch baking dish lightly with softened butter. Place blueberries in baking dish. Melt butter and let cool. Combine flour, brown sugar, rolled oats and cinnamon in a bowl. Add melted butter and mix until the butter is incorporated. Topping will be lumpy.
With a spatula, gently incorporate half of the topping into the fruit. Use the other half to top the fruit.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm as is or top with local vanilla ice cream.
*If frozen berries are used, do not thaw. Place the berries into the baking dish directly from the freezer.
**Raspberries and blackberries work well, too—or try a combination of berries.
Janie Maxwell, MS, RDN, is the executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA).
ILFMA supports local food and food systems by giving Illinois farmers markets and producers access to resources, education and connections to grow healthier and economically vibrant communities. For more information, visit ilfma.org.
