Blueberry, Lemon & Almond Breakfast Crumble

I grew up eating cosy crumbles in the English countryside, so finding a way to enjoy crumble for breakfast has been an enormous source of comfort while living on the other side of the world.

I love a breakfast crumble, and if you've been following me for a while, you'll know I've shared a few different versions over the years, including one with rhubarb and strawberries. This blueberry, lemon and almond combination is another favourite. The blueberries become soft and juicy as they bake, the lemon brings a little brightness, and the almonds add a lovely nuttiness to the crisp, golden topping.

I make mine with oats, seeds, almond butter and a little maple syrup, then serve it warm with a generous dollop of thick Greek yoghurt. It's a particularly lovely way to start a cooler morning, and something I look forward to having ready in the fridge.

It's also delicious served as a dessert. Warm it gently and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple pudding that feels every bit as comforting as the crumbles I grew up with.

One of the things I particularly love about this recipe is how well it lends itself to meal prep. You can bake it ahead of time and portion it up for breakfast during the week, or prepare the fruit and crumble topping separately and bake it fresh when you fancy it. Either way, you'll have a lovely breakfast ready to enjoy with very little effort in the morning.

Ingredients

Serves 4

For the fruit

• 500g fresh (or frozen) blueberries

• 1 medium apple, peeled, cored and diced into 1–1.5cm pieces

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• Zest of 1 lemon

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the crumble

• 1¼ cups rolled oats (about 125g)

• 1 tbsp chia seeds

• 2 tbsp mixed seeds

• ¼ cup flaked almonds

• 2 tbsp almond meal

• 2 tbsp almond butter

• 1 tbsp olive oil or melted butter

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• Pinch of sea salt

To serve

• Thick Greek yoghurt

• Extra lemon zest, optional

Method

1. Prepare the fruit. Preheat the oven to 160°C fan-forced or 180°C conventional. Combine the blueberries, diced apple, maple syrup, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla in a baking dish.

2. Give the fruit a head start. Bake for 10–15 minutes, until the blueberries begin to soften and release their juices. Gently press around a third to half of the blueberries with the back of a spoon to create a softer, jammy filling. If the mixture looks particularly dry, stir through 1 tablespoon of water.

3. Make the crumble. While the fruit is baking, combine the oats, chia seeds, mixed seeds, flaked almonds, almond meal and salt in a bowl. Add the almond butter, olive oil or melted butter, and maple syrup. Stir until the mixture forms small clusters.

4. Add the topping. Scatter the crumble evenly over the warm fruit.

5. Bake. Return to the oven for 30–35 minutes, until the topping is golden and crisp and the fruit is bubbling around the edges. If using frozen blueberries, allow a little extra time if needed.

6. Rest and serve. Leave to rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm or cold with thick Greek yoghurt and a little extra lemon zest.

Meal prep and storage

This crumble is ideal for preparing ahead, particularly if you enjoy having breakfast ready to go during the week.

• Bake ahead: Allow the crumble to cool, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.

• Portion for the week: Divide into individual containers so you can take a portion to work or have breakfast ready when you're short on time.

• Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave, or enjoy cold with Greek yoghurt.

• Prepare ahead without baking: Assemble the fruit and crumble topping separately, refrigerate and bake when you're ready. For the best texture, keep the topping separate until just before baking.

• Freeze: Freeze baked portions in suitable containers for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating.

A little more inspiration for meal prep

Recipes like this are exactly why I created the Mindful Meal Prep System. I wanted to show that preparing ahead doesn't have to mean eating the same meals every day or spending hours in the kitchen. Sometimes it's simply about having something delicious ready for the moments when you need it.

If you'd like more inspiration to make your week delicious, nourishing and easier to manage, you can find your copy of the Mindful Meal Prep System here: Explore the Mindful Meal Prep System.