Blueberries are finally in season and I am so happy! These tiny berries are little bursts of flavor, plus they are consistently recognized for their powerful nutritional benefits! Blueberries (and berries in general) are some of the lowest sugar fruits, which is better for your gut and balancing blood sugar levels. I love to sprinkle blueberries on top on my morning oatmeal, add them to my smoothies, and snack on them between meals. I also love to bake with them, and this healthier version of a blueberry crisp is the perfect dessert to serve for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. Serve with some vanilla ice cream (or coconut milk ice cream) and fresh strawberries for a patriotic and tasty dessert! Also, you can use this crisp recipe for any fruits of your choosing! In the summer, I’ll usually throw in some peaches or nectarine slices, along with some seasonal berries, for a quick and crowd-pleasing dessert.
Ingredients
For the filling:
1 ½ pints fresh blueberries (about 3 cups)
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced (optional)
For the topping:
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup almond flour
3 tbsp honey (or maple syrup)
3 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp kosher salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Grease a 9 inch cast iron skillet or 9x9 inch baking dish with coconut oil
In a small bowl, add lemon zest, lemon juice, and blueberries. Toss together. Add coated blueberries and all juices to your baking dish
In a medium sized bowl, add oats, almond flour, maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. Mix with hands until ingredients are combined. Crumble evenly over top of blueberries
Bake for 35- 40 minutes or until surface is lightly browned and blueberries are bubbling
Cool and serve (maybe with some coconut milk ice cream and strawberries!)
Health Benefits of Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the best sources of antioxidants out of all popular fruits and vegetables
These high levels of antioxidants (flavonoids in particular) prevent cell damage and protect us from chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer
The powerful antioxidants also help prevent against chronic inflammation in the body, which is the root cause of most diseases, like autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and anxiety/depression.
They are great for brain health - many studies have found that eating blueberries could improve memory and cognition
Blueberries have very high levels of vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting and bone metabolism
Sources and additional reading:
