Bourbon adds unique flavor to this blueberry bourbon crisp.
A Cautionary Tale…
There once was a woman at work, we’ll call her Sue. Sue was feisty, opinionated and mostly fun to be around.  She could be stubborn and bossy at times but her strong work ethic, loyalty and sense of humor were admirable.  She loved pushing peoples’ buttons and was certainly good at pushing mine.  More than anyone I’ve ever met, she loved stuff.  She was constantly finding the weirdest, most random knick knacks and toys to fill up her space with clutter.  I couldn’t have handled all that clutter but she seemed to thrive off it. She loved showing everyone her silly toys and making people laugh.  She had a great laugh. One day, something changed.  Sue’s entire demeanor seemed to shift overnight and she went from being sunny, strong-willed and caring to sullen, distant and sensitive.  “Everything’s fine,” she would say.  “Nothing is wrong, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”  Her tone plainly said mind your own business.  So we did. But everyone knew something was going on and we conversed quietly by the water cooler out of concern and confusion.  She was a newlywed… was it marital troubles?  Workplace woes? After months of uncomfortable conversations and awkward silence, everything came to a head.  Someone said the wrong thing to her at the wrong time and she blew up, stormed out of the building and drove away.  I can still hear her yelling “You have NO idea what I’ve been going though!” Surely she was about to quit?  We were baffled.  And very worried. The truth was that Sue had found a lump and didn’t get it checked for months.  And by that time the cancer had spread.  Chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation weren’t enough to save her life. Would 6 months have made a difference?  No one will ever know.  Why am I telling you this?  Because early detection can save your life.  Get educated, check yourself and schedule mammograms when you’re supposed to.  If not for yourself, do it for the people who love you. I sincerely hope I don’t sound unsympathetic as I share this story.  Sue and I had a strained relationship at times but we did care for each other.  I wanted to portray the experience honestly.  It was traumatic for everyone and I can’t imagine what she went through.
As with my last post, I’m highlighting cancer fighting ingredients today.  Berries.  Blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, whatever you like.  Blueberries are a favorite of mine so today I’m sharing a lightened up blueberry bourbon crisp. Because blueberries aren’t in season right now I used frozen berries from the grocery store.  They work perfectly well here and berries are too delicious to only enjoy in the summer. To keep things a bit healthier I used coconut oil instead of butter and honey instead of refined sugar (thought I do include an optional tablespoon of brown sugar in the topping).  You can make this with only the agave and it will still be good but it lacks a certain buttery richness that you get from the molasses in brown sugar. I leave that up to you.  Most of the bourbon cooks away in the oven so if you want to re-infuse the flavor, drizzle a tiny amount over the cobbler right after pulling it from the oven.
Blueberry Bourbon Crisp
Ingredients
Blueberry filling:
- 4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 11/2 tablespoon bourbon (I used Knob Creek)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Topping:
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup chopped toasted slivered almonds (you can substitute regular or sliced)
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons bourbon (plus more to drizzle)
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a medium sized bowl, toss the blueberries with the cornstarch until they're evenly coated, then add the remaining ingredients.
- In a separate bowl, combine the topping ingredients. It's easiest to incorporate the coconut oil with your fingers.
- Pour the blueberry filling into a 1 quart dish (or 4 cup-sized ramekins). Spread the topping evening over the berries and place in the oven.
- Cook for 1 hour, then drizzle a small amount of bourbon over the topping after removing it from the oven. Allow to cool for 30 minutes.
Notes
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
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Laura says
Another great post. Honest is better than fake any day. And yum to the crisp, with brown sugar please. :)
sweetlab says
This one moved me. Love it!
Libby Bouma says
This looks delightful. Yum!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
So right! Early detection is so very important. Had my annual check last month!
And the crisp…delicious! Love that bit of bourbon in the recipe.
Katie @ Blonde Ambition says
This sounds so so delicious. And it’s okay to be a little blunt about things like your coworker. Too many times, people learn their lessons the hard way. Cancer isn’t exactly something you want to learn about the hard way :-P
fabiola@notjustbaked says
This is a great message to share, being that I am sure many women are visiting your blog. Thank you for this. This is a great anti oxidant filled, beautiful dessert.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
So glad you shared that story, life is too short to put important things off for another day. I love your crisp – blueberry with bourbon sounds divine!
Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says
This is a sad story. I check myself on a regular basis, I know it’s important. Your recipe will help as well :)
Cassie says
Fabulous and captivating story, Jen! You are so right, early detection is key! I love this crisp too, genius!
Laura Dembowski says
I love baking with bourbon. Such a sad story, but everyone handles tragedy differently. Definitely a tough thing to deal with no matter how you spin it.
Jen L | Tartine and Apron Strings says
This is a wonderful tribute for breast cancer awareness week! Every woman deserves a chance to live their life meaningfully and with pleasure! Getting checked is one way of fulfilling this. And having a nice bowl of blueberry bourbon crisp is another :) !!!
Monet says
Such an important post (as many has said) and such a beautiful crisp. The photographs are just stunning, as always, and I love the twist that the bourbon adds to the mix. Thank you for sharing.
Anna @ hiddenponies says
I’m so glad berries are one of the cancer-fighting foods, healthy really doesn’t get more delicious. Your photos are stunning!
Erin @ The Food Doctors says
Thanks for sharing. It’s an important reminder not to put things off.
Also, I’ve been kind of obsessed with Bourbon lately, so I’m definitely going to have to give this crisp a try!
Brandie (@ Home Cooking Memories) says
Beautiful…and your story telling was perfect for this. Thank you for sharing this.