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You are here: Home / Recipes / Baking / Apple Crumble

Apple Crumble

October 5, 2021 by Mahy, Updated October 15, 2021 9 Comments

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Apple lovers, here’s the best Apple Crumble Recipe! Full of all the sweet and tangy flavors of fresh Autumn apples paired with the warming flavors of cinnamon and apple spice, this easy apple crumble will be your go-to comfort dessert.

Apple crumble on a baking dish topped with vanilla ice cream and a spoon inside

What is Apple Crumble?

Apple crumble is a classic Apple dessert that almost anyone loves. It has the flavors of apple pie, minus the pie crust. Instead, apple crumble has a top crust. 

A really crispy crumbly oat, butter and nuts crust is what makes apple crumble stand out. Since no pie crust making is involved, this apple dessert is so much faster, easier and fool proof to make compared to apple pie.

It’s a fantastic recipe to make when you just want something really cozy and is a perfect fall recipe for just this reason.

 

How to Make Apple crumble

One of the easiest and most satisfying desserts to make. While it’s super straightforward to pull together, it punches lots and lots of flavor with just a few basic ingredients.

There are two components here, the apple crumble filling and the apple crumble topping.

Ingredients in Apple Crumble

The main ingredients you need to make apple crumble include apples, ground cinnamon or apple spice, granulated sugar (you can use brown sugar), vanilla, lemon or orange zest, lemon juice, flour, oats, and almonds (or another nut of your choice such as walnuts) and unsalted butter. These are all ingredients you can get from your local store.

Apple Crumble Filling

Apples being chopped on a cutting board, peeled and desseded

You first need to make the filling for this recipe. Start by peeling the apples and dicing them. It’s best to dice them on the smaller side as this will help them cook better when you put them in the oven. 

A plate with sugarm flour, cinnamon and lemon zest to be mixed with the diced apples to make apple crumble fillling

Once you have diced the apples, place them into a large bowl and add your cinnamon (or apple spice), Sugar, all purpose flour and lemon zest (or orange zest), lemon juice, and vanilla. In the bowl, combine and toss them all together so that the apples are evenly coated.

A bowl with the apple crumble filling ready and tossed together

Now it’s time to start on the apple crumble topping.

Apple Crumble Topping

small bowls with ingredients for the apple crumble topping including butter , flour , sugar , oats , cinnamon and spices

While an apple crumbles topping is traditionally made with just flour, a little sugar, and butter rubbed together, I like to add rolled oats and nuts (almonds are my preferred choice, but another nut like walnuts also work nicely). With the added oats and nuts, you get an extra flavor and an extra crumbly topping which is just delicious.

 bowl with the apple crumble topping ready

Add the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, nuts, and sugar into a  medium bowl and mix together evenly to make this apple crumble topping. Next,  the butter is added and mixed. 

Now it’s time to put the apple crumble topping and apple crumble filling together.

Baking the Apple Crumble

There are a few ways you can bake this recipe. You can make individual apple crumble portions by placing the filling into smaller baking dishes and then spreading the topping over the top and placing them all in the oven at once.

the apple filling is divided between four baking dishes on a baking sheet

If you want to, you can also make one by placing all the filling into one large baking dish and using all the topping over the top of this. Depending on the size of your large baking dish, you might want to double this recipe up so that you have enough to nicely fill your baking dish. 

a hand holding the apple dessert topped with the crumble topping and ready to bake

Once you have finished putting the recipe together, It’s now ready to bake.  Just preheat the oven at 375 and bake for 20-25 minutes cook time. You will need to bake it longer if you are baking it in one large dish.

baked apple crumble right out of the oven showing the golden crust

Serving Apple Crumble

This apple crumble recipe can be served in so many ways it’s really down to preference. If you’re like me, you can serve just as it is, but like my kids, you might want to add something – their favorite is vanilla ice cream. But you can add all sorts, such as custard or fresh cream, which is also delicious when paired with this apple crumble.

A spoon holding a piece of apple crumble and vanilla ice cream showing the saucy inside of the crumble

You can also serve this crumble right out of the oven, piping hot as some people like, or you can leave serve warm. If you have kept the crumble in the fridge it’s a good idea to let it get to room temperature before serving.

Apple Crumble variations

Apple crumble with other ingredients

What’s great about this sweet and delicious dish is that there are so many variations you can use it to make it just right for you.

As it’s traditionally a fall dish due to harvesting apples in the fall, pears also go beautifully in this recipe as they are also harvested in the fall. You can substitute all the apples for pears, or if you wish, you can even use both pears and apples together in this crumble recipe.

Another delicious variation to this recipe is to add in any kind of berry you like, such as apples and blackberries. You can really get creative with this recipe.

close up of a baked apple crumble showing the crisp crumble topping surrpunded by apples and lemon slices

Apple crumble without oats

If you want to make this recipe without oats, this is very easy to do. All you need to do to make the filling as your usually would but leave the oats out when you make the topping. You can choose to leave the nuts out also if you prefer and have a topping made with just flour, sugar, and butter.

If you still want a bit of extra flavor in the topping, you can add a little extra cinnamon or apple spice to the topping mix. This is perfect if you love the cinnamon flavors and want to add a bit more of it to this recipe.

Apple Crumble Baking Tips

  • It’s important to dice your apples on the smaller side as this will help them cook better when you put them in the oven. If you dice them too large, they will still be hard when your topping is ready, and you either risk a burnt topping or uncooked and hard apples.
  • With this recipe, it’s a great idea to have everything fully measured out and prepared before you start putting the recipe together. This includes grating your lemon or orange zest beforehand and having your apples peeled and chopped. When you make ahead, baking the whole recipe feels so much easier, less messy, and more organized.
  • The amount of sugar in this recipe isn’t set in stone. Depending on the type of apples you are using, and how sweet you like your apple crumble, you may want to adjust the amount of sugar you are using. You might use more or less than recommended to fit in with your preference.

A set of four baked apple crumbles on a board surrounded by a spoon and vanilla ice cream on one of them, some apples, lemon slices and cinnamon sticks

Apple Crumble FAQ’s

Can I use the same recipe for an apple pie?

Yes, you can absolutely make this recipe as an apple crumble pie. All you need to do is use the same filling and replace the crumble with a pie crust topping.

Can I make this apple crumble gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe can easily be made gluten-free. All you will need to do is replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour mix or another naturally gluten-free flour like ground oat flour.

How do I get my apple crumble Crunchy?

To make sure your crumble actually comes out nice and crunchy, you need to make sure you use the right butter to flour ratio. Too much butter will make your topping soggier, but the addition of nuts and oats really helps to make the topping crunchy in most cases. Adding brown sugar instead of granulated sugar will also help the topping crunch up well.

How do I know when my crumble is ready?

To make sure that your crumble is actually ready when you take it out of the oven, you want to see the topping nicely golden with some of the juices from the filling bubbling up around the

What are the best apples to use in my apple crumble? 

A board filled with Gala apples surrounde dby apple leaves and lemon slices and cinnamon sticks

You can use almost any type of apple for this recipe. Traditionally people like to use granny smith apples. Granny smith apples, however, can be quite tart, and so you want to make sure you use enough sugar.

I actually like to use a good gala apple in my apple crumble, but you can also use pink lady or even a mix of all of these apples for a lot of different apple flavors. Remember to adjust the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of the apples you are baking.

I love using Ontario Apples to make this!

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Apple crumble on a baking dish topped with vanilla ice cream and a spoon inside
4.54 from 13 votes
Print

Apple Crumble

Apple lovers, here's the best Apple Crumble Recipe! Full of all the sweet and tangy flavors of fresh Autumn apples paired with the warming flavors of cinnamon and apple spice, this easy apple crumble will be your go-to comfort dessert.

Course baking, Dessert, sweets
Cuisine American, French
Keyword Apple Baking, Apple Crumble, Apple crumble recipe, Apple dessert, Apple recipes, baking, Crumble topping, easy dessert recipes, fall baking
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 448 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Apple Crumble Filling

  • 3 apples peeled, de-seeded and diced into half an inch dices. Use your favorite tasting apples.
  • 1 Tablespoon All purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup sugar keep this amount of sugar irrespective of the type of apples
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice May use orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest may use orange
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • pinch salt

Apple Crumble Topping

  • 1/2 cup oats rolled or quick cooking
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar Use up to 1/2 cup if you're using a tart apple, and keep it at 1/4 cup for a sweet apple
  • pinch kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/3 cup butter melted and unsalted
  • 1/4 cup almonds slivered almonds, chopped, or walnuts or pistachios

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

  2. Choose your favorite apples, and adjust the sugar topping accordingly --see ingredients list for topping.

    A board filled with Gala apples surrounde dby apple leaves and lemon slices and cinnamon sticks
  3. Peel and dice your apples into half an inch dices

    Apples being chopped on a cutting board, peeled and desseded
  4. Toss the diced apples with the filing ingredients in a bowl until well mixed.

    A bowl with the apple crumble filling ready and tossed together
  5. In another bowl add all your topping ingredients and mix well until it looks like chunky crumbs.

    bowl with the apple crumble topping ready
  6. Use four individual size baking dishes or one large dish. Add the apple mixture at the bottom of the dish

    the apple filling is divided between four baking dishes on a baking sheet
  7. Top with the crumble toppings evenly and press it down slightly.

    a hand holding the apple dessert topped with the crumble topping and ready to bake
  8. Bake the apple dessert for 22-25 minutes if in they’re in single dishes, and for 35-40 minutes if you're making a large apple crumble in a large dish.

  9. Allow the apple crumble to cool down fr 10 minutes as the filling will be piping hot!

    baked apple crumble right out of the oven showing the golden crust
  10. Serve as is or with a dollop with vanilla ice cream and ENJOY!

    A spoon holding a piece of apple crumble and vanilla ice cream showing the saucy inside of the crumble

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Apple crumble with other ingredients

What's great about this sweet and delicious dish is that there are so many variations you can use it to make it just right for you.

As it's traditionally a fall dish due to harvesting apples in the fall, pears also go beautifully in this recipe as they are also harvested in the fall. You can substitute all the apples for pears, or if you wish, you can even use both pears and apples together in this crumble recipe.

Another delicious variation to this recipe is to add in any kind of berry you like, such as apples and blackberries. You can really get creative with this recipe.

Apple crumble without oats

If you want to make this recipe without oats, this is very easy to do. All you need to do to make the filling as your usually would but leave the oats out when you make the topping. You can choose to leave the nuts out also if you prefer and have a topping made with just flour, sugar, and butter.

If you still want a bit of extra flavor in the topping, you can add a little extra cinnamon or apple spice to the topping mix. This is perfect if you love the cinnamon flavors and want to add a bit more of it to this recipe.

Apple Crumble Baking Tips

  • It’s important to dice your apples on the smaller side as this will help them cook better when you put them in the oven. If you dice them too large, they will still be hard when your topping is ready, and you either risk a burnt topping or uncooked and hard apples.
  • With this recipe, it's a great idea to have everything fully measured out and prepared before you start putting the recipe together. This includes grating your lemon or orange zest beforehand and having your apples peeled and chopped. When you make ahead, baking the whole recipe feels so much easier, less messy, and more organized.
  • The amount of sugar in this recipe isn't set in stone. Depending on the type of apples you are using, and how sweet you like your apple crumble, you may want to adjust the amount of sugar you are using. You might use more or less than recommended to fit in with your preference.

Apple Crumble FAQ's

Can I use the same recipe for an apple pie?

Yes, you can absolutely make this recipe as an apple crumble pie. All you need to do is use the same filling and replace the crumble with a pie crust topping.

Can I make this apple crumble gluten-free?

Yes, this recipe can easily be made gluten-free. All you will need to do is replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour mix or another naturally gluten-free flour like ground oat flour.

How do I get my apple crumble Crunchy?

To make sure your crumble actually comes out nice and crunchy, you need to make sure you use the right butter to flour ratio. Too much butter will make your topping soggier, but the addition of nuts and oats really helps to make the topping crunchy in most cases. Adding brown sugar instead of granulated sugar will also help the topping crunch up well.

How do I know when my crumble is ready?

To make sure that your crumble is actually ready when you take it out of the oven, you want to see the topping nicely golden with some of the juices from the filling bubbling up around the

What are the best apples to use in my apple crumble? 

You can use almost any type of apple for this recipe. Traditionally people like to use granny smith apples. Granny smith apples, however, can be quite tart, and so you want to make sure you use enough sugar.

I actually like to use a good gala apple in my apple crumble, but you can also use pink lady or even a mix of all of these apples for a lot of different apple flavors. Remember to adjust the amount of sugar depending on the sweetness of the apples you are baking.

I love using Ontario Apples to make this!

Nutrition Facts
Apple Crumble
Amount Per Serving
Calories 448 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Cholesterol 41mg14%
Sodium 142mg6%
Potassium 319mg9%
Carbohydrates 64g21%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 41g46%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 549IU11%
Vitamin C 10mg12%
Calcium 72mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Baking, Pies, Recipes, Videos Tagged With: almond, apple, apple baking, apple desserts, Autumn, bake with apples, baking, butter, cinnamon, crumble, crumble recipe, dessert, Fall, fall dessert, lemon, light brown sugar, mini crumble, oat, orange, sugar, zest

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Comments

  1. sunnysusan

    October 26, 2021 at 4:18 am

    5 stars
    I must say, this is the best apple crumble I’ve made since I was a kid! The apple crumble was sweet and crunchy, and the apples were perfectly cooked and spiced. Delicious!

    Reply
  2. Claudia Lamascolo

    October 7, 2021 at 12:58 pm

    5 stars
    This looks like something the whole family will go crazy over just got the apples going to make this tonight ! thanks

    Reply
  3. Roxana

    October 7, 2021 at 11:49 am

    5 stars
    This was a great recipe. Loved the apple crumble. And the detailed post with so many tips and variations.

    Reply
  4. Maria

    October 7, 2021 at 4:05 am

    5 stars
    Best dessert recipe I have done so far! I love making the toppings part. My kids loved this during our dessert time!

    Reply
  5. Jeff

    October 6, 2021 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    I love apple crumble It’s great to serve at dinner parties.

    Reply
  6. Anjali

    October 6, 2021 at 7:02 pm

    5 stars
    This really is the best apple crumble I’ve made in a long time! The apples were perfectly cooked and spiced well, and the crumble topping was crispy and sweet. Yum!

    Reply
  7. Kyndra Holley

    October 6, 2021 at 5:24 pm

    5 stars
    This was so, so good. It has all the perfect fall flavors!

    Reply
  8. Lima Ekram

    October 6, 2021 at 5:20 pm

    5 stars
    Love this recipe – love the fact that you added nuts to it. Yum!

    Reply
  9. Heather Perine

    October 6, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    5 stars
    I love apple crumble! One of my all time favorite desserts! And love that this crumble topping has almonds in it. YUM!

    Reply

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Mahy PicHi I'm Mahy, a recipe developer, food stylist, culinary instructor, photographer, wife and busy mom! Welcome to my blog!...Read More

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