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This easy Apple Crumble is a perfect blend of sweet, tender apples and a buttery, crumbly topping that will satisfy all your fall dessert cravings! Made with simple pantry ingredients, this comforting dessert combines juicy baked apples with a golden, crunchy topping that’s hard to resist.
Serve it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and a cozy cinnamon dolce latte on the side, and dig in!
Out of all the apple desserts I whip up each fall, this easy Apple Crumble recipe is hands-down my favorite. It’s quick to make, and the flavor is absolutely unbeatable. You get all the delicious Fall flavors and satisfaction of an apple pie but in about half the time and half the work. It’s just fresh, crisp apples topped with sweet, buttery, and crunchy oats. The softened baked apples pair perfectly with the sweet crunch of the oat crumble topping.
Let me put it this way – the only thing I love more than a hot summer day by the pool is a crisp fall day where I start with fried apple rings for breakfast and end with a warm bowl of apple crumble in one hand and a pumpkin spice latte in the other for dinner. The buttery crumble topping pairs so perfectly with the coffee and spiced apple filling.
Why I Love This Apple Crumble Recipe
- Easy to Make: In my opinion, an apple crumble is the laid-back cousin of an apple pie, offering all the deliciousness with half the effort!
- Rich in Fall Flavors: It summarizes the nature of Fall with warm cinnamon apples and a delightful mix of brown sugar, butter, oats, and cinnamon.
- Perfect Texture Combination: The softness of baked apples contrasts beautifully with the crunchy oat crumble topping. You can use your favorite variety of apples, but a mix of sweet and tart types like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp adds great flavor and texture.
- Make-Ahead Dessert: Not only is it quick to whip up, but you can also prepare it ahead of time, making it perfect for gatherings or a spontaneous treat.
What Is The Difference Between a Cobbler, Crumble, and Crisp?
- A Cobbler features a biscuit-like or cake-like topping with the fruit mixture placed at the bottom of the baking dish, like in this peach cobbler. Dollops of dough are dropped on top, giving it a cobblestone appearance, which is thought to be the origin of its name. The final texture is often a slightly thickened fruit layer with a soft, fluffy, or cakey topping.
- A Crumble has a topping made of flour, sugar, butter, and sometimes oats, though the inclusion of oats can blur the line between a crumble and a crisp. Its texture is sandy with some larger chunks, resembling streusel, and provides a nice contrast to the soft fruit underneath.
- A Crisp is very similar to a crumble, but it always includes oats in the topping, giving it a more textured, hearty, and crunchy finish. The oats help create a distinctive crispy layer over the baked fruit.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Apple Crumble recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can create a heartwarming, delicious dessert perfect for the season. Check out the notes below and then scroll down to the recipe card for the total amounts and thorough instructions.
- Granny Smith Apples & Honeycrisp Apples: They add a sweet and tart flavor to balance the dish.
- Lemon: The lemon juice brings out the freshness of the apples and prevents browning.
- All-purpose Flour: Helps thicken the apple filling so it’s not too watery.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the dessert.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a warm, spicy flavor to the apple filling.
- All-purpose Flour: Provides structure to the crumble topping.
- Rolled Oats: Adds a chewy texture to the crumble.
- Light Brown Sugar: Gives the topping a molasses-rich sweetness and moisture.
- Baking Powder: Helps to lighten the texture of the topping
- Ground Nutmeg: Adds a subtle spice.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor by balancing the sweetness of the apple crumble.
- Butter: Binds the dry ingredients and provides a rich, buttery flavor.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: For sweetness and aroma.
How To Make Apple Crumble
This recipe is prepared with everyday pantry staples and fresh apples. It’s simple, straightforward, and so easy that even my tween can whip it up without much help.
- Prep the apples. We start by dicing 1 pound of Granny Smith apples and 1 pound of Honeycrisp apples. Layer the apples on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish and squeeze lemon juice all over them; toss to combine. Sprinkle with flour, sugar, and cinnamon and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Make the crumble topping. Next, work on the simple crumble by combining oats, flour, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and baking powder. Melt a stick of butter and mix in pure vanilla extract; pour the melted butter over the oat mixture and mix until combined.
- Bake. Top apples with the prepared crumble; spray the topping with cooking oil and bake for 40 to 45 minutes in a 350˚F preheated oven. If the top starts to brown sooner than the apples are done cooking, tent a sheet of aluminum foil over the crumble and continue to bake until done.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- Apple options: I love using Granny Smith apples for all or part of this apple crumble recipe. For this version, I went with a mix of half Granny Smith and half Honeycrisp for the perfect balance of tart and sweet. But honestly, you can use whatever apples you have on hand!
- To peel or not to peel: Great news—I like peeled apples, but you don’t have to peel! You can leave the peel on, just be sure to give the apples a good wash.
- Make individual servings: Divide the filling and topping into ramekins for personal-sized portions and bake as usual.
- Add caramel: Drizzle caramel sauce over the apple crumble before serving.
- Add nuts: Try sprinkling chopped nuts on top for added crunch.
What Are The Best Apples For Baking?
The best apples for baking maintain their structure and don’t turn mushy when exposed to heat. Additionally, a mix of tart and sweet flavors often produces the most well-rounded taste in baked goods. Here are some of the best apples for baking:
- Granny Smiths are best for pies, crisps, and any dessert where a pronounced tart apple flavor is desired.
- Honeycrisps are best for crumbles, crisps, and pies.
- Golden Delicious should be used in baked apple dishes where you don’t want overpowering tartness.
- Fuji Apples are great when mixed with a tarter apple in pies, crumbles, or crisps to provide natural sweetness.
Make Ahead Apple Crumble
- If you want to prepare the crumble in the baking dish ahead of time, assemble the filling and the topping in the dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove it from the fridge and let it sit out for about 30 minutes, then bake as per the recipe.
- You can also freeze the entire assembled crumble (unbaked) for longer storage. When you’re ready to eat, bake directly from the freezer, adding additional time as needed.
- If you’re using a glass baking dish and baking directly from the refrigerator or freezer, be cautious, as placing a cold glass dish in a hot oven can cause it to shatter. Allow the dish to come closer to room temperature before baking.
Storage
- Fridge: Cover the completely cooled crumble with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 2 to 3 days.
- Freezer: Cover baked or unbaked Apple Crumble with plastic wrap and a sheet of aluminum foil and freeze it for up to 3 months.
More Crumble Recipes
Apple Recipes To Try
- Apple Zucchini Bread
- Apple Oatmeal Cookies
- Lighter Caramel-Cheesecake Stuffed Baked Apples
- Apple French Toast Casserole
- Microwave Baked Apples
ENJOY!
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Apple Crumble Recipe
This easy Apple Crumble recipe is bursting with warm cinnamon apples, plus a sprinkle of sweet and crunchy topping, and it's simply the best apple crumble recipe you'll find.
Ingredients
For The Apple Filling
- 1 pound Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- 1 pound Honeycrisp apples, peeled and diced
- ½ lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
For The Oat Topping
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg, you can add more if you like
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- vanilla ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Lightly butter a 9×13 baking dish and spread out the diced apples in the baking dish; squeeze lemon juice over the apples and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle flour over the apples; then sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon and mix until combined. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Melt the butter and whisk the vanilla into the melted butter. Pour the melted butter over the oat mixture and mix well until crumbly, using your fingers or a spoon.
- Sprinkle the oat mixture evenly over the apple filling. Lightly spray the top with cooking spray.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until apples are bubbly and topping is a golden brown. If the top starts to brown sooner than the apples are done cooking, tent a sheet of aluminum foil over the apple crumble and continue to bake until done.
- Remove from oven and let stand 15 to 20 minutes.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Choose the Right Apples: For a well-balanced flavor, consider mixing tart apples like Granny Smith with sweeter varieties like Honeycrisp or Fuji.
- Maintain Apple Texture: Dice your apples into even pieces so they cook uniformly.
- Adjust Sweetness: Depending on the sweetness of your apples, you might want to adjust the amount of sugar.
- Oats Matter: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for a heartier, chewier topping. Quick oats can become too soft.
- Butter Temperature: Ensure your butter is melted but not too hot when adding to the crumble mix.
- Check for Bubbling: The best way to know your crumble is done is when the apple filling starts bubbling around the sides.
- Spice It Up: Apart from cinnamon, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the apple mixture for added depth of flavor.
- Preventing Sogginess: If your apple filling releases too much juice and makes the crumble soggy, try tossing the apple pieces in a bit more flour or cornstarch before adding them to the baking dish.
- Serve Warm: Apple crumble is best enjoyed warm, topped with vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
- Storing Leftovers: If you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator and reheat them in the oven for the best texture.
- Freezing: If you want to make apple crumble in advance, you can freeze the unbaked assembled dish. Bake directly from frozen, adding some extra time to the baking process.
Nutrition
Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 253mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 418IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
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How Nice!! This was really an awesome and delicious recipe for me. Keep sharing
I absolutely love apple crumble! Can’t wait to try this
I’ve always said crumbles are a lazy gal’s pie, totally my style. Looks amazing!