Apple Crumble

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This Apple Crumble consists of warm, tender apples with cinnamon spice, topped with a crisp mixture of brown sugar and oats.

This dessert is easy to prepare, travels well, and the crumble can be prepared in advance. If you love apple desserts, try our easy Apple Dump Cake and our best ever Apple Pie!

Golden-brown apple crumble in a dish topped with vanilla ice cream, a delicious dessert fit for any event.

Easy Apple Crumble Recipe

This recipe took over a year to perfect. After some adjustments this summer, it’s now the best I’ve ever had.

So what is the secret to a good apple crumble? The secret is in cubing the apples. Sliced apples can be tricky to cook evenly, but cubing them into 1/2-inch pieces makes them perfectly tender and flavorful while improving the overall crumble experience. (thanks for the tip A Beautiful Plate!) Give it a try, and you’ll be amazed!

Dessert ingredients including butter, sugar, oats, and spices.

Apple Crumble Ingredients

Topping: 

  1. Flour: Provides structure and texture to the crumble topping.
  2. Old-fashioned oats: Adds a nice texture and a nutty flavor to the topping.
  3. Brown Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a caramelized, crispy crust.
  4. Cinnamon: Adds warmth and flavor.
  5. Baking soda: Helps crumble rise and brown.
  6. Cold unsalted butter: Holds the crumble together, makes it rich, and helps it brown.

Filling:

  1. Apples: The main ingredient providing texture, flavor, and juiciness.
  2. Lemon juice: Adds tartness and prevents apples from browning.
  3. Sugar: Sweetens and balances the apples.
  4. Cornstarch: Thickens the juices released from the apples during baking.
  5. Vanilla extract: Makes it taste and smell better.

Prepping apple filling and pouring it into a baking pan.

How To Make Apple Crumble

  • Prepare topping: mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add cubed butter and use a pastry cutter to combine. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  • Make the apple filling: Mix chopped apples with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, vanilla.
  • Assemble: Add apples to pan. Top with crumble. Chill 20 minutes.
  • Bake: Bake 40-50 minutes until golden at 350°F. Cool for 15 minutes then enjoy.

Preparing crumble topping for the apple crumble recipe, sprinkling it over apple filling, and ready for baking. Apple crumble baking in the oven until golden brown.

Apple Crumble FAQs

1What Is The Difference Between a Cobbler, Crumble and Crisp?

Cobbler, crumble, and crisp are all fruit desserts baked with some type of pastry, but they have distinct characteristics:

Cobbler:

  • Topping: Biscuit-like.
  • Look: “Cobbled” appearance.

Crumble:

  • Topping: Butter, flour, sugar.
  • Texture: Sandy.

Crisp:

  • Topping: Like crumble but with oats.
  • Texture: Crunchy.

2How To Make Apple Crumble Pie?

Make this Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie {Super Easy!}. It’s a delicious apple pie with the best crumble topping.

3How Long Can You Freeze Apple Crumble?

  • Lifespan: 3-4 months in freezer.
  • Unbaked: Freeze in an ovenproof, freezer-safe pan. Seal with plastic or paper, then foil.
  • Baked: Cool fully. Wrap in freezer-safe material, then freeze.
  • Thawing: Thaw overnight in fridge. Reheat baked crumble for 20-30 minutes.

4How Do You Store Apple Crumble?

Storing Baked Crumble:

Baked crumble softens over time.

  • For best results, store unbaked topping and apples separately.
  • For leftovers, cover with holed plastic wrap and refrigerate.
  • Best eaten on day of making; good for up to 2 days.

5How To Make Apple Crumble Ahead Of Time

Prep Ahead:

  • Prepare apple filling with an extra tablespoon of lemon juice.
  • Make crumble topping.
  • Store both in airtight containers in the fridge for up to a day.
  • To bake, top apples with crumble and follow the baking directions.

A large spoonful of the freshly baked dessert, showcasing the cinnamon and fruity interior, ready to be savored.

QUICK TIP

The Best Apples For Crumble are a mix of Granny Smith and Honey crisp. Peel them before use!

Delicious bowl of the warm  dessert with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream on top.

More Apple Recipes To Try

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Apple Crumble

5 from 7 votes
This Apple Crumble is warm and tender cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a crisp brown sugar and oat-crumble topping.
Overhead view of a golden-brown apple crumble in a dish.
Print Recipe

Apple Crumble

Overhead view of a golden-brown apple crumble in a dish.
5 from 7 votes
This Apple Crumble is warm and tender cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a crisp brown sugar and oat-crumble topping.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword apple crumble
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Chilling Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings 6 -8 servings
Chelsea Lords
Calories 409kcal
Cost $6.21

Ingredients

Crumble

  • 1 cup white, all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1 cup light or dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small cubes and cold

Filling

  • 2 lbs. apples, peel & cube to 1/2 inch pieces (we like Granny Smith & Honeycrisp) (Note 1)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • PREP: Line a sheet pan with a Silpat liner or parchment paper (just in case anything bubbles over) and lightly grease an 8x8 or 9x9-inch baking pan (or 2-quart pan). Set aside.
  • TOPPING: In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Cube the butter and mix it into the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter to blend, then press with fingertips until the mixture becomes crumbly. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
    Preparing crumble topping for the apple crumble recipe, sprinkling it over apple filling, and ready for baking.
  • FILLING: Peel and chop apples into 1/2-inch pieces. In a large bowl, mix apples with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and vanilla until evenly coated.
    Prepping apple filling and pouring it into a baking pan.
  • ASSEMBLY: Place the apple filling and any juices into prepared pan. Gently press down and spread apples evenly. Evenly sprinkle the crumble on top without pressing it down. Chill the dish for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. After chilling, place the dish on the lined pan.
    Apple crumble baking in the oven until golden brown.
  • BAKE: Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until topping is golden, apples are fork tender, and the filling is very slightly bubbling around the edges.. If topping browns too quickly, cover with foil.
  • SERVE: Let crumble cool for 15-20 minutes to allow apples to continue to thicken. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Apples: Weigh before peeling to get 2 pounds. We like using half Granny Smith and half Honey-crisp for this recipe. Other varieties can work, but less firm apples may create a mushy or watery crumble. Peel apples and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. You'll get about 5-1/2 to 6 cups apples from 5-7 apples.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 61.6g | Protein: 3.2g | Fat: 17.5g | Cholesterol: 45.8mg | Sodium: 3.3mg | Fiber: 2.5g | Sugar: 41.3g | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 4mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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Recipe Rating




28 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this today and it was delicious! I think I liked it better than my old favorite I’ve been making for years. The only thing I did different was add more apples and put into a 9”x13” pan. I only had Honeycrisp apples from my tree so I used all Honeycrisp. It was so good warm out of the oven. Thank you for this delicious recipe.

    1. Yay!! So thrilled this apple crumble was a hit 🙂 And I’m jealous you have homegrown Honeycrisp apples 😉 Sounds delicious!

  2. 5 stars
    I love to cook but have had less than stellar results when baking, so when I say that this recipe was easy to follow and a total HIT, trust me it was! ? I’even had requests to add it to our list of Thanksgiving desserts!

    1. Yay!! I’m so thrilled to hear it 🙂 Thanks so much for the comment and review; I’m honored it makes it to your Thanksgiving dessert menu 🙂

  3. We just got back from a Colorado vacation and the temperatures in Missouri are still in the 90’s. But, I’m so ready for comfort food and will be making this soon even if it doesn’t cool down outside! Thanks for the tip about chopping up the apples!

  4. 5 stars
    I made this yesterday for book club, and it was a huge hit. Not too sweet, not mushy (baked for 45 min). Topping was perfect!

  5. 5 stars
    This was SO delicious! The friends and family have loved it so far, honestly may have to make a second batch!! Only thing I did differently was use an 8×8 pan, and used cortland apples! ? Thanks for the recipe Chelsea!

      1. Well, I’ve got too many apples for one crust, and not quite enough for two of them. Maybe it would be nice to try making some kind of a mincemeat pie? Thank you for the wonderful recipe.

      1. Yes, Vivian, do try this Blueberry Crisp recipe! It’s our go-to recipe any time we have extra blueberries and don’t want them to go to waste 🙂 I usually cut the recipe in half because there are only two of us! Delish!!!! Thanks Chelsea!

  6. I have made crisps and crumbles by cutting in the butter and by melting the butter, and can’t tell a huge difference. It’s so much easier to just melt the butter. Did you try it like this and can you see or explain the difference? Since you experimented so many times I figured you may know!

  7. I may be crazy for asking this… but do you have any idea how this would do with ghee or Earth Balance vegan butter? I assume taste may not be AS rich and delicious but curious if it would still hold up! Thanks!

    1. I’m so sorry Nicole, I don’t have a lot of experience with vegan butter in baking so I’m really not sure how it would do. I wish I could be of more help, hopefully someone else can chime in

  8. 5 stars
    I made this delicious apple crumble for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner. It was super yummy, and everyone loved it!

  9. How could I lower the sodium on this recpe. It looks and sounds delicious, but way too high in sodium or hubby

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