Apple Crumble

Apple crumble is a comforting dessert with fresh apples, cinnamon, and a golden, buttery, crisp topping.

It’s an easy recipe with simple and affordable ingredients. The flavor-texture combination is unbeatable.

Apple Crumble is perfect for any occasion, from everyday meals to elaborate holiday dinners.

Apple crumble will become one of your favorite apple recipes because it combines the universally loved apple-cinnamon flavor with a buttery-crisp topping.

While we love to use apples to make more elaborate desserts, like our apple pie, apple tart, and apple cinnamon rolls, apple crumble is our go-to recipe when we are short on time or tired after work but still want to put a delicious dessert on the table.

Like for apple crisp and apple bread, you can use leftover apples and a few simple pantry staples like butter, flour, and sugar.

Feel free to add your favorite crumble add-ons, such as nuts and oats, or serve it with a spoonful of whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.

But no matter what you do, let it have enough time in the oven so that the top becomes golden brown and crisps to perfection.

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Apples: You can use any apple variety, from fuji and golden delicious to pink ladies and granny smith. Substitute rhubarb, pears, or mixed berries for apples.

All-purpose flour: You can substitute 1-to-1 gluten-free flour for all-purpose flour.

Sugar: You can use brown or white sugar.

Butter: You can substitute vegan butter for regular butter if you are vegan.

Cinnamon: You can also add other spices, such as a pinch of nutmeg, clove, vanilla extract, allspice, and ginger. We like to add a grating of lemon zest to add freshness, but that’s optional.

Salt: Remember to add a pinch of salt to the crumble. That sweet-salty combination will make your tongue dance.

Preheat the oven to 375°F or 190°C. Prepare your baking dish. We like to use a pie dish, but a casserole dish works, too. Lightly butter the bottom.

Cut the apples into thin slices. We like to keep the peel on, as it adds color and flavor and saves a good 10 minutes in the kitchen. But you can peel them if you prefer.

Add the sliced apples to a large mixing bowl. Toss them with sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Arrange them tightly into your baking dish.

Tip: A tablespoon of lemon juice prevents the apples from browning. This is useful if you are making the crumble ahead of time or if you are freezing it.

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and diced cold butter in a separate bowl.

You can crumble the ingredients with your hands, pinching the butter and flour until they are incorporated.

You can also use a pastry cutter or give them a quick mix in a food processor.

Tip: You want the flour to be crumbly but not dusty. Don’t overwork the mixture; you don’t want to make a dough.

Crumble the mixture on top of the apples, clean the rim of the dish, and bake for 35 – 40 minutes.

The apples should be tender, and the top should be golden brown.

Let the crumble cool down for at least 15 minutes before serving it. As it cools, the top crisps up.

It’s delicious with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, but it’s also excellent as is.

Storage

Make ahead: Apple crumble is an excellent recipe to make a few hours ahead and have it ready for your dinner. You can bake it as your guests are almost done with their mains.

Refrigerator: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Make the crumble in a freezer-friendly dish. Wrap it in plastic or a freezer bag and freeze it before baking. It lasts 3 months. Cook from frozen for about 40 to 45 minutes.

Reheat: Warm leftovers in a hot oven at 375°F or 190°C for 10 to 15 minutes.

APPLE RECIPES: vegan apple crisp, apple tart, apple pie, vegan apple cake, vegan apple muffins, baked apples, apple cinnamon rolls, easy apple bread.

HOLIDAY DESSERTS: vegan biscotti, pear cake, vegan carrot cake, fruit tart, easy vanilla cake, Italian crostata, vegan pumpkin pie.

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