Made with tender apples and topped with a buttery brown sugar crumble, this old-fashioned Apple Crumble is the perfect fall dessert! Serve it warm from the oven with a big scoop of ice cream, and watch it disappear before your eyes. Your guests will be begging you for the recipe!
Fruit crumbles have been popular for centuries, and for good reason! They're so easy to prepare, require no fancy gadgets, and fill your house with the most delicious cinnamon apple aroma. They're simple enough to throw together whenever yet flavorful enough to serve even at special occasions! Take it over the top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a little homemade caramel sauce, and a hot cup of coffee or apple cider, and you'll understand why this apple dessert is such a classic!
Why You'll Love This Apple Crumble
- Ready in 35 minutes. You don't have to be an experienced baker to pull off the humble crumble. From preheating the oven to taking the first bite, this easy apple crumble recipe will be ready in no time. It's my go-to anytime I need a last-minute dessert.
- Warm, cozy dessert. The tender apples, crumbly topping, and warm spices make this cinnamon apple crumble ideal for cool nights or drizzly, rainy days. Serve homemade apple crumble with vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream, or warm custard for a taste of heaven.
- Just the right size. One batch this baked apple dessert makes enough for a 9x9 square pan, which is enough for 6-9 servings. This is just enough for a family of 4 (with leftovers) or a small dinner party!
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Apple Crumble, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- all purpose flour - to hold the topping together and give it extra crunch.
- sugar - the combination of brown and white sugar adds sweetness but also ensures you get a chewy, crunchy bite.
- spices - season the topping with cinnamon, ground ginger, and a little kosher salt. The apple filling also has these spices with the addition of allspice, too.
- cold butter - it's essential to use very cold, unsalted butter. The colder, the better.
- semi-tart apples - you can use any kind of apples, but I like ones that are crisp with a sweet-tart flavor, like Pink Lady apples.
- lemon juice - to bring out the tart flavor.
- vanilla extract
- cornstarch - to thicken the apples into a saucy filling.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a 9 inch square baking dish, medium bowl, large bowl, a cutting board, and a sharp knife.
How to Make the Best Apple Crumble
First, prepare the crumble topping.
- Combine dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt, until well-combined.
- Add butter. Add in the cold butter cubes, then use your fingers and hands to work the butter into the dry ingredients by pressing and crumbling it all together. When ready, the crumble topping should resemble wet sand. Squeeze some handfuls of crumble together to create larger pieces.
- Chill. Place into the freezer for at least 15 minutes, while you prep the filling.
Next, make the easy apple filling.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together the diced apples, lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice until well-combined.
Now, let’s assemble the apple crumble and bake.
- Assemble. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with butter or cooking oil spray. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the cold crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake. Place into a 375F preheated oven to bake for 35 minutes, or until the crumb topping looks golden brown.
- Rest. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes and then serve warm with ice cream or on its own.
Recipe Variations
- Mix different types of apples. For the best flavor, use apples with some tartness to them. I'm partial to Honeycrisp or Pink Lady apples, but you can also use half Granny Smith apples and half a sweet variety.
- Use apple pie spice. This spice blend is great for baked apple recipes and is a good choice for your homemade apple crumble.
- Add nuts. For a nutty flavor and extra bite, add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping.
How to Serve
This Apple Crumble is delicious served on its own for a sweet treat after dinner. It goes especially well paired with Vanilla Ice Cream and a warm drink including:
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- Chai Tea Latte
- Golden Milk Turmeric Latte
- Ginger Turmeric Tea
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Matcha Latte
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use a pastry cutter. This tool is made to cut butter into flour and is really handy for making crumble toppings. If you don't have one though, don't worry about it! You can also use a fork or your fingers.
- Add some clumps. The best crumble topping has a mixture of large and smaller pieces, which add different textures. I like to mix the butter until the topping looks like wet sand, then squeeze it to vary the sies of the clumps.
- Chill out. It really cannot be understated. You want really cold butter for the crumbliest, crunchiest topping. Warm or room temperature butter will melt too fast and totally change the flavor and texture.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Let the crumble cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container or cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat
The quickest method is to pop the crumble in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, but you can also warm the leftovers in a 350F oven until heated through.
How to Freeze
Place the cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 3-6 months.
FAQ
Traditionally, apple crumble is made with a streusel topping made from flour, sugar, and butter, while apple crisp has a crumbly oat topping. They're very similar and the terms are often used interchangeably, but oats are the key difference.
The most iconic part of any fruit crumble is that cookie-like crumble mixture! It's made by mixing flour with cold butter and sugar, which is then baked over the fruit filling. As it bakes, the crumble takes on a crunchy, chewy texture that really brings the whole dessert together. Pro Tip: Use a mixture of white and brown sugar for the best texture and flavor.
There are lots of options! If you live in the UK, you might crave apple crumble with warm custard, which makes it even cozier. If you're in the US or Canada, you are probably used to this delicious dessert served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. All of these options are great in their own right, and it really depends on if you prefer a warm topping or a cold one. You can't go wrong!
More Apple Dessert Recipes
- 20 Best Apple Desserts
- Apple Tart
- Braided Lattice Apple Pie
- Apple Crisp
- Caramel Apples
- Apple Turnovers
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.
Recipe
Apple Crumble
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Made with tender apples and topped with a buttery brown sugar crumble, this old-fashioned Apple Crumble is the perfect fall dessert! Serve it warm from the oven with a big scoop of ice cream, and watch it disappear before your eyes. Your guests will be begging you for the recipe!
Ingredients
For the crumble topping:
- 1 ⅓ cup (160 grams) all purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (75 grams) brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (66 grams) white sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup (114 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
For the apple filling:
- 6 medium semi-tart apples (like pink lady apples), peeled, cored and diced
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅓ cup (75 grams) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons (15 grams) cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon allspice
Instructions
Make the crumble topping:
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with butter or cooking oil spray. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt, until well-combined.
- Add in the cold butter cubes, then use your fingers and hands to work the butter into the dry ingredients by pressing and crumbling it all together. When ready, the crumble topping should resemble wet sand. Squeeze some handfuls of crumble together to create larger pieces.
- Place into the freezer for at least 15 minutes, while you prep the filling.
Make the apple filling:
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the diced apples, lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, and allspice until well-combined.
Assemble and bake:
- Assemble. Pour apple mixture into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the cold crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake. Place into the oven to bake for 35 minutes, or until the crumb topping looks golden. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes and then serve warm with ice cream or on its own.
Notes
How to store: Let the crumble cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container or cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil. Refrigerate for 3-4 days.
How to reheat: The quickest method is to pop the crumble in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, but you can also warm the leftovers in a 350F oven until heated through.
How to freeze: Place the cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container and freeze for 3-6 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Food Blogger Business School
A step-by-step program that teaches food bloggers how to grow and scale their blogs into a full-time business
in less time and without posting endless content until you burn out.
Leave a Comment