What's the difference between apple crumble and apple crisp?

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.

What is apple crumble topping made of?

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.

What is the best topping for apple crumble?

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!

Apple Crumble

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

Scale

For the crumble topping:

1 1/3 cup (160 grams) all purpose flour
1/3 cup (75 grams) brown sugar
1/3 cup (66 grams) white sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 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
1/3 cup (75 grams) brown sugar
2 tablespoons (15 grams) cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon allspice

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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