The Ultimate Homemade Apple Crumble: Your Go-To Easy Fall Dessert with Crispy Cinnamon Oat Topping
Indulge in the quintessential flavors of autumn with this incredible homemade apple crumble recipe. Featuring tart and crisp Granny Smith apples enveloped in a sweet, spiced filling and crowned with a golden, caramelized cinnamon oat topping, this dessert is pure comfort in every bite. It’s significantly simpler than a traditional apple pie but delivers all the beloved warmth and flavor, making it your perfect go-to treat for any fall gathering or a cozy night in.
Why This Easy Apple Crumble Recipe Shines
The beauty of apple crumble lies in its delightful simplicity and undeniable charm. Unlike the intricate process of crafting a homemade apple pie, which often involves preparing delicate pie dough, an apple crumble offers a delicious shortcut without sacrificing any flavor. Historically, crumbles emerged as a more practical and cost-effective alternative to pies, especially during wartime, making them an accessible dessert for everyone.
This recipe truly shines because it embraces that heritage of ease while delivering an exceptional taste and texture experience. You start with a luscious apple filling, perfectly seasoned with classic autumnal spices like cinnamon and brown sugar, creating a tender, aromatic base. This goes into a baking dish and is then generously topped with a mixture of hearty rolled oats, flour, more brown sugar, and butter. The result? A perfectly crispy, crunchy, and caramelized topping that creates an incredible contrast with the soft, spiced apples underneath.
Fall truly is a magical season for baking, and desserts featuring crisp, juicy apples are always at the top of the list. Whether it’s an apple crumble, a baked apple crisp, or a cozy slow cooker apple cobbler, these dishes evoke feelings of warmth and nostalgia. Serving any of these with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream elevates them into a truly mouth-watering experience, with the cold cream melting into the warm, cinnamon-spiced apples. It’s a heavenly combination that captures the essence of fall in every spoonful.
Key Ingredients for Your Homemade Apple Crumble
Crafting the perfect apple crumble begins with selecting high-quality ingredients. While the full list of measurements and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card at the end of this post, here’s an overview of what you’ll need to bring this delightful dessert to life.
Deep Dive into Apple Crumble Ingredients & Smart Substitutions
Understanding the role of each ingredient and knowing your options for substitutions can help you achieve the best apple crumble every time.
APPLES – For our apple crumble, we consistently reach for a tart variety to perfectly balance the sweetness of the filling and topping. Granny Smith apples are our top recommendation because they offer a vibrant tartness and maintain their firm texture beautifully during baking, preventing a mushy filling. However, several other apple varieties work wonderfully and offer slightly different flavor profiles:
- Honeycrisp: Sweet with a slight tartness and an excellent crisp texture.
- Fuji: Sweet and very crisp, they hold their shape well.
- Gala: Milder sweetness and a good texture for baking.
- Golden Delicious: A sweeter apple that softens considerably, creating a very tender filling.
- Braeburn: A good balance of sweet and tart, and they bake well.
Avoid apples that turn mealy or mushy easily, such as Red Delicious if they are too soft. The key is to choose apples that will hold their shape and provide a pleasant bite even after baking. Approximately 3 pounds of apples typically yield about 6 cups once peeled, cored, and sliced.
FLAVOR BOOSTERS (Spices & Additions) – While ground cinnamon is a star in this recipe, don’t hesitate to experiment with other warm spices to deepen the autumnal character. A pinch of nutmeg, a dash of clove, or a touch of allspice can wonderfully complement the apple and cinnamon notes. For an added layer of texture and richness, consider incorporating chopped nuts such as walnuts or pecans into the crumble topping or even mixed with the apple filling. These additions infuse the crumble with even more complex flavors and a satisfying crunch.
THE PERFECT CRUMBLE TOPPING – The topping is arguably what makes a crumble so irresistible. Our recipe uses a blend of:
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: These are crucial for the signature chewy, hearty texture and crunch that defines a great crumble. Their thicker, robust nature stands up well to baking.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure and helps bind the topping ingredients.
- Light brown sugar: Contributes a rich, molasses-like sweetness and helps achieve that beautiful caramelized, golden-brown crust.
- Cold unsalted butter: Essential for a flaky, tender crumble. Using cold butter and cutting it into the dry ingredients creates pockets that expand in the oven, leading to a wonderfully crumbly texture.
- Baking powder: A small amount adds a touch of lift and lightness to the topping.
- Ground cinnamon: To echo the flavors in the apple filling and tie the dessert together.
While old-fashioned oats are preferred for their texture, quick-cooking oats can be used as a substitute if absolutely necessary. Just be aware that the topping might be slightly less chewy. The key to a fantastic crumble topping is to ensure the butter is cold and “cut into” the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs, not a smooth dough.
How to Craft Your Delicious Homemade Apple Crumble: A Step-by-Step Guide
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe perfectly. For a printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and instructions, you can Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. This step is crucial to prevent the apple filling from sticking and ensures easy serving.
EXPERT TIP: A simple trick for greasing your baking dish is to use the wrapper from your stick of butter. It’s an eco-friendly way to get the job done efficiently. Alternatively, a nonstick cooking spray works perfectly well.
- Begin by preparing your apples. Peel, core, and then cut them into uniform slices. Aim for slices that are about ¼ to ½ inch thick so they cook evenly. Place all the prepared apple slices into a large mixing bowl.
- To the apples, add the fresh lemon juice, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and all-purpose flour. Gently toss everything together until the apples are thoroughly coated. The lemon juice helps prevent the apples from browning and adds a bright note, while the flour will thicken the filling slightly as it bakes. Spread this apple mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish.
- Now, prepare the star of the show: the crispy crumble topping. In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, light brown sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed pieces of butter. Using a pastry blender or two forks, “cut in” the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Avoid overmixing; you want small pea-sized pieces of butter throughout for the best texture.
- Generously sprinkle the prepared crumble mixture evenly over the apple filling in the baking dish. Ensure good coverage for that satisfying crispy layer.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the apple filling is visibly bubbling around the edges and the crumble topping has turned a beautiful golden brown. The bubbling indicates the apples are tender and the sugars have caramelized.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for a Perfect Apple Crumble
For that ideal balance of tartness and sweetness in your apple crumble, Granny Smith apples are our top recommendation. Their firm texture holds up well during baking, ensuring your filling isn’t mushy. Excellent substitutes include Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Gala, which offer a good balance of flavor and texture. If you prefer a sweeter crumble, you can opt for varieties like Golden Delicious or Fuji, but be aware they may soften more during baking. You can also mix tart and sweet apples for a more complex flavor profile!
To keep your apple crumble fresh and delicious, allow it to cool completely to room temperature before storing. This is a crucial step to prevent the crumble topping from becoming soggy due to condensation. Once cooled, cover the dish tightly with an airtight lid or several layers of plastic wrap. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. For shorter periods, up to 2 days, you can also store it at room temperature, provided your kitchen isn’t overly warm or humid.
Yes, apple crumble freezes beautifully, whether baked or unbaked! To freeze, prepare the dish as usual. If freezing unbaked, simply assemble it in a freezer-safe dish, cover it tightly with an airtight lid or several layers of plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil. If freezing an already baked crumble, allow it to cool completely before wrapping. Unbaked crumble can be stored in the freezer for 2-3 months. Baked crumble is best enjoyed within 1 month. When ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, then bake (for unbaked) or reheat (for baked) according to recipe instructions, adjusting time as needed.
This recipe is designed for a 9×13 inch baking dish, and the crumble topping amount is quite generous, ensuring full coverage. If you opt for a smaller baking dish, which will result in a thicker apple filling base, we highly recommend halving the crumble topping ingredients. This prevents an overwhelming topping-to-filling ratio. Conversely, if you want a larger, more substantial apple filling while still using a 9×13 inch dish, you can double only the apple filling ingredients without needing to adjust the topping. This flexibility allows you to customize your crumble to your preference!
Expert Tip: Achieve the Best Crumble Texture
- Cold Butter is Key: Always use very cold butter, cut into small cubes, for the topping. This is essential for creating those delightful pockets of flakiness and crispiness as the crumble bakes. Warm butter will melt too quickly and lead to a less crumbly, more dough-like texture.
- Don’t Overmix the Topping: When cutting in the butter, stop as soon as the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, making the topping tough instead of tender and crumbly.
- Even Apple Slices: Cut your apples into uniform slices to ensure they cook evenly. This prevents some apples from being mushy while others are still hard.
- Look for the Bubbles: You’ll know your apple crumble is perfectly baked when the apple filling is bubbling generously around the edges of the dish and the topping is deeply golden brown. This indicates the apples are tender and the flavors have melded beautifully.
Irresistible Serving Suggestions for Your Apple Crumble
While delicious on its own, a warm apple crumble truly transforms into an extraordinary dessert with the right accompaniments. Serve generous scoopfuls in a bowl or on a plate, ideally while still warm from the oven. The classic pairing is, of course, a large scoop of rich vanilla ice cream. The cold, creamy ice cream melting into the hot, spiced apples creates an exquisite harmony of temperatures and textures.
Beyond vanilla ice cream, consider these other delightful options:
- A decadent drizzle of homemade or store-bought caramel sauce or rich butterscotch sauce.
- A dollop of freshly whipped cream, perhaps infused with a hint of cinnamon or vanilla extract.
- A spoonful of crème fraîche or Greek yogurt for a tangy counterpoint that cuts through the sweetness.
- For an extra touch of indulgence, serve it alongside a warm vanilla bean custard or a light, homemade hard sauce.
However you choose to enjoy it, this warm apple crumble promises to be a comforting and satisfying treat that embodies the heart of fall baking.
More Delightful Apple Recipes to Try
If you love this apple crumble, you’ll surely enjoy these other apple-centric recipes from our kitchen:
- Apple Hand Pies: Portable pockets of apple goodness.
- Apple Pie Bites: Quick, bite-sized versions of apple pie.
- Air Fryer Apple Fries: A fun, healthier take on apple snacks.
- Crockpot Cinnamon Apples: Effortlessly tender and spiced apples.
- Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider: A warm and inviting beverage for chilly days.
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Apple Crumble
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 6 cups sliced Granny Smith apples about 3 pounds of apples
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 lemon
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup unsalted butter cold and cut into pieces
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Things You’ll Need
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13×9 baking dish
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Apple corer
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Pastry cutter
Before You Begin
- Generally, 1 medium apple is about ½ pound. For this recipe, we used approximately 6 Granny Smith apples, totaling about 3 pounds, which yielded the recommended 6 cups of sliced apples.
- This recipe provides a generous amount of crumble topping, perfect for fully covering a 9×13 inch baking dish. If you opt to use a smaller baking dish, which will result in a thicker layer of apple filling, we suggest halving the crumble topping ingredients to maintain a balanced ratio. Alternatively, for a deeper apple layer in a 9×13 inch dish, you can double just the apple filling ingredients.
- For the best texture, we recommend using old-fashioned rolled oats in your crumble topping. They are thicker and heartier, contributing a delightful chewiness and crunch. However, if quick-cooking oats are all you have on hand, they can be substituted, though the texture of the topping may be slightly less robust.
- The choice of apple is crucial for the perfect apple crumble. Granny Smith apples are our preferred choice for their tart-sweet flavor and ability to hold their shape during baking. Other excellent baking apples include Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Gala. If you prefer a sweeter profile, Golden Delicious or Fuji apples work well, but be mindful that they tend to soften more.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. An easy trick is to use the butter wrapper to grease the dish, or opt for a nonstick cooking spray.
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Peel, core, and cut the apples into uniform slices. Place the apples in a large mixing bowl.
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Add the lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour to the apples, then toss gently to combine. Spread the apple mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
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In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, old-fashioned oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a pastry blender or two forks to “cut in” the butter until a coarse crumble mixture has formed.
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Evenly sprinkle the prepared crumble topping over the apples in the baking dish.
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Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the apple filling is bubbling around the edges and the topping is beautifully golden brown and crispy.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post was originally published here on August 30, 2022.