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This delicious apple crumble recipe is the quintessential Fall dessert, made with spiced apple filling and an irresistible crumble topping. Even better, I’ve perfected just 5 easy steps to make the best crumble recipe you’ve ever tasted, which I’m sharing with you below.
Get ready for the BEST Apple Crumble Recipe
I take my apple desserts seriously, and this apple crumble is no exception. It starts with crisp apples, cooked with a sugar and spice mixture that I’ve tested and tweaked to apple spice perfection.
On top, a crispy crumble with the perfect balance between flour and butter, which ensures a crispy, buttery crumble mixture. I’ve got all my best tips below, including the best kind of apples to use.
This cinnamon apple crumble is one of my personal favorite dessert recipes to use fresh apples in. The crunchy topping resting on top of the mouthwatering apple mixture, paired with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream – need I say more? Let’s get into the details so you can get to baking a delicious dessert!
Apple Crumble vs Apple Crisp
The main difference between an apple crumble and an apple crisp is the topping. A crumble’s topping is more like a streusel, made with flour, sugar, and butter. An apple crisp topping uses oats, flour, sugar, and butter.
Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients
This is the perfect dessert to make during apple season, and the perfect way to use up extra apples! Keep reading below for all my best tips and get the full ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.
Apple Filling
- Apples: I recommend Granny Smith, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady Cut the apples into 1-inch by 1/2 inch pieces.
- Granulated sugar
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
Crumble Topping
- All purpose flour
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
Have an abundance of apples? Add apple empanadas to your baking list!
How to Make Apple Crumble without Oats
Tender apples spiced to perfection with a crumbly topping makes this easy recipe addictive – don’t say I didn’t warn you! The whole thing takes just about an hour and is done in just 5 simple steps. Get the full recipe with measurements and ingredients in the recipe card below.
Apple Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. No need to spray the pan. In your baking dish (you can use a 8×8 inch pan, 8 inch round pan, 9×9 inch pan, 9 inch round pan, 7×11 inch pan, basically you can use any dish that is 2 to 2.5 quarts) combine the apples, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss with a spoon or spatula to combine.
How to Make Apple Crumble Topping
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and melted butter. Use a spatula to mix the crumb. The mixture will be thick and you must stir well (elbow grease!) to combine all the dry ingredients. Continue to combine until the mixture looks wet. It’s okay if the mixture is “sandy” in texture. Use your hands to squeeze clumps together, forcing the mixture together.
- Use your fingers to break the topping into clumps, evenly distributing over the apples.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes. Check to see if the crisp is bubbling and if the topping is golden. If those two things have not occurred, bake for 10-20 additional minutes. The bake time will depend on what size of pan you used. I baked my crisp for 60 minutes in an oval 7×11 inch pan. Allow the crumble to cool for 10-15 minutes. This allows the juices to thicken, then serve.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream.
How to serve this Simple Apple Crumble Recipe
This cozy dessert is my absolute favorite to serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of my easy whipped cream recipe. You can also top each individual serving with a drizzle of caramel sauce or chopped nuts.
Easy Apple Crumble Recipe Storage
To store leftovers, either cover them in the baking dish or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. I recommend reheating it in a 350ºF oven until warmed through, although the microwave will work in a pinch—the topping just won’t be as crispy.
To freeze, place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat it according to the instructions above.
Easy Apple Crumble FAQs
The main difference between an apple pie and an apple crumble is the crust vs topping. A pie is traditionally enclosed inside a buttery crust, while a crumble has no crust on the bottom or sides, but has a crumbly topping.
The balance between flour and butter is critical to making a crunchy crumble recipe. If your crumble is too dry, try adding a little more butter. Avoid pressing it firmly or processing it too finely. It should be crumbly with lumps of butter before baking. If it seems too soggy, try adding a little more flour.
In the perfect apple crumble, ideally, your apples should be soft and cooked. The contrast of the soft apples to the crunch of the crumb topping is what makes an apple crisp so good.
To thicken an apple crumble recipe, we use cornstarch in the apple filling.
More Apple Recipes
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Easy Apple Crumble without Oats
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 7 cups peeled & chopped apples, 6-7 large or 8-10 small apples, I recommend Granny Smith, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, or Pink Lady Cut the apples into 1 inch by 1/2 inch pieces
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
Crumble Topping
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour, 180 grams
- ⅔ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
Apple Filling
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. No need to spray the pan. In your baking dish (you can use a 8×8 inch pan, 8 inch round pan, 9×9 inch pan, 9 inch round pan, 7×11 inch pan, basically you can use any dish that is 2 to 2.5 quarts) combine the apples, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Toss with a spoon or spatula to combine.
Crumble Topping
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and melted butter. Use a spatula to mix the crumb. The mixture will be thick and you must stir well (elbow grease!) to combine all the dry ingredients. Continue to combine until the mixture looks wet. It’s okay if the mixture is “sandy” in texture. Use your hands to squeeze clumps together, forcing the mixture together.
- Use your fingers to break the topping into clumps, evenly distributing over the apples.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes. Check to see if the crisp is bubbling and if the topping is golden. If those two things have not occurred, bake for 10-20 additional minutes. The bake time will depend on what size of pan you used. I baked my crisp for 60 minutes in an oval 7×11 inch pan. Allow the crumble to cool for 10-15 minutes. This allows the juices to thicken, then serve.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream.
I used to make apple pies just like these for my ex-husband and he loved them! You can put these in the freezer unbaked also! 😋 These Adds drive me crazy though!!
Thank you, Beth!!
Karen Camp
Just made this recipe. It was easy to make and delicious.
The best I have ever made..love your recipes..they never fail to impress me thank uou
This literally tastes like fall! I’m obsessed — and now my house smells AMAZING!