This Easy Apple Crumble is made with super simple ingredients. It’s an effortless dessert you can make for Thanksgiving or Christmas, with a warm, cozy filling and a sweet, sugary topping.
If you love this apple recipe, you’ll definitely want to try my apple squares recipe and my apple fritter recipes.
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Why this Easy Apple Crumble Recipe is a Keeper
This easy dessert with a crumbly topping and caramelized apple filling is the perfect way to celebrate apple seasoning. The buttery brown sugar crumble topping is golden brown, made with rolled oats, sugar, and spice. Inside this delicious dessert is a mouthwatering apple filling. It’s just as good as Dutch apple pie, and even easier to make. Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this recipe for apple crumble, made with crisp apples and a crunchy oat topping:
- Freezes Well: Make this easy apple crisp ahead of time, then freeze later.
- Kid-Friendly: This easy apple crisp recipe with oats is easy for kids to make and eat.
- Great for Leftovers: The leftover crumble taste just as good, if not better.
- Comforting: This delicious apple crumble has a comforting, homey feel that makes you want to return to it.
What is the Difference Between an Apple Crumble and an Apple Crisp?
Both apple crumbles and apple crisps are baked desserts with apple fillings, and streusel on top. However, apple crisps contain oats, which give them a crunchy texture.
Ingredient Notes for the Best Apple Crumble Recipe
- Fresh Apples: Peel, core, and cut the apples.
- Sugar: This apple recipe uses white sugar for the filling.
- Flour: Make this apple crumble recipe with all purpose flour.
- Cinnamon: Use one or more teaspoons of cinnamon for the apple spice.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for this Fall Dessert
- Slice the apples: If you prefer to slice the apples fresh, you can do this ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator.
- Make the crumble topping in advance: Mix the butter, sugar, flour, and any other ingredients for the crumble topping. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Pro Tip for this Apple Recipe
Apple crumble is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
How to Make Apple Crumble Dessert Recipe
This buttery crumble is the perfect dessert for fall. With a crisp topping and fresh apples, it’s one of our favorite desserts. Serve this crumble with a scoop of ice cream.
These are the basic steps for making homemade apple crumble. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Make the Spiced Apple Filling Mixture
First, spread the apples in an even layer in a 13×9 baking dish. In a medium bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Distribute evenly over the apples, then pour water into the pan.
2. Make the Crumb Topping
Combine oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and melted butter in a medium bowl. Mix the topping ingredients until crumbly, then sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apple mixture. Bake until golden brown and crispy, for at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Apple Crumble with Streusel Topping
- Storing: Store leftover apple crumble in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave until warmed through.
- Using Leftovers: Leftover crumble should stay good for 3-4 days.
Variations and Substitutions for Homemade Apple Crisp
- Nutty Crumble: Incorporate nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a nutty crunch.
- Chocolate Crumble: Add chocolate chips or cocoa powder to the crumble topping for a decadent twist. You can also season the apples with nutmeg or homemade apple pie spice.
Recipe FAQs
Serve this apple crumble with these other apple desserts: homemade apple fritters, mini apple pie bites, or pumpkin spice air fryer apples.
Yes; if you want, you can add caramel sauce to the apple crumble topping.
Granny Smith apples are recommended, as they hold their shape well while baking. You can also try Honeycrisp, pink lady, or Golden Delicious apples.
Expert Tips for Making Easy Apple Crumble
- Add Nuts: A good crumble can be enhanced with walnuts or pecans.
- Raisins: Add raisins or dried cranberries to the sliced apples for a different taste.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add lemon juice or lemon zest to the apple cobbler.
- Alternate cooking method tip: This easy apple crumble can also be cooked in the air fryer or crock pot.
Easy Apple Crumble
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Ingredients
Filling
- 10 cups Apples, peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ cup Water
Topping
- 1 cup Quick Oats
- 1 cup Flour
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ cup Butter, melted
Instructions
- Spread apples in an even layer in a 13×9 pan.
- In a medium bowl, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon.
- Distribute the mixture evenly over the apples. Pour water into the pan.
- To prepare topping, combine all of the topping ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Mix until the texture becomes crumbly.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Christina’s Notes
- Add Nuts: A good crumble can be enhanced with walnuts or pecans.
- Raisins: Add raisins or dried cranberries to the sliced apples for a different taste.
- Variation tip: Feel free to add lemon juice or lemon zest to the apple cobbler.
- Alternate cooking method tip: This easy apple crumble can also be cooked in the air fryer or crock pot.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
I followed all the easy steps you provided and am grateful I did, It was a hit! I’m not making apple crisp any other way again.
A scrumptious fall classic! Your recipe is easy to prepare and so delicious. Thank you for posting it!
Super easy and everyone loved this! Can’t wait to try your air fryer suggestion next.
sorry if the answer to this is right under my nose-but
do you put the topping on top before you put in in the oven or after it’s done?
Sorry…you put it on BEFORE you bake it. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Gonna have to hit the farmer’s market this weekend and stock up on some apples!
Sounds delish! Nothing better than the smell of cinnamon and other “fall” spices! I spent the weekend making apple “goodies” too 🙂
http://littlemommybigappetite.blogspot.com/2011/09/apples-three-ways-grilled-apple-pizza.html