With a warm, cinnamon laced apple filling and a perfectly crunchy, crumbly topping, Apple Crumble is an absolute crowd pleaser! Very easy to make, this Apple Crumble recipe is a keeper that you’ll make again and again.
This is a reader favourite included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
THE Apple Crumble recipe
This is The Apple Crumble recipe I’ve been making for years and years. Ever since my sister made an Apple Crumble by a well known celebrity chef for my birthday dinner (yes I’m weird, I seriously requested Apple Crumble instead of a birthday cake) and it was terribly disappointing.
Crumbly topping to be sure, but it was awfully dry and the filling was watery.
Not her fault, it was the recipe. She was not happy. Actually, she was rather grumpy.
That was the moment when I decided I needed to create my own recipe. 🙂
Why use this Apple Crumble recipe?
There are tons and tons of Apple Crumble recipes out there. This recipe doesn’t have any ground breaking techniques or secret ingredients. But it works, tastes great and it makes an Apple Crumble that is everything it should be. Specifically:
1. The apple filling is not dry or watery. It is made ever so slightly jammy / syrupy with the addition of flour mixed with the usual sugar (plus cinnamon for fragrance). Just a bit of flour really makes a difference; and
2. The crumbly topping bakes up beautifully crisp but is not dry or doughy or overly sweet. It crumbles when you serve it – hence the name 😉 – but it doesn’t disintegrate, there are chunks that hold together. Think chunky muesli/granola – like that. But softer. 🙂
Best apples for Apple Crumble
I like to use Granny Smith apples because the sweet-tart palette appeals to me. If you prefer not to have tartness, then feel free to use sweet red apples.
This recipe will also work for pears and even stone fruits like peaches.
The smell when this is in the oven is just heavenly. The cinnamon, the apple, the buttery sweet goodness.
And that moment when you crack through the nubbly golden topping and are greeted with the sight of golden syrupy, tender apples…
It’s just a little bit of heaven, right there.
Just one rule. Don’t forget the ice cream!!! 😇 – Nagi x
Apple Crumble
Watch how to make it
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. Mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
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Apple Crumble
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 lb / 1kg Granny Smith Apples( green apples) , weight before peeling
- 1 tbsp flour , plain / all-purpose
- 1/2 cup white sugar (sub brown sugar)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (or water)
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Topping
- 1 cup rolled oats / oatmeal (quick cooking is ok)
- 1 cup flour , plain / all-purpose
- 1 cup (loosely packed) brown sugar (sub white sugar)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 125g / 1/2 cup unsalted butter , melted
- Pinch of salt
To Serve
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F (both fan and standard).
- Apple – Peel apples, then cut into 1.5cm/ 1/2” cubes.
- Apple filling – Place apples in a bowl. Sprinkle with flour, sugar and cinnamon, then pour over lemon juice. Toss, then spread out evenly in a 1.5 litre/1.5 quart baking dish.
- Crumble topping – Place Topping ingredients in a bowl. Mix until clumps form, like wet sand (see video). Spread over the apples, crumbling with fingers if required to get that crumbly topping.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove, cover loosely with foil to keep warm and let stand for 10 minutes before serving (let's the apple syrup thicken slightly).
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!
Recipe Notes:
Originally posted April 2016, updated with new commentary, recipe video and fresh new photos. No change to recipe!Nutrition Information:
Love apple desserts?
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Life of Dozer
This is why I don’t need a compost!!!
This is a wonderful recipe but I found it really sweet & the flavour of the apples were drowned by too much sugar. I would reduce the sugar in the filling to 1/3 cup & 3/4 cup for the crumble topping. I would also add some chopped almonds or walnuts to the topping to give it a nicer texture with a bit more interest. I also would add next time 1 tsp of vanilla extract to the topping as well. If you serve this with ice cream & make the recipe as is, it really is a bit of a sugar overload & you lose the flavour of the apples unfortunately.
Hi Marin, can I ask what apples you used? Some types are sweeter than other and this could be the reason why you found it a little sweet – N x
Sure! I used fresh Granny Smith apples.
AMAZING! Love this. So easy to make & so delicious. Total hit in the household. Thank you for a wonderful recipe
So tasty! and easy to make!
This was so YUM! I read that people think it’s too sweet but I thought it was the perfect sweetness! I would totally make it again – it was so simple and easy to follow. Love all your recipes though <3
Hi Lauren, the sweetness really depends on the apples too – some apples are super sweet whereas others are tart 🙂 I’m so happy you loved it though! N x
Very impressive crumble. Husband loved it, while I had some pound cake and cream. It was a Nagi dessert night!
Wahoo!!! Ice cream with both Chels?? N x
Self raising our plain flour please
Plain flour here Karen 🙂 N x
Just made this tonight as a practice run for my husband’s birthday cake. It was amazing! I used Fuji apples and used a little less white sugar. Question: if I want to make a bigger batch in a 3qt pan, do I just double the recipe?? Thanks. 😊
Hi Donna, yes you can double the recipe – that works fine. N x
I just made this and oh my gosh it was delicious! I didn’t find it too sweet since i used granny smith apples. I ended up giving a batch to my neighbors who also loved it! def a new go to recipe!
I really enjoyed this recipe! I swapped out the fresh apple with canned, and used wholemeal flour instead of white. It was very good, though I may decrease the sugar by 1/4 cup or so as in combination with the ice cream, that is even more sugar.
Thanks Nagi ! You are without a doubt my favourite food blogger
If I don’t have some oats on me, do I need to substitute that with more flour or do I simply just omit it?
This is a hit for my family and friends every time I make apple crumble. Super easy and straight forward!
Yet another perfect recipe from Nagi! This is tart, sweet, crunchy and just Devine. I wouldn’t change a single thing!
Thanks so much Kirsty, I’m so glad you loved it!! N x
This is the best Apple Crumble I have ever eaten. So easy and absolutely delicious. Have written it in my personal recipe book so I can always find it. Thank you
I’ve just made this and I can’t stop high fiving myself. For anyone asking about gluten free, I can confirm that I replaced the flour in crumble with another cup of oats, which I blizted loosely into oat flour in a blender. I didn’t use the baking soda. It was honestly perfect. Best crumble I’ve made. GF flour in the apples too.
It was as easy and seamless as instructed. Lovely recipe and will surely be making it again and again. However found it to be a BIT too sweet. Next time I will try with half the sugar and with green apples instead. Thanks soooo much! Loved Dozer in the end too, lovely touch!
It was as easy and seamless as instructed. Lovely recipe and will surely be making it again and again. However found it to be a BIT too sweet. Next time I will try with half the sugar and with green apples instead. Thanks soooo much!
Hi D, that could be because of the type of apples you’re using, you can reduce the sugar to taste if you like here. N x
Thank Nagi, just finished baking this a second time. Kiss to Dozer, x
I stumbled across your apple crumble recipe and tried, it is delicious.
Thank you Nagi …
I will definitely check your other posts and keep smiling xxx
I used 2, 410g tins of apples and cut the sugar down to beyond half, and this still came out incredibly well. Thank you for another amazing recipie! Do you have a paper cook book for sale?
Absolutely delicious and so simple to make
Absolutely awesome – thanks Nagi