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?
Me too! See?
Life of Dozer
This is why I don’t need a compost!!!
This looks delicious
I was just wondering if I wanted to prepare the dish earlier in the day should I par cook the apples separately, cool and put it in the fridge? Or just prepare the apples and crumble separately put it in the fridge and when I’m ready to cook assemble and cook it? Just conscious that apples can go mushy
Hi Rachel, I would prepare the ingredients and see them separate – make sure you squeeze a good amount of lemon over the apples to stop them browning. N x
Hi
I want to try make this for dessert tonight but was wondering what powered cinnamon is? Is it different from grounded cinnamon?
Hi Nicole, it’s the same as ground cinnamon 🙂
Hi Nagi, any suggestions on how you would add rhubarb to your apple crumble recipe? Xx
Hi Dana, I love apple and rhubarb – a classic combination! I would sub out 1/3 of the apple with rhubarb cut the same size. Cook as per the recipe 🙂 N x
IS THEIR A GOOD TOPPING WITHOUT OATS?
Hi Mary, sorry I use oats in all my crumble toppings for extra texture. N x
Hi Nagia, I’m bursting to try this apple crumble recipe, but don’t have any cups, only mugs! How can I measure the ingredients please? Many thanks.
Hi Gill, click on the metric button and everything will convert to grams for you. N x
Thanks very much. I never saw that!
Is the oven temp for a fan oven please?
If not, what temp will it be?
Many thanks.
So yum!! I had only 250g of apple (after peeling) so I made all the ingredients 1/4. The filling turned out great but it ended up being slightly insufficient for crumbles with a quarter of the original amounts. Maybe becauae I wasn’t satisfied with a thin layer of crumbles? 🙂 anyway it turned out great!! Oats five the fun in texture as well. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Thanks Vera, I’ll have a look.
Another fabulous recipe! Best apple crumble ever. Your recipes are making a diet in ISO impossible haha. Thanks again for another winner yummmm..
Fantastic recipe which achieved a huge “thumbs up” from my super fussy teenage daughter. She says I can make this one again. She has never said that about any previous crumble recipe that I have tried and regularly requests the supermarket version! Thanks Nagi for giving me an approved alternative.
Made this the other night and it is definitely the best recipe out there. I love how you include a video and various permutations for using different fruits, etc. Well done. Thank you.
Hi Nagi, l made this for the 1st time, was a bit worried the apples wouldn’t be cooked without pre cooking them. It came out perfect. Onlu difference is it took longer to cook, about 50mins. Will definetely make it again. Thanks for the easy and delicious recipe.
Oh my goodness. I am not much of a cook, but this is hands down the best apple crumble I’ve ever made. The only slight change I made is to increase the topping by half, which gives it a beautiful thick crunchy topping. I will never made another dessert again!! Thank you so much.
I made this and it was lovely. Loved the filling but don’t like oats. Can you tell me a topping recipe using the same filling and same measurements for filling but with NO oats in the crumble please. I’m a novice cook so not yet any good with adapting recipes. Thank you.
Hi diane, I recomend useing a recipe like Jamie Oliver’s crumble recipie (google it) as it uses a base of flour!
OK Vera, thanks, will try this too
I would use some desiccated coconut. Should work fine! In fact my Mum would add that to her oats in her crumbles.
Thank you, I’ll try this Locky
Nagi is it possible to double the crumble and make it like a pie by putting it on the bottom of a round springform baking tray and around the sides?? Thanks.
Maybe check out Nagi’s Fresh Strawberry Bars! She does something similar. Although in that recipe you only need to reserve 1 cup for the crumble topping; the rest is used for the base. Doubling would probably give you enough for the sides as well!
Best crumble I’ve had, the only thing I’d do differently next time is make more crumble mixture as it’s so good!
Agree! I doubled my crumble recipe. Gawd it was too good!
I’m all for this idea too! N x
I made this recipe with gluten free all purpose flour and Earth Balance (a butter alternative). It was dairy and gluten free and I was even able to serve to my vegan sister. Easy and delicious! Love it!
Woah – that’s awesome Jane! N x
My kids favourite – I just varied it using coconut sugar for a slightly healthier option 🙂
I love hearing this Nicholas! N x
Can I use half a cup of oats instead of a full cup?
Lovely recipe! Thanks for sharing. Totally love the fact that I didn’t have to pre-cook the apples. Fuss-free a d delicious! It’s a winner! 👍🏻👍🏻
I’m so glad you loved it Nina, thanks so much! N x
Do you think I could prepare this in advance? Want it for dessert tomorrow evening
Made this tonight, and it’s the best apple crumble I’ve ever had. As I’ve always stewed the apples first, I was afraid the crumble topping would burn before the apples were ready. However, they were beautifully tender and saucy without being wet. Perfect. Will never make it any other way again!