Apple Crumble Recipe
Apple crumble is one of those heartwarming desserts that strikes the perfect balance between sweet, tangy fruit and buttery, crunchy topping. It’s simple yet satisfying, making it a favorite for both casual family dinners and special occasions. This recipe, featuring tart Granny Smith apples and a cinnamon-infused crumble topping, is a timeless classic. The best part? It can be served warm, fresh from the oven, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream that melts into the nooks and crannies of the crumble. Let’s dive into what makes this dessert so irresistible.
The Essential Ingredients
To create the perfect apple crumble, the ingredients for both the filling and the topping play a crucial role. Granny Smith apples are a top choice because of their tartness, which balances beautifully with the sweetness of the sugar and the warm spices in the crumble. For the filling, you’ll need ground cinnamon, flour to help thicken the juices, lemon juice to enhance the tartness, and sugar to sweeten the apples just enough. The topping consists of rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, and a pinch of salt, all brought together by melted butter and spiced with cinnamon.
Flexibility is key in this recipe. Brown sugar can be swapped for white sugar if desired, and lemon juice can be replaced with water for a milder flavor. Quick oats can stand in for rolled oats if that’s what you have on hand. This recipe is both versatile and forgiving, allowing for some variation without compromising the final result.
The Step-by-Step Process
Prepping the Apples
The first step in making the crumble is to prepare the apples. After peeling the Granny Smiths, chop them into uniform cubes, about half an inch in size. This ensures they cook evenly in the oven. Toss the diced apples with flour, sugar, cinnamon, and a drizzle of lemon juice. This mixture will create a slightly thickened syrup as it bakes, enveloping the apple pieces in a delightful sweet-tart sauce.
Crafting the Topping
The crumble topping is all about texture. Mix the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture resembles wet sand. It should hold together in small clumps, perfect for scattering over the apple filling. If needed, use your fingers to break it up into smaller pieces for an even distribution.
Baking to Perfection
Once the apples are nestled in the baking dish and the crumble is evenly spread on top, it’s time to bake. The crumble should bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 30 to 40 minutes. You’re looking for a golden-brown topping that’s crisp to the touch. After removing the dish from the oven, let it rest for 10 minutes. This allows the apple syrup to thicken slightly, ensuring each bite is the perfect balance of fruit and topping.
Recipe Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing the Best Apples:
Granny Smith apples are ideal for this recipe due to their firm texture and tart flavor, which contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the topping. However, you can experiment with other varieties like Honeycrisp or Braeburn for a sweeter or slightly softer filling.
Alternative Additions:
Try mixing in some berries or pears with the apples for a different flavor profile. A handful of chopped nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, added to the topping will give it an extra crunch.
Ensuring a Crunchy Topping:
To make sure your topping is extra crunchy, bake the crumble uncovered for the entire cooking time. This helps the topping to firm up and brown evenly.
Storing Leftovers:
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the crumble back in the oven at a low temperature to warm it through while keeping the topping crisp.
Can You Use Other Apples?:
Absolutely. While Granny Smith is a classic choice, feel free to use any firm apple variety like Jonagold, Fuji, or Golden Delicious.
No Oats? No Problem:
If you don’t have oats, you can substitute with more flour. The texture will be different, but the flavor will still be delicious.
Make-Ahead Option:
This apple crumble can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. Just be sure to add the crumble topping right before baking to keep it crunchy.
Preventing Sogginess:
To avoid a soggy crumble, make sure the apples are spread out evenly in the baking dish, and the topping is distributed uniformly. This allows for even cooking and prevents moisture from pooling at the bottom.
Serving Suggestions Beyond Vanilla Ice Cream
While a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the classic pairing for apple crumble, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy this dessert. Whipped cream offers a light and airy alternative, while a drizzle of caramel sauce adds an extra layer of indulgence. For a rich contrast, try serving the crumble with a dollop of mascarpone or a splash of heavy cream.
When it comes to drinks, apple crumble pairs beautifully with warm beverages like coffee, chai tea, or even a spiced apple cider. If you prefer something cooler, a cold glass of milk or a scoop of cinnamon ice cream makes for an equally delightful combination.
Exploring Variations on Apple Crumble
The beauty of apple crumble lies in its versatility. You can easily customize the recipe to suit your dietary needs or personal preferences. For a gluten-free version, simply swap the plain flour for a gluten-free alternative like almond flour or a gluten-free baking blend. The oats should also be certified gluten-free.
If you’re looking for a dairy-free option, use coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute in place of the melted butter. This will still give you a crispy, golden topping with a hint of coconut flavor that pairs nicely with the apples.
For a nutty variation, mix in some chopped pecans or almonds with the crumble topping. This adds a layer of complexity to the texture and flavor. You can also experiment with different spices—nutmeg, ginger, or allspice would all complement the cinnamon beautifully.
Serving & Storage Tips
The best way to serve apple crumble is warm, straight from the oven, with the topping still crisp and the apples tender and juicy. However, if you have leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge for a few days. To reheat, cover the crumble loosely with foil and place it back in the oven at a low temperature. This will warm the filling while keeping the topping from becoming soggy.
If you’d like to freeze the crumble, bake it first, then allow it to cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. It can be frozen for up to three months. To serve, thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Enjoy every bite of this timeless dessert, whether you’re sharing it with family or savoring it as a well-deserved treat for yourself.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp plain flour
2 tbsp lemon juice (or water)
1/2 cup white sugar (brown sugar can be substituted)
2 lb / 1kg Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced (green apples)
Topping
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
125g / 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup rolled oats / quick oats
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 cup plain flour
1 cup brown sugar, loosely packed (or substitute white sugar)
To Serve
Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F (both fan and conventional ovens are fine).
Prepare the apples by peeling and chopping them into small cubes, roughly 1.5cm / 1/2 inch in size.
Make the filling by combining the apples with flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice or water, then gently toss everything together. Transfer the mixture to a 1.5-litre (or 1.5-quart) baking dish, spreading it evenly.
Create the topping by mixing the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter in a separate bowl. Stir until a crumbly texture forms, resembling wet sand. If needed, use your fingers to break the mixture into smaller clumps. Scatter this over the apple mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp. Once done, remove from the oven and loosely cover with foil to keep it warm. Let it rest for about 10 minutes so the apple juices can thicken.
Serve warm, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect finishing touch.
Apple Crumble Recipe
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 2 tbsp lemon juice or water
- 1/2 cup white sugar brown sugar can be substituted
- 2 lb / 1kg Granny Smith apples peeled and diced (green apples)
Topping
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 125 g / 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup rolled oats / quick oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 cup plain flour
- 1 cup brown sugar loosely packed (or substitute white sugar)
To Serve
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F (both fan and conventional ovens are fine).
- Prepare the apples by peeling and chopping them into small cubes, roughly 1.5cm / 1/2 inch in size.
- Make the filling by combining the apples with flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice or water, then gently toss everything together. Transfer the mixture to a 1.5-litre (or 1.5-quart) baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Create the topping by mixing the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter in a separate bowl. Stir until a crumbly texture forms, resembling wet sand. If needed, use your fingers to break the mixture into smaller clumps. Scatter this over the apple mixture.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes until the topping is golden and crisp. Once done, remove from the oven and loosely cover with foil to keep it warm. Let it rest for about 10 minutes so the apple juices can thicken.
- Serve warm, paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect finishing touch.
Notes
- Weigh the apples before peeling and coring. Granny Smith apples are ideal for their tartness, but pears, peaches, or berries work too. Just don’t skip the sugar—it helps the filling become jammy, not watery.
- This recipe is forgiving when it comes to cup measurements and works with both US and Imperial cups. Avoid using Japanese cups as they are smaller; stick to the weight measures provided.
- To make ahead, prepare the recipe up to the topping. Cover the topping and refrigerate if warm. Crumble over just before baking.
- Some find this recipe too sweet. If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the topping sugar to 1/2 cup, but keep the filling sugar the same for syrup consistency. Green apples are a great choice for a less sweet version.
- Nutrition info is based on 8 servings and excludes ice cream.