Apple Crumble Recipe

This Apple Crumble Recipe is a warm and cozy dessert, which is made with tart Granny Smith apples and a crunchy brown sugar topping. It’s the ultimate comfort food recipe, ready in about an hour and 20 minutes.

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Apple Crumble Ingredients

For the Apple Filling:

Salted butter, for the baking dish
8 medium baking apples (such as Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Braeburn; about 4 pounds), peeled, cored, and sliced
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 cup granulated sugar
1 heaping Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. kosher salt

For the Topping:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Pinch of kosher salt
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) salted butter, melted

How To Make Apple Crumble

Prep Oven and Apples: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch baking dish with butter. Place the sliced apples in the prepared dish, drizzle with lemon juice, and toss to coat.
Season the Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Sprinkle this mixture over the apples and use your hands to toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated. Pat the slices down into an even layer.
Make the Crumble Topping: In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, chopped walnuts, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture forms moist clumps.
Assemble and Bake: Sprinkle the topping in an even layer over the apples. Bake for 55 minutes to 1 hour, until the topping is slightly crisp and golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Serve: Let the crumble rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature, on its own or with a scoop of ice cream.

Recipe Tips

What are the best apples for a crumble? Firm apples that hold their shape and offer a balance of sweet and tart flavors are best. Granny Smith apples are a classic choice for their tartness, while Honeycrisp and Braeburn are great sweet-tart options.
How to get a crispy topping? The melted butter mixed with the dry ingredients creates a wonderful, crunchy streusel-like topping. Be sure not to overmix it; you want to maintain some clumps for the best texture.
Can I make this ahead of time? This dessert is best served warm from the oven. However, you can prepare the apple filling and the crumble topping ahead of time. Store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to a day, then assemble and bake just before serving.
My topping is browning too quickly. What should I do? If you notice the topping is getting too dark before the filling is bubbly and cooked through, you can loosely cover the baking dish with a piece of aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.

What To Serve With Apple Crumble

This classic dessert is delicious on its own but is even better served warm with:

A scoop of vanilla bean or cinnamon ice cream
A drizzle of warm caramel sauce
A dollop of fresh whipped cream or thick custard (crème anglaise)

How To Store Apple Crumble

Refrigerate: Let the crumble cool completely, then cover it and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the entire dish back in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes to warm through and re-crisp the topping.

Apple Crumble Nutrition Facts

Calories: 450-550 kcal
Fat: 25g
Carbohydrates: 60g
Protein: 5g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a crumble and a crisp?

They are very similar! Traditionally, a crumble has a streusel-like topping made of flour, sugar, and butter. A crisp has a similar topping but almost always includes rolled oats, which makes it “crispier.”

Can I use a different nut?

Yes. If you don’t have walnuts, chopped pecans or sliced almonds would be delicious substitutes. For a nut-free version, simply omit them.

Why did my filling turn out watery?

This usually happens if the crumble is sliced while it’s still piping hot. Letting it rest for 15-20 minutes after it comes out of the oven is a crucial step that allows the apple juices to thicken and set up properly.

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Recipe by Marry ThompsonCourse: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hour

Calories

550

kcal

A warm and bubbly filling of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples baked under a crunchy, golden-brown walnut and brown sugar crumble topping.

Ingredients

Filling: 8 medium baking apples (peeled & sliced), 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 heaping Tbsp. flour, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. salt.
Topping: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1/4 tsp each of baking powder & baking soda, pinch of salt, 1 stick (8 Tbsp.) salted butter, melted.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch dish.
Toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, then toss with a mixture of the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Spread into the dish.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, walnuts, baking powder, baking soda, and salt for the topping.
Stir the melted butter into the topping mixture to form moist clumps.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the apples.
Bake for 55-60 minutes until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly.
Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Letting the crumble rest after baking is essential as it allows the fruit filling to set up.
Use a firm apple variety like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp that will hold its shape during baking.
This dessert is best served warm with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
The recipe is easily adaptable with other fruits like peaches, pears, or berries.