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:
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Life of Dozer
This is why I don’t need a compost!!!
Amazing recipe but if you want to have real crumbles use room temperature butter, do not melt and just mix the butter with your fingers into a dough. it takes a while but once you have real crumbles it will turn out much better
It has been my go to dessert to have on hand with some differences that by no means lessen the original ideas, excellent work.
Just made the crumble. Didn’t want to put oven on as it’s so hot here in QLD. Put in a dish in air fryer at 180 for 30 min. I actually think it has come out better as it is a lot crispier on the top.
Thanks.
Yum! This was delicious! A scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and my family gave it a Michelin star.
Absolutely delicious. I make it several times a year. At the moment I like to enjoy it cold for breakfast with Greek yoghurt. Great for a summer dish when served cold.
My family l9ved this recipe! We doubled the crust (because we’re crumble people) and added some blackberries and raspberries to the filling. Definitely recommend! *****
Best apple crumble ever. Reduced the sugar by half in the crumble and was perfect. The filling is exactly as you described – not watery, not dry. Yum!
This was OUTRAGEOUSLY delicious. Made it yesterday at home as I was craving a winter-warming crumble now that winter has hit HARD in London,UK. I added extra cinnamon and a punnet of blackberries. Highly recommend! Thanks for sharing this recipe which will undoubtedly become a staple in our household 🙂
Omg I first found you in Kmart & been obsessed with your recipe tins since. We loved your Apple Crumble in the Winter. When I got soooooo 😫 sick, guess who got forced to learn how to make it, by following simple steps…the guy who makes the biggest mess aka my husband lol Now he thinks he makes the best Apple Crumble…
Thank you so much xx We adore you
This apple crumble is THE best I’ve ever tasted. I reduced the sugar slightly but only because I used red apples in place of Granny Smiths. Pure perfection!! ❤️😋
Currently making this for the 3rd time since finding this recipe last month and I just love it so much😍
I made this last night for a dinner party and it was a huge hit – the best crumble I’ve ever made or had!!
This is a great recipe, I use 4 bramley apples and it’s spot on for me as regards sweet/tart and the topping is really good much prefer it to regular crumble and a lot easier to make. I’ve also made it with a bunch of random fruit that needed using up which turned out fab too.
I loved the apple crumble it tastes amazing
I usually just create apple crumble from my head without following a recipe. I wish I had found this years ago because I wouldn’t have relied on my “creations”. This is, in my opinion, absolutely delicious.
Thank you Nagi, this is a huge hit with everyone. I’ve made it twice now in the office to use up our apples. It’s makes the staff kitchen smell delicious and they all love it
Have been baking it couples of time and I put it in disposal aluminium cup casing for a family gathering. It looks good and of course it taste so yummylicious. Thank you for a great and easy recipe.
Never made a crumble using the melted butter method – seemed weird but I tried it – and this was best crumble I’ve ever made. Chewy and crispy topping. Yum!
This is the same recipe I have from the 1960s that was my grandmothers recipe except mine doesn’t have lemon juice and it says 1/4 tsp of baking soda and 1/4 tsp of baking powder. That’s the only difference. Everyone goes crazy over this when I take it to anything.
WOW, I made this on a whim for thanksgiving, since I didn’t have time or energy to commit to an apple pie, and it blew my expectations out of the water.
I cut down the size of this recipe to make approximately 3 servings, and it still worked wonderfully. I used previously frozen apple slices instead of fresh cubes, and simply drained the excess water once they thawed, then followed the recipe as normal, and it was excellent. Will be adding this to my holiday go-to recipes rotation!