Apple Crumble Base Recipe

This easy homemade Apple Crumble is our favorite dessert for apple season! With it’s sweet, caramelized apple filling and crumbly topping this simple, comforting dessert is most definitely a crowd pleaser! Serve warm and bubbling from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a memorable, easy dessert!

Of all the apple recipes I make each fall, this sensational Apple Crumble is my favorite. It takes just minutes to make and the flavor is unmatched. It screams of fall and is the perfect way to enjoy apple season. The crumble topping is exceptionally delicious and the perfect complement to the spiced apple filling.

The sweet apple filling caramelizes while it’s baking resulting in a tantalizing texture and deep, caramel flavor. It’s one of those desserts that work equally well in the summer and winter months.

Apple Crumble (without Oats)

I love to make up this crumble for the holidays in place of or in addition to my Deep Dish Dutch Apple Pie. It’s unexpected and delicious and the perfect excuse to add ice cream to our decadent dessert lineup.

For a mouthwatering, other-worldly experience, serve this Apple Crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce. I have no words for the magic that this is but the moans of delight I hear when I serve it speak volumes.

This recipe uses baking staples and apples. It’s simple, straight forward and easy enough that my 12 year old can make it on his own. If you want to make quick work of the apples, consider investing in an apple peeler corer slicer. They are AMAZING and a must if you’re working with apples a lot.

Apple Crumble Pie Recipe (dutch Apple Pie)

Even without that handy piece of equipment, I am able to core, peel and slice in about 6 or 7 minutes. The entire recipes comes together in about 10 minutes giving the oven just enough time to preheat.

For a fun twist, top with dollops of homemade whipped cream and a dusting of homemade apple pie spice! What Is The Difference Between a Cobbler, Crumble and Crisp?

I love that this recipe calls for pantry ingredients because it’s one of those recipes we’ll make a dozen of times during the cooler months of the year.

Apple Crumb Squares

As always, you can find the full printable recipe with complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

What kind of apples should I use? I prefer Granny Smith apples for all or half of the recipe. For this particular version, I used half Granny Smith and half Honeycrisp apples. You can use virtually any kind of apple for this recipe so use what you have on hand.

Do I have to peel the apples? You’re going to love this – NO! You can absolutely leave the peel on just make sure to wash the apples well. The peel will add a nice texture to the apple filling in this easy apple crumble recipe.

Quick & Easy Apple Crumble Recipe

This easy homemade Apple Crumble is our favorite dessert for apple season! With it’s sweet, caramelized apple filling and crumbly topping, this simple, comforting dessert is most definitely a crowd pleaser! Serve warm and bubbling from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a memorable, easy dessert!

Calories: 367 kcal | Carbohydrates: 67 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 12 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 30 mg | Sodium: 301 mg | Potassium: 254 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 47 g | Vitamin A: 428 IU | Vitamin C: 7 mg | Calcium: 57 mg | Iron: 1 mgFeast your eyes on this delicious apple crumble with warm spices and a crunchy buttery topping. Sauteing the apples before baking speeds up the cooking time and creates a fantastic caramelized flavor.

A freshly baked apple crumble is the perfect dessert for sharing, and it’s easy to make. When there’s not enough time to construct a classic apple pie, this sweet treat is a quicker alternative that delivers similar warm fruit flavors and a crunchy crust. The glazed caramel slices and buttery, crumbly topping go great with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

The Best Apple Crumb Pie

One of the biggest challenges with crumbles is thoroughly cooking the apple filling while achieving a dry, crisp surface. Don’t worry. I have a simple solution! Pre-cooking the fruit on the stovetop concentrates the juices before baking. This process also cuts down on bake time and gives less moisture for the flour crumble to absorb. The result is tender fruit and an extra crunchy top.

When the fall season hits, grab a batch of Honeycrisp apples. Their fruit is sweet and tart yet balanced in flavor. Their juicy flesh is also sturdy enough for cooking and doesn’t fall apart like mealy red apples. You can use other types of apples like Fuji, McIntosh, Braeburn, or Golden Delicious if you want a sweeter filling. I would only use Granny Smith apples with a mix of other sweeter varieties for a more tart flavor.

I prefer to pre-cook the apples on the stovetop instead of guessing if they thoroughly soften during baking. This sauteing process allows you to see the juices release and concentrate. Slice them into ½-inch thick pieces. They will reduce by about half in volume.

Thermomix Apple Crumble

Toss them with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, lemon juice and zest, brown and granulated sugar for a balanced taste. I add a small amount of flour to create a thick syrup-like glaze, but you can omit this for a thinner consistency. When sauteing, don’t let the apples turn entirely mushy as they will finish cooking in the oven.

Compared to rolling out a pie crust, a crumble topping is fast and straightforward to prepare. Just combine all-purpose flour with the dried ingredients first. A combination of dark brown sugar and granulated sugar adds sweetness, with some molasses for a deeper caramel note. Salt and cinnamon prevent the flour mixture from tasting bland.

My secret ingredient for a super crunchy texture is to add baking powder. The leavening agent slightly puffs up the topping, creating a more hollow, snappy bite. I also add melted butter instead of cold butter to hydrate the flour and bind the topping ingredients together. This technique develops more aromatic flavor compounds that taste like butterscotch, similar to making browned butter. It tastes like cinnamon graham crackers, so delicious!

Easy Apple Crumble Recipe

The topping will be clumpy. You’ll need to break it into various pieces about the size of a dime. Sprinkle it evenly on top to cover the pre-cooked apples. Bake at 375ºF (191ºC) to cook the topping and further tenderize the fruit. The flour and sugars will harden and turn golden brown. The caramel flavors developed in the crust complement the cinnamon apple filling.

The dessert tastes better when cooled for at least 30 to 45 minutes if you can be patient. Resting gives the butter and sugars in the topping time to cool and harden. It also allows the sauce to thicken up into a syrupy glaze over the fruit.

They both have similar fruit bases and streusel-style toppings made from flour, butter, and sugar. The difference is that an apple crisp typically contains oats, while a crumble is just flour. Variations can be made in each, often adding chopped nuts for extra crunch.

Easy Apple Crumble With Vanilla Custard Sauce

The topping should be dry to the touch and golden brown. The apple filling will soften and bubble on the edges of the baking pan.

Apples that hold their structure when cooked. For a sweeter and tart balance, use Honeycrisp, Fuji, McIntosh, or Braeburn. Use Granny Smith apples for a more tart flavor.

Yes, since the crumble contains fresh fruit, refrigerate after cooling completely. The humidity will cause the topping to pick up moisture, so it’s best to eat within two days. Reheating in the oven at 350-degrees will help dry the surface and make it crunchy again.

Apple Crumble Pie

If you’ve ever had an apple crumble that wasn’t crunchy, it’s because the fruit was not pre-cooked before baking. Adding the apples raw to the baking pan will steam and release too much moisture. This liquid soaks up into the topping’s flour and gets soggy on the bottom instead of being crunchy throughout.

A freshly baked apple crumble with warm spices and a crunchy topping is a perfect dessert for sharing especially with a scoop of ice cream.

Calories 323 kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 58 g (19%) Protein 2 g (4%) Fat 10 g (15%) Saturated Fat 6 g (30%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g Monounsaturated Fat 3 g Trans Fat 1 g Cholesterol 26 mg (9%) Sodium 190 mg (8%) Potassium 236 mg (7%) Fiber 4 g (16%) Sugar 40 g (44%) Vitamin A 384 IU (8%) Vitamin C 7 mg (8%) Calcium 47 mg (5%) Iron 1 mg (6%)

Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.

I'm a culinary school graduate, cookbook author, and a mom who loves croissants! My passion is creating recipes