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?
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Life of Dozer
This is why I don’t need a compost!!!
I made this for a family dinner (which also included your slow roasted lamb shoulder… delicious). Without knowing the back story, my guests suggested this would be the exact dessert you’d get at a high end restaurant run by a celebrity chef that focuses on simple meals executed perfectly. So there you have it, get your sister to make this one next time!
Hi Nagi. I’m a fan of yours; I have the book and you’re my go to website when searching for a recipe. I’ve made the Apple crumble ,with pears and now with plums. When I was about to put the pear crumble in the oven, I checked my worktop only to discover I had a cupful of brown sugar left over. I carefully removed the crumble from the dish, put it into a bowl and added the sugar. 2 people said it was the best crumble ever so I repeated that yesterday, adding the sugar after the butter had been incorporated into the dry ingredients. Same result; best ever crumble. Any thoughts as to why adding the sugar last might make a difference?
What happened? The intrusive, obnoxious ads are out of control. I thought your site was immune. Really sad to have to experience this on my favorite food site 😢
Love this recipe Nagi! Have made it a few times now. Can I make apple filling night before and leave it in the fridge?
Amazing super easy recipe. My family loved it with vanilla icecream! I did half the sugar and still thought it was sweet but I used red apples.
I completely love all your recipes they are genuinely the best. I love to cook but I can never find the right recipe, not to sound too over the top but this recipe was perfect and your recipes are always bomb.
This is so good, quick to prepare and goes really well with salted caramel ice cream. Delicious 😋
I had some tinned peaches in the cupboard so used those, drained off the juice first, simply outstanding, 5 stars. thanks Nagi and Dozer
Haven’t made apple crumble before and was happy the recipient declared it, “beautiful!” Was worried the apples might be undercooked but there were lovely, soft and jammy.
I reduced the sugar amount in the topping by about 25% or more but could’ve gone down to 50%. I added 50% extra topping but will just double it next time to coat the layer of apples. Highly recommended and can see why this made the cookbook!
This is sooooo yummy and so easy, server with dollop cream 🤤 have made it twice and will continue to make it. Thanks for a great simple recipe!
This crumble was amazing, I took a few short cuts by using canned ink lady apple in juice from Aldi (3 tins), I also added 1/2 cup of coconut to the topping. It was the best crumble I have tasted and so easy to make, hubby said we will have this again!
Absolutely delicious! Highly recommend
This recipe was my second attempt at Apple Crumble – was looking for a new recipe as the first one I tried, although highly rated, was not what I hoped to get – apples and crumble were too separated and the juices from apples were too runny/watery. In this recipe I substituted all white sugar with brown sugar, and used Oat Flour instead of regular one. Turned out just PERFECT and DELICIOUS. This will be my definitely go-to recipe for apple crumble
Amazing good!
Delicious, substituted apple for pear (they needed eating)reduced the sugar by a 1/3
Delicious, reduced the sugar by a 1/3
We absolutely love this crumble! Soft apple with such a crispy, delicious top. So easy to make too.
This was the first recipe I tried from the book and it was an instant hit! So much so that my partner decided to give it a go an hour after I made it as we had already polished off the pan! He is now exclusively in charge of making this and we have it once a week! He even made it for Thanksgiving dinner. I’m drooling just thinking about it. Guess I’ll go chop some apples now!
Such an easy recipe and hands down the best apple pie I’ve ever eaten!
Hice la receta el fin de semana pasado y me encantó, el Apple Crumble está delicioso. Toda mi familia me dijo que estaba muy rico. Gracias por compartir la receta.