Apple Crumble
Apple Crumble is a 9×13 pan dessert full of sweetened apples and a thick crumble layer with brown sugar and oatmeal. Serve it with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream,…you will be in heaven. I promise you’ll believe it’s the best apple crumble recipe out there with tender apples and sweet fruit filling.
APPLE CRUMBLE RECIPE
My husband John is always on the search for the perfect apple crumble. It’s his favorite dessert.
He orders it at every restaurant and is always disappointed…not enough crumble on top, too dry, apples too mushy…you get the drift.
This version, however, he loved. I have always thought it’s bold to label a dish as “the best” or “perfect” because you set some really high expectations but I have no qualms about calling this the perfect apple dessert.
What I love about crumbles versus pies is that there’s no pie crust involved. I’m terrible at pie crusts.
INGREDIENTS
- Apples – you can use any fresh apples but here are my top apples for this recipe: Gala, Fiji, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, or Granny Smith. Tart apples, like Granny Smith, complement the sweetness of the crumble. You don’t have to wait until apple season. They work in this dish all year.
- Old Fashioned Oats – quick oats will work as well but I like the texture of old fashioned.
- Brown Sugar
- White Sugar
- Cinnamon – can anything be better than warm cinnamon apples?
- Flour – a bit of flour makes it a crunchy topping.
- Lemon Juice – adds a bright flavor and helps make the sauce for the apples.
- Butter – usually crumble recipes use cold butter cut in with a pastry cutter, but this version uses melted butter.
- Nutmeg – there aren’t secret ingredients in this but if there were one, this would be it. It adds that special note to the juicy apples.
- Nuts
- Baking Powder/ Baking Soda
Just peel, core, and slice the apples. Not too thick, not too thick. I like to cut them in 1/4 inch slices. Sprinkle on some cinnamon sugar…
Add your crumbly topping.
If you aren’t good at pie crusts, try this easy Apple Crumble recipe for Thanksgiving instead of apple pie. Trust me…you won’t miss your pie a bit. Those other delicious desserts won’t be any competition.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CRUMBLE
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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Place the sliced apples in a 9×13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, nutmeg, and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples.
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For the Topping: In a large bowl, combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, pecans, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
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Bake at 350 degrees for about 35-40 minutes or until apples are cooked and crumble is golden brown.
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Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Serve warm with ice cream!
THE BEST APPLES FOR APPLE CRUMBLE
The kind of apples matter for your apple filling. Granny Smith apples are slightly tart and firm which make them great for baking apple desserts. You can’t miss these…they’re green apples.
OTHER APPLE RECIPES:
- Apple Muffins
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Apple Pie Caramel Apple
- Apple Crisp Pizza
- Salted Caramel Apple Cups
- Apple Crisp Cheese Danish
- Appledoodle Cookies
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake
Apple Crumble
Apple Crumble is a 9x13 pan dessert full of sweetened apples and a thick crumble layer with brown sugar and oatmeal. Serve it with some ice cream and you will be in heaven. I promise you'll believe it's the perfect crumble recipe.
Ingredients
Apples:
- 10 cups apples, peeled, cored and sliced (I use about 6 Granny Smith apples)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Topping:
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour, nutmeg, and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour lemon juice on top.
- For the Topping: Combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nuts (if using) and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 35-40 minutes or until apples are cooked and crumble is golden brown.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
Can this be made ahead of time? If so, how far ahead? Thanks 🙂
Honestly. The crumble will get soggy if made too far ahead of time. It’s best the same day but great reheated if you don’t mind a non crispy topping
Just came across this recipe grouping and want to try several. I never make traditional crust pie either. My grandmother always made “Crumb Apple Pie” which sounds like yours minus the oatmeal and nuts. Has always been a hit but will try your version to compare the topping as it does sound good! Thanks!
Thank you!
I’ve never made anything with apples when I came across this recipe I though
I’m going to see if I can make it. We’ll to my surprise it came out fabulous
I don’t like any apple desert that has apples that are crunchy when eaten this recipe doesn’t do that the apples are melt in your mouth delicious. The crumble top is so good that if I ever try to make another pie I would use the crumble top.
This is a can’t go wrong recipe!
P.s. Dairy queens vanilla ice cream tops it off fabulously!
Yay that makes me so happy to hear!
This was the first time I’ve ever made something with apples and it came out awesome!!
SUPER EASY to make!!
I loved the crumble instead of a pie crust!
Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!
You’re welcome!
Can this be made ahead of time and refrigerated up until baking day for Thanksgiving?
Where and when do you add the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice? I read through the directions and recipe 3 times and couldn’t find when or where to add the lemon juice. I punted and poured it over the apples after the sugar mixture. I’m sure that was wrong but the lemon juice got added. Should it have been on the bottom of the pan before adding the apples in? Please add instructions for the lemon juice to your recipe. Thank you!
looks good but would omit the nuts
Made this tonight! Delicious! Thanks!
So happy you liked it!
Can I use the crumble on a cherry pie ?
Yes!! That would be great!
Does this have to be refrigerated, or can it sit on the counter until all gone?
Thank you!
Karen
I would refrigerate it since it has fruit in it.