Everyone's ALL-TIME FAVOURITE apple crumble recipe.... a sweet apple and cinnamon filling with a crunchy brown sugar and oat topping.
Absolutely NO fancy equipment required... have this winter dessert on the table in just 45 minutes and don't forget to serve with plenty of ice-cream, cream or custard.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret... this is the easiest and best apple crumble recipe you'll ever try.
It's so quick (on the table in just 45 minutes), made from just a handful of basic ingredients and requires no fancy equipment at all.
With my recipe, you'll end up with the most delicious golden crunchy crumble made with oats and a perfectly sweet and soft apple and cinnamon filling underneath.
And if you're like me and can never have enough crumble, then make sure you try my Apple Crumble Slice, Apple Crumble Cake, Apple Crumble Muffins, Raspberry Apple Crumble Cake and Apple & Blueberry Crumble recipes too. All seriously scrumptious!
Why You're Going To Love This Recipe
There's so much to love about my quick and easy apple crumble recipe!
- Many names... same delicious dessert - whether you know this sweet dessert as apple crisp, apple streusel or apple crumble.... each name refers to the same popular dessert.
- Budget-friendly - made from pantry and fridge staples (that you might already have at home), this apple crisp recipe costs just a couple of dollars and serves 8 people.
- Crowd pleaser - from toddlers through to grandparents, this classic apple crumble recipe is always a popular option for dessert.
- 45 minute recipe - from starting to prepare this dessert to serving it up at the dinner table, 45 minutes is all you need!
- Gluten-free option - substitute the plain flour for gluten-free plain flour for a gluten-free apple crumble recipe that is just as tasty!
- Freezer-friendly - freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months. Apple crumble defrosts beautifully so don't be afraid to stash away a few serves for later.
What You Need
Apple crumble is incredibly budget-friendly and made from basic pantry ingredients (have a peek in your pantry and fridge... you might find that you already have the ingredients sitting there).
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method
For The Apple & Cinnamon Filling:
- Apples - the Granny Smith variety of apples are generally considered the best apples to use for apple crumble. They don’t go as mushy as some other varieties and their tartness is the perfect contrast to the sweet brown sugar and oat crumble. Alternatively, you can use any variety of apple you like, such as Pink Lady, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Cripps Pink etc.
- Water - for lightly stewing the apples.
- Caster sugar - this superfine sugar is perfectly suited to stewing apples as it dissolves once mixed with water giving the apples a light, sweet flavour.
- Lemon juice - adding lemon juice to the stewed apples helps to stop them from browning.
- Cinnamon & nutmeg - the perfect combination of spices for apple crumble. Choose ground cinnamon and nutmeg.
For The Oat Crumble Topping:
The crumble topping with oats is just SO easy to make... and all you need is 4 basic ingredients.
- Rolled oats - also known as old fashioned oats. Alternatively, you can use quick oats, however, the larger rolled oats give a crunchier crumble!
- Brown sugar - you can use either regular brown sugar or dark brown sugar. Brown sugar adds a rich, caramelised flavour to the crumble.
- Plain flour - also known as all purpose flour.
- Butter - you can use salted or unsalted butter for this recipe. The butter binds the oats, sugar and flour together, giving you clusters of crunchy crumble.
Equipment Required
Absolutely NO fancy equipment is required to make my easy apple crumble recipe:
- Stove-top & saucepan - for stewing the apples. Alternatively, you can use my Thermomix apple crumble recipe here.
- Bowl - for mixing the crumble ingredients together. You don't even need a spoon - your fingers are the best way to make the crunchy oat clusters!
- Baking dish - you can use any large baking dish you like. I recommend using a greased 30cm round baking dish or a large rectangular baking dish.
- Oven - I specify fan-forced temperatures. If using a conventional oven, increase the temperature by 10-20 degrees celsius.
Step By Step Instructions
This is SUCH an easy homemade apple crumble recipe... quick, easy and no-fuss!
Note: Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom for the ingredients quantities and full detailed method
Step 1 - Cook The Apples
Cook the apples with the water, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan until just softened.
Pour into a lightly greased baking dish.
Step 2 - Make The Crumble
Make the crumble by using your fingers to squish the rolled oats, plain flour, brown sugar and butter together until all of the butter has been evenly distributed. The mixture should be completely combined and look like small clusters.
Step 3 - Bake
Sprinkle the crumble over the top of the cooked apple and bake in the oven until golden on top.
FAQ's
You can use any type of apple you like for this recipe!
Granny Smith's are generally considered the best apples to use for apple crumble. They don’t go as mushy as some other varieties and their tartness is the perfect contrast to the sweet brown sugar and oat crumble. Alternatively, you can use any variety of apple you like, such as Pink Lady, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Cripps Pink etc.
Nothing beats the crunchiest crumble topping!
Here's some tips for getting it just right:
Take your butter out of the fridge a few minutes before using it (you still want it to be hard, but not so hard that you can't work with it!)
Chop the butter into small chunks so that it's easier to distribute.
Use your hands to 'squish' the butter through the rolled oats, plain flour and brown sugar.
Once the butter is evenly distributed, you'll have little 'clusters' of crumble held together by the butter.
When you're adding the crumble topping to the cooked apple, make sure you leave the little chunks as they are (don't try and break them up too much).
Apple pie has a pastry base and top with an apple filling, whereas apple crumble has an apple filling base and an oat crumble topping.
Yes! Apple crumble is referred to as apple streusel and apple crisp in other parts of the world.
Yes! Oats are already gluten-free so all you need to do is substitute the plain flour for gluten-free plain flour for a gluten-free apple crumble.
Expert Tips
- Make ahead of time - Apple Crumble can be prepared and cooked ahead of time. Simply reheat when ready to serve.
- Storing - store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze - freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months.
- Reheating - place leftovers directly from the fridge into a warm oven, or alternatively microwave to reheat. Frozen leftover apple crumble can be defrosted and reheated in the microwave or a low temperature oven as well.
More Apple Dessert Recipes
If you're like me and love cooking with apples, here's a few more recipes you might like to try...
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Easy Apple Crumble
Ingredients
- 5 apples large, peeled, cored and sliced
- 250 g (1 cup) water
- 115 g (½ cup) caster sugar
- 2 tbs lemon juice
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- 120 g (1 ⅓ cup) rolled oats
- 100 g (½ cup) brown sugar packed
- 50 g plain flour
- 115 g butter room temperature, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees celsius (fan-forced).
- Grease a large round baking 30cm baking dish with butter and set aside.
- Place the peeled and sliced apples into a medium saucepan with the water, caster sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Bring to a low simmer for 5-10 minutes or until just softened. Drain off the excess liquid. Place the stewed apples into the baking dish.
- To make the crumble, place the oats, brown sugar, plain flour and butter into a bowl. Use your fingers to squeeze and break up the lumps of butter until crumbs have formed and all of the oats and flour are completely combined with the butter.
- Sprinkle the crumble over the apple and place into the preheated oven.
- Cook for 35-40 minutes or until the crumble is golden and crunchy.
- Serve immediately with ice-cream, cream or custard.
- Thermomix Instructions - Click the link in the notes section below for the Thermomix recipe.
Notes
- Thermomix Method - click here for my Thermomix Apple Crumble recipe.
- Variety of apples - You can use any type of apple you like for this recipe! Granny Smith's are generally considered the best apples to use for apple crumble. They don’t go as mushy as some other varieties and their tartness is the perfect contrast to the sweet brown sugar and oat crumble. Alternatively, you can use any variety of apple you like, such as Pink Lady, Jonathan, Red Delicious, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Braeburn, Cripps Pink etc.
- Gluten-free alternative - rolled oats are already gluten-free so all you need to do is substitute the plain flour for gluten-free plain flour to make this a gluten-free apple crumble.
- Make ahead of time - Apple Crumble can be prepared and cooked ahead of time. Simply reheat when ready to serve.
- Storing - store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze - freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months.
- Reheating - place leftovers directly from the fridge into a warm oven, or alternatively microwave to reheat. Frozen leftover apple crumble can be defrosted and reheated in the microwave or a low temperature oven as well.
Abbey
Instead of draining the syrup. Would it reduce to a caramel like sauce to mix in with the apples?
Lucy
Hi Abbey, too much liquid will stop your crumble from going crunchy! I wouldn't recommend keeping it!
Jas
Hi, this looks yum!
What icecream did you use in this picture? Looks like it's vanilla with swirl of something else. Keen to try both. Thanks
Lucy
Hmm looking at the picture, it could be this? But I'm not 100% sure! https://connoisseuricecream.com.au/product/vanilla-caramel-brownie-tub/
Kelsie
This looks amazing!! that golden crumble!!
I love apple crumble and I’ve yet found my perfect recipe.
I have a feeling this will be it!!
Lucy
Hi Kelsie, I hope you love it!
Kelsie
I didn't realise I had saved this recipe and never made it....until tonight!
Please to report it was yummy, but far too sweet for my liking. (And I used half the amount of sugar in the apples)
I think next time I will increase the amount of apples so there is plenty more fruit. (I used small apples, so used 2 extra but it wasn't really much apple for the amount of crumble and for the size of the dish)
And I will omit the sugar from the apples all together. I find when 'stewed' or cooked they are usually sweet already.
Happily ate two servings though! 😛 and my partner who doesn't really like apple crumble much ate it. (Although I think he secretly enjoyed that most of it was crumble) It tasted like an Anzac biscuits! yum
Allana
Made as per recipe and it was delicious! Will be my go to dessert! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Lucy
Yay! I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
Lauren
Can this be cooked the day prior and then reheated when needed?
Lucy
Absoutely!