The ultimate apple crumble recipe.. a sweet apple filling with a crunchy oat topping. Serve with ice-cream for the perfect winter dessert.
I have a confession to make… I have a slight addiction to apple crumble. There’s just something about deliciously soft apple topped with a crunchy sweet crumble that makes me drool (my Apple Crumble Slice, Apple Crumble Cake, Apple Crumble Muffins and Raspberry Apple Crumble Cake recipes are proof of that obsession!).
What you need to make apple crumble
The best thing about this recipe is that it’s super budget-friendly and is made from basic pantry ingredients.
For the apple filling:
- apples
- water
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- sugar
- lemon juice
For the crunchy crumble:
- rolled oats
- plain flour
- butter
- brown sugar
How to make apple crumble
This is SUCH an easy homemade apple crumble recipe… quick, easy and no-fuss!
- Cook the apples with the water, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan until just softened.
- Pour into a baking dish.
- 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 (check out the video below for tips).
- Sprinkle the crumble over the top of the cooked apple and bake in the oven until golden.
So simple right….!
Tips for the perfect crumble topping
Nothing beats the crunchiest crumble topping! Here’s some tips for getting it just right (also check out my video below):
- 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 ‘balls’ 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)
That’s the secret to the the perfect crunchy and crispy crumble !!
What type of apples are best for apple crumble?
You can use pretty much any type of apple you like for this recipe!
- Granny Smith apples give a tart flavour which contrasts nicely with the sweet cinnamon and the crunchy oat topping
- Pink Lady or Jazz apples are slightly sweeter (I generally use Pink Lady apples)
- Sweet red apples are also delicious
… the choice is yours!
More apple recipes
If you’re like me and love cooking with apples, here’s a few more recipes you might like:
- apple crumble muffins
- apple blueberry crumble
- easy apple cake
- apple & cinnamon scrolls
- apple & sour cream slice
- raspberry & apple crumble cake
Winter comfort food dessert recipes
You can’t beat a big bowl of dessert on a cold winters night… right!? Check out a few of my favourite winter desserts here!
Super Easy Apple Crumble
Ingredients
- 5 apples large, peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 cup (250g) water
- ½ cup (115g) caster sugar
- 2 tbs lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/3 cup (120g) rolled oats
- ½ cup (100g) brown sugar packed
- 50 g plain flour
- 115 g butter cut into small cubes
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius (180 if using fan-forced).
- Grease a large 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 (there should be no loose bits left!).
- 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 or cream.
Thermomix Method
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius (180 if using fan-forced). Grease a large baking dish with butter and set aside.
- Place peeled and sliced apples into the Thermomix bowl. Add the water, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon juice. Cook for 5 minutes, 90 degrees REVERSE, Speed 1.
- Drain the excess liquid from the apples and place into the prepared baking dish. Rinse and dry the Thermomix bowl.
- Place the oats, flour, butter and sugar into the Thermomix bowl. Press Turbo a few times until you have achieved a consistent crumble mixture (and all of the dry ingredients have been 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 or cream.
Nutrition
Love this recipe. Question, could it be frozen for another time? If so, would it be better to freeze before or after baking?
Yes absolutely! You can freeze before cooking (allow to defrost before baking) or freeze any cooked leftovers!
Delicious! Use this as a basis for when I make crumble! (About the same, just I add a ton of extra spices.)
Make sure to not throw away the cider stewing the apples makes!
Perfect!
10/10
Absolutely delicious. Soft apple with a caramel like sauce and the crumble was almost like a Anzac biccie. This will be my go to dessert
Oh I’m so happy that you liked it! Thank you xx
Had a craving for a crumble this evening, made this recipe and oh my, it was delicious, just what I wanted. ♥️♥️ Thank you for a lovely easy dessert!
Yay! That’s great to hear! Thank you Alison xx
Hi!! Can we assemble everything n put it in the fridge to bake a few hours later or will this make the crumble soft? Thanks!!
Hi Elizabeth, it’s best to put the crumble on just before cooking but a few hours should be ok.