Valentina Ablaev
An apple crumble is the perfect easy pastry if you’re not looking to spend hours in the kitchen but want to enjoy a flavorful dessert. A sweet apple filling is topped with buttery crumble and our secret is serving it immediately with vanilla ice cream. The warm crumble and cold ice cream make for the ultimate summer treat, just like our sour cream apple coffee cake.
Though we love pies using our homemade pie crust, a crumble is easier to make with similar flavor. Whether you love our easy peach cobbler or just love apple desserts, this crumble is the recipe for you! You can even turn this apple crumble into caramel apple bars with just a few simple changes!
A homemade crumble is so easy to make; all you need to do is combine the apple filling and top with a simple crumble. The crumble then bakes to a golden perfection, resulting in the perfect dessert.
Apple Desserts
Nothing quite beats a delicious apple dessert! This apple crumble is so simple to make and joins our apple turnover recipe and our puff pastry apple braid as the perfect holiday desserts!
Why Make an Apple Crumble?
- Simple ingredients. You most likely already have all of these ingredients at home!
- No special equipment needed. This crumble requires no special tools, so bakers of all levels can make them!
- Crowd pleaser. This apple crumble always goes quickly!
Ingredients for an Apple Crumble:
apple filling –
- Apples – granny smith apples, peel and slice them into even pieces.
- Sugars – a combination of cane sugar and brown sugar for best flavor.
- Cinnamon – adds a delicious, earthy flavor to the crumble.
- Lemon juice – a dash of citrus brings so much life into a sweet dessert like this one.
crumble topping –
- Dry ingredients – a combination of flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Vanilla – gives the crumb so much flavor.
- Butter – cold and unsalted butter is key for the perfect crumble. Cut the butter into large cubes.
- Half and half – helps give the crumble a great texture.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Apple Crumble
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, vanilla.
2. Add butter into the dry ingredients and mix until a crumble forms. Pour in the half and half and mix just until incorporated (do this with a fork or pastry cutter).
3. In a large bowl, toss together the apple slices, sugars, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to a 9”x13” baking dish.
4. Sprinkle the crumble over the apples. Top with chunks of butter. Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden. Top warm crumble with vanilla ice cream.
Make Apple Crumble like a Pro:
- Keep the butter cold – It is important when making a crumb like this, to keep the butter cold when incorporating it. For the best results, keep the butter in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
- Preheat the oven – For the best crumble you want to start the baking process right away. Baking the cold butter results in the perfect crumble texture. Preheat the oven before making the crumb topping so that you can quickly pop the crumble into the oven.
Serving Suggestions:
Top warm apple crumble with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the most incredible combination.
- Pro tip: Finish your dessert with a drizzle of caramel sauce for the best combination.
Recipe FAQs
The crumble is best when baked right after making it.
If you are using sweet apples, then you can omit the sugar.
Granny smith or honeycrisp apples are best in an apple crumble because the sour flavor from the apple is balanced by the sugar. However, you can use your favorite apples.
Peeling the apple is important for a good texture in this crumble.
Store & Reheat:
- Storage. The leftover crumble can be kept at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze. We don’t recommend freezing this crumble as it will begin to get soggy.
More Pastry Recipe:
If you enjoyed this apple crumble recipe, be sure to try our other popular pastry recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this easy apple crumble recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Apple Crumble Recipe
Ingredients
apple filling –
- 2 ½ pounds granny smith apples about 5 apples, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 2 tsp lemon juice
crumble topping –
Instructions
- In a large bowl toss together the apple slices, sugars, cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon juice. Transfer the mixture to a 9”x13” baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, vanilla, and 4 Tbsp butter and mix until a crumble forms. Pour in the half and half and mix just until incorporated (do this with a fork or pastry cutter).
- Add the topping over the apples.
- Add the remaining 4 Tbsps cubed butter on top of the topping.
- Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden.
- Top warm crisp with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Picking the right apples. Granny smith or honey crisp apples work best in desserts because of the added sugar. Picking a sweeter apple will result in a very sweet crisp.
- Keep the butter cold – It is important when making a crumb like this, to keep the butter cold when incorporating it. For the best results, keep the butter in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
- Preheat the oven – For the best apple crumble you want to start the baking process right away. Baking the cold butter results in the perfect crumble texture. Preheat the oven before making the crumb topping so that you can quickly pop the crisp into the oven.
- Storage. The leftover crumble can be kept at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freeze. We don’t recommend freezing this crisp as it will begin to get soggy.
