For the best apple dessert, this apple crumble is the way to go! Baked tender slices of apples are mixed with apple pie spice and topped with a golden crumble topping. It’s easier than pie, just as delicious and perfect for fall!
Take it up a notch and serve it with ice cream and caramel sauce, it’s heavenly. If you love this apple recipe, try Dutch apple pie or apple dump cake, next!
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The Best Dessert for Fall
I know fall is in the air when I start thinking about all the things I can make with apples. When it comes to delicious apple desserts it’s hard for me to choose my favorite, but I think this easy apple crumble recipe is definitely in the running!
Crumbles give you a similar great taste to this brown bag apple pie but without all the fuss of making a pie crust. Apples are tossed with sugar and spices and covered with a crumble topping, and then baked.
It takes about an hour to make this apple crumble, but you can swap out the raw apples for homemade apple pie filling. This reduces prep time as you won’t have to peel, core, and slice the apples.
Serve this warm and cozy dessert with a big scoop of no churn vanilla ice cream or a swirl of whipped cream for the full comforting experience!
Why This Recipe Works
- An easy twist on pie. Instead of whipping up a homemade apple pie from scratch, this easy apple crumble will gives you the same delicious fall flavors with less work and time.
- Quick prep time. It only takes 15 minutes to prepare this recipe for apple crumble, then the rest is just baking and cooling time.
- Bold fall flavors. Combined with cinnamon and apple spice, this dessert is the perfect way to showcase those juicy and crispy fresh apples you picked at the orchard
Easy Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients
This easy apple crumble recipe is all about the apples! Choose fresh apples in your favorite variety or use a mix of different apples for a blend of apple flavors!
Find the full printable recipe card below.
- Apples: For this apple crumble recipe, you will need about 6 apples that have been peeled and cored.
- Apple pie spice: You can make your own apple pie spice mix to or you can buy it premade from the store. Most blends include cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and allspice.
- Flour: To help the juices from the apples thicken up to make a delicious sauce, we add some flour along with sugar and spices before baking.
- Lemon juice: A splash of lemon juice helps to prevent the apples from browning before baking and it also enhances the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Nuts (optional): If you’d like to add nuts for protein or texture, add chopped pecans or walnuts in with the crumble topping before baking.
Best Apples to Make Apple Crumble
For this recipe, I prefer to use a crisp varieties like Honeycrisp apples, Granny Smith apples, Fuji, Pink Lady, Braeburn or Golden Delicious as they hold their shape when baking and don’t turn to complete mush.
You can also use a mixture of apples for the best flavor! Make sure to slice the pieces all of the same thickness (about 1/8-1/4″ thick). I like to cut them from the shorter edge, so the pieces are bite-sized.
How to Make Apple Crumble
Follow these four easy steps to make the best apple crumble recipe. Sometimes simple really is the best!
- Slice apples. Cut the apples into bite-sized slices of about the same size and lay in the baking pan then squeeze the lemon juice all over.
- Make sugar and spice mix. Combine sugar, flour, apple pie spice, and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle over the apples. Toss the apples in the spice mixture so they are all coated.
- Make crumble topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon then pour in the melted butter. Stir everything together until clumps start to form. Sprinkle the topping over the apples. Don’t be afraid to use your fingertips to do this.
- Bake. The top should be golden brown, and the apple filling will be bubbling when your crumble is ready. Let it rest for 20 minutes before serving to allow the juices time to thicken up. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use these tips as a guide to making this easy apple crumble:
- Cut equal-sized pieces. Slice the apples into bite-sized pieces about 1/8-1/4″ thick. You want the pieces to be uniform in size so that they all cook evenly.
- Don’t overmix the crumble. Mix the butter and other ingredients lightly until it starts to form clumps. If you overmix everything, you will have a paste that won’t crisp up while baking.
- Keep crumble topping cold. For extra crunch, make the crumble topping first and keep it in the fridge while you prepare the apples then sprinkle over the apples just before baking.
- Serve warm, room temperature or cold. I think this easy apple crumble tastes the best served warm on the day that you make it but it is up to your preference!
Serving Suggestions
What goes perfectly with easy apple crumble? A scoop of ice cream of course! Make your own homemade vanilla ice cream or buy your favorite store-bought brand.
Caramel is another flavor that goes so well with apples. For an extra treat, drizzle over some store-bought or homemade caramel sauce. You could even use this buttery brown sugar topping from my apple cake!
If you’re looking for something a little bit lighter, try a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
Recipe FAQs
Don’t leave out the flour as it acts as a thickening agent to turn the apple juices into a sauce. Also, remember to let your crumble sit for 20 minutes before serving to give the juices time to thicken up even further.
If it looks like your crumble is turning too brown before your apples are done, lay a piece of foil on top of the crumble to help protect it from the heat until the apples are finished cooking.
The crumble topping will be golden brown, and the apple filling will be bubbling. You can check to see if the apples are cooked by piercing one with a paring knife. The knife should go through the apple easily.
You may have heard people use all of these titles interchangeably because they are so similar. The difference is in the topping!
An apple crisp uses a streusel topping which is similar to a crumble except it contains oats. A crumb topping for a crumble is just flour, sugar, cinnamon, and butter. An apple cobbler topping is more cake-like like a biscuit or scone.
Storage Instructions
Store: If you have leftovers, store it covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator in a covered container for 2 – 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze baked apple crumble in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. The apples and crumble might be softer when you reheat it, but it will still taste delicious. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat: Place the easy apple crumble in a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through. You can also cover the dish with foil and heat it in a 350F oven until warm.
Craving more fall treats? Try my easy pumpkin crisp, spice cake mix cookies or include a little bit of everything on a decorative fall charcuterie board.
More Easy Apple Desserts
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Apple Crumble Recipe
Video
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 6 apples , peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick chunks (about 550-600 grams cut)
- 1 lemon , juiced (about 4 teaspoons)
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar , or brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon (8 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice , can also use cinnamon
- 1/2-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon , use full teaspoon for extra spice flavor
Crumble Topping
- ¾ cup (97 grams) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (160 grams) light brown sugar , packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 6 Tablespoons (84 grams) unsalted butter , slightly melted
For serving (optional): Vanilla ice cream, Whipped cream, Caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the oven rack in the center.
Apple Filling
- Lay sliced apples in a 9×9-inch baking dish. Drizzle lemon juice evenly over the top.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, apple pie spice. and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the apples and toss to combine.
Crumble Topping
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in the butter, being careful not to over-mix (you don't want a paste). Crumble mixture over the apples.
- Bake 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and the apples are cooked through. If the top is browning before the apples are done, lightly place a piece of foil on top. Remove from oven and let sit 15 to 20 minutes to thicken before serving.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or caramel sauce, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Crisps + Cobblers, Desserts, Fruit Desserts, Nut-Free, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This really is the best dessert to make for fall! It’s so comforting and delicious!
I love apple crumble and this was so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing.
I was craving an apple dessert but I wasn’t sure what to make until THIS! I’m so glad I picked it because it was so easy and it was so delicious.
This apple crumble is perfect! The topping turned out nice and crisp and the apples were soft. Can’t wait to make it again!
Glad the recipe was a hit! :)
This crumble was SO delicious! The perfect way to kick off my Fall baking!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it :)
Did you forget the salt? I ended up adding some sea salt to the crumble and it came out delish.