This easy apple crumble is my go-to dessert for apple season! Warm, comforting, and bursting with flavor, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Imagine a bubbling dish filled with caramelized apples and a crumbly, buttery topping. Top it with vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable ending to any meal.
Out of all my fall recipes, this one holds a special place in my heart. It’s incredibly quick to make, yet the taste is unparalleled. The spiced apple filling is the perfect match for the crumbly topping, and the whole thing screams “fall.” Let’s be honest, when no one’s looking, it’s tempting to devour this straight from the baking dish!
The beauty of this recipe lies in the caramelization of the apples during baking. It creates a delightful texture and deepens the flavor with a hint of caramel. Plus, it’s a dessert that works wonders year-round, warming you up in the winter and satisfying your sweet tooth in the summer.
Easy Apple Crumble: Perfect for Beginners
This recipe is so simple, even my 12-year-old can whip it up without any trouble. It uses basic pantry staples and apples – that’s it! If you’re feeling fancy, an apple peeler corer slicer can save you some time. But don’t worry, even without one, you can core, peel, and slice the apples in about 10 minutes. By the time you’re done prepping, your oven will be preheated and ready to go!
Cobbler vs. Crumble vs. Crisp: Understanding the Differences
These three desserts share a delicious fruit filling, but the magic lies in the topping:
- Cobbler: Imagine a biscuit or scone topping – that’s a cobbler! (Think blueberry cobbler.)
- Crumble: This recipe is a classic crumble. The topping is a simple combination of sugar, butter, and flour, “crumbled” over the fruit filling.
- Crisp: A crisp adds oats to the crumble topping, creating a lovely crunchy texture when baked.
All three are fantastic, and this particular recipe focuses on the classic crumble, without the addition of oats.
Gather Your Ingredients: A Pantry Staple Delight
The beauty of this recipe is that most of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry. Here’s what you’ll need (don’t forget to check out the printable recipe card at the end for full instructions and measurements):
Apple Crumble Topping:
- All-purpose flour: The base of our crumble.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark works! Dark brown sugar adds a deeper molasses flavor.
- Baking powder: For a touch of lift and crunch in the topping.
- Salt: A pinch for balance.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and spice.
- Unsalted butter: Melted butter gets mixed into the dry ingredients for the easiest crumble topping ever.
Apple Crumble Filling:
- Apples: The star of the show! Granny Smith is my favorite, but any apples will work. Peel, core, and chop them into bite-sized pieces.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is great, but feel free to experiment with half brown sugar or even all brown sugar for a richer flavor.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the filling and prevents the apples from browning.
- Cornstarch or all-purpose flour: Both work well as thickeners for the filling. Choose whichever you have on hand.
- Salt: Just a pinch for balance.
- Ground cinnamon: Warms up the apple filling. Feel free to substitute with apple pie spice for a more complex flavor.
Baking Up Fall Bliss: Easy Instructions
Get ready for the ultimate apple crumble experience! Remember, the full printable recipe with detailed instructions is waiting for you at the end. But here’s a quick rundown:
- Make the Crumble Topping: Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, then whisk them together. Using a fork, stir in the melted butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Prepare the Apple Filling: Toss the apples with sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch (or flour), and cinnamon. Spread the mixture evenly in a baking dish.
- Assemble and Bake: Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Let the crumble cool for 15 minutes to allow the filling to thicken before serving. Top with vanilla ice cream for an extra special treat!
The BEST Apple Crumble
Easy apple crumble is my go-to dessert for apple season! Warm, comforting, and bursting with flavor, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Imagine a bubbling dish filled with caramelized apples and a crumbly, buttery topping.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
Crumble topping:
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 8 tbsp melted butter
Filling:
- 2 ½ lbs Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, sliced – about 6–7 cups)
- ½ cup sugar (granulated or brown)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (or flour)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease an 8-inch baking dish.
- Make the crumble topping: In a bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter until crumbly.
- Prepare the filling: Combine apples, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Pour into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let cool for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy with ice cream, if desired.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 35
- Category: Desserts
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 367kcal
- Sugar: 47g
- Sodium: 301mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 67g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Apple crumble the best