Name: Easy Apple Crumble
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 6 cups apples (peeled, cored, and thinly sliced); ½ cup all purpose flour; ½ cup brown sugar (packed); ¼ cup butter; ½ teaspoon kosher salt (if using unsalted butter); 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

This Easy Apple Crumble is a fall dessert that’s always a hit, especially topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Skip the pie crust this time, and make a cozy fall dessert with just 10 minutes prep.

Enjoy the best of both worlds, flaky pie and crumble, with my homemade apple crumb pie.

Recipe Highlights: Easy Apple Crumble

Why Make It: When you don’t have time to fuss, apple crumble makes dessert a thing of simplicity, with all the benefits of apple pie.
Flavor: Warm and crumbly brown sugar topping with cinnamon, with juicy, sweet, and tart apples underneath.
Difficulty: Just prep, mix, layer, and bake. This is one of the easiest desserts, and it’s perfect for beginner chefs.
Tools: All you need is a 9-inch pie plate, mixing bowl, and pastry cutter or fork.

Total Time: 40 Mins Servings: 6 Cooking Method: Oven

Ingredient Notes

apples , flour , brown sugar , butter , cinnamon with labels to make Apple Crumble

Apples: Granny Smith are the go-to baking apple for this recipe since they are firm and tart. But any combination of Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Braeburn work well, even apples picked from your backyard tree.
Crumble Topping:
- Brown sugar sweetens and caramelizes the topping and filling. Whether you use dark or light, brown sugar is the best with apples.
- Real butter tastes the best, but margarine or even coconut oil can do the job.
- Warm fall flavored cinnamon goes with apples like PB&J! Omit if you like, but I don’t recommend it.
- Flour gives the crumble structure and helps bind the butter for a tender, crumbly topping.

Variations

Replace part of the apples with firm sliced pears, or add some blueberries or blackberries. Cranberries add a festive touch to the holiday table.
Add a little nutmeg or my homemade apple pie spice in place of cinnamon.
For an even sweeter treat, drizzle with caramel sauce.
Create a heartier, crisp-style topping by replacing some of the flour with rolled oats.
For more crunch add some chopped walnuts or pecans into the topping.

How to Make Apple Crumble

adding apples to dish to make Apple Crumble

adding butter to flour , brown sugar and cinnamon to make Apple Crumble

Add sliced apples to the prepared baking dish.
In a separate bowl, mix the crumb topping and add it to the top of the apples.
Bake until apples are tender and topping is golden brown. (Full recipe below.)

Apple Crumble Pro Tips

Cut the apples into thin, similar-sized pieces so they all cook at about the same rate.
The topping should only be mixed until crumbs form. Over-mixing the topping can make it dense.
Scatter the crumb mixture over the apples without pressing it down for better browning and texture.
The topping may look brown, but the apples might not be done yet. Slide a thin knife into the apples to make sure they are tender.
If topping browns before apples are done, cover with foil.

Storing Apple Crumble

Allow the crumble to cool completely before covering it or storing in an airtight container.
Refrigerate for up to 4 days, freeze for up to 4 months.
Thaw frozen crumble in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat crumble in a 325°F to 350°F oven to help the topping regain its texture, or warm individual servings in the microwave until heated through.

Easy Fall Baking Favorites

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