All the warm flavors of fall come together in this apple crumble with crisp Granny Smith apples and a caramelized cinnamon oat topping.

Why this recipe works

Apple crumble is much easier than baking up a homemade apple pie. In fact, apple crumble was born as an easier, more cost-effective alternative to pie dough. You simply make a sweet apple filling with all the classics like cinnamon, brown sugar, and apples, pop it into a dish and top with a mixture of rolled oats, brown sugar, flour, and more cinnamon for a crispy crunchy topping everyone loves.

Fall is my favorite season when it comes to baked goods, especially when they involve crisp juicy apples. Apple crumble, apple crisp, apple cobbler… the list goes on and on. You can easily add a hefty scoop of vanilla ice cream to any one of these dishes to elevate them into a mouth-watering dessert full of warm cinnamon spice and tender apples. The combination is heavenly.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions

APPLE – We love the tarter variety of apples in our apple crumble. I recommend Granny Smith, but Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Red Delicious work great for this recipe as well.

ADDITIONS – Spices like nutmeg, clove, and allspice are all welcome if you would like to add them, as well as nuts such as walnuts or pecans.

TOPPING – Made with old-fashioned rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, butter, baking powder, and cinnamon. Old-fashioned oats are thicker and heartier in this crumble. They give a nice texture and crunch to the crumble. You can substitute quick-cooking oats, if needed.

How to Make Apple Crumble

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.

EXPERT TIP – I like to use the butter wrapper to grease the baking dish. You can also use nonstick cooking spray.
Peel, core, and cut the apples into slices. Place the apples in a large mixing bowl.
Add the lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour to the apples and toss to combine. Spread the apples in the prepared baking dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir to combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add the pieces of butter and use a pastry blender or two forks to “cut in” the butter until a crumble mixture has formed.
Sprinkle the crumble over the apples.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the apple filling is bubbling up and the topping is golden brown.

Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips

What kind of apples can I use in apple crumble?

Granny Smith apples are our go-to for that perfect tart-sweet flavor in apple crumble. However, Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Gala are great substitutes. Feel free to use the sweeter variety if you prefer, such as Golden or Red Delicious or Fuji.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover apple crumble covered with an air tight lid or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. You may also store it at room temperature for up to 2 days. Allow the apple crumble to fully cool off before covering with an air-tight lid or plastic wrap to avoid the crumble topping from becoming soggy.

Can I freeze apple crumble?

Yes, you can freeze apple crumble either baked or unbaked. Prepare the dish, either baked or unbaked in a container with an air-tight lid. Or, tightly wrap with plastic wrap a few times followed by a layer of aluminum foil. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. If the dish is unbaked, it should last around 2-3 months. If freezing an already baked apple crumble, store in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Can I make it in a smaller dish?

The crumble amount will generously cover the spread of a 9×13 baking dish. You can reduce the size of the baking dish for a thicker apple filling base, but I would recommend halving the crumble topping ingredients if you use a smaller dish. You could also double the apple filling ingredients and still use a 9×13 baking dish.

Serving Suggestions

Serve apple crumble by the scoopful in a bowl or plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and optional drizzle of caramel. Enjoy warm.

More Apple Recipes

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This post was originally published here on August 30, 2022.