Apple Crumble

This apple crumble recipe is easier than pie, but it's just as delicious. An oat-y, nutty topping covers a thick layer of warmly spiced fall apples.

Apple crumble

Fall might technically begin on September 22, but in our house, it never really arrives until I make this apple crumble recipe. Of all the apple desserts out there, it’s the one I come back to every year. An oat-y, nutty crumble topping covers a thick layer of warmly spiced fall apples. It’s eons easier than pie, and for my money, it’s just as good.

So if you have a surplus of apples from a trip to an orchard, a farmers market, or the store, I hope you try this apple crumble recipe! It takes just over 30 minutes to make, it calls for basic ingredients that you likely have on hand already, and it tastes amazing. The crumbly topping offers a delicious crisp contrast to the tender, juicy apples, and warm flavor from spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger fills every bite. Finished with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, it’s the perfect fall dessert.

Flour, walnuts, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt in bowls

Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients

This apple crumble recipe has the all sweet, decadent flavor you want in a fall dessert, but it’s actually fairly healthy. For starters, I go light on the sugar, letting the flavorful apples supply much of the sweetness on their own. And instead of relying on butter and flour to create the crumble topping, I use this combination of wholesome ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour and almond flour – The almond flour adds extra richness to the topping, while the all-purpose flour keeps it light and crisp.
  • Whole rolled oats – Because to me, nothing says fall like oats, nuts, and apples.
  • Walnuts – For crunch! I also love their rich, nutty flavor after they toast in the oven.
  • Brown sugar – For sweetness.
  • Cinnamon – It gives the topping a warm, spiced flavor.
  • Melted coconut oil – It adds richness and moisture to the topping, and it makes this recipe totally vegan and dairy-free!
  • And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Apple crumble recipe ingredients

So you know what’s in the crumble topping…let’s talk about the apple filling! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Apples! Make sure you peel them before you start to cook. Though I’m usually all for leaving fruits and veggies un-peeled, I find that this apple crumble recipe has the best texture when it’s made with peeled apples.
  • Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger – They fill the tender apples with warm, spiced flavor.
  • Apple cider vinegar – For pop! It offsets the sweetness of the apples and topping, giving this apple crumble a delicious balance of sweet and tart flavors.
  • And sea salt – Don’t skip it! It highlights the rich, nutty, sweet, and spiced flavors in this recipe.

Again, see below for the complete recipe.

Spiced apples in a baking dish

How to Make Apple Crumble

Ready to bake? Here’s what you need to do:

First, cook the apples. In this recipe, I cook the apples on the stove before they bake. That way, they become completely tender in the time it takes for the topping to turn golden brown in the oven. Add the diced, peeled apples, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons water to a medium saucepan over low heat, and cook, covered, for about 15 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Stir them fairly often – you don’t want them to burn! Then, mix in the spices, and turn off the heat.

Hand spooning crumble topping over apples in a baking dish

Meanwhile, make the topping. In a food processor, pulse together the flours, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, coconut oil, and salt. If needed, add up to a teaspoon of water to help the mixture start to crumble and form clumps.

Finally, assemble and bake! Scoop the apple filling into a greased 8×8 baking dish, and sprinkle it with the crumble. Bake at 400° for 18-22 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and crisp. Enjoy!

Apple crumble recipe in a baking dish

Best Apple Crumble Recipe Tips

  • Choose good baking apples. Different apple varieties are good for different things – snacking, salads, turning into sauce. For this recipe, you’ll need excellent baking apples. They should have a firm texture and hold their shape when cooked. Some of my favorite types of apples for baking include Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady, and Granny Smith apples. Choose just one, or use a mix!
  • If the topping’s not coming together, add a little water at a time until it does. The crumble topping here is, well, crumbly, but it should still clump together when pinched. If it’s too powdery after you pulse it together, add water, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until it’s slightly moist and small clumps begin to form. Careful, though. Don’t add too much water, or the crumble will quickly form a wet, sticky paste.
  • Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream. You could easily enjoy a bowl (or two) of this easy apple crumble on its own, but it’s even better with vanilla ice cream on top! I love the way the rich ice cream contrasts with the sweet, nutty crumble and juicy fruit. If ice cream’s not your thing, you can still pair this apple crumble recipe with a creamy topping. Regular whipped cream or coconut whipped cream would both be fantastic.

Bowl of easy apple crumble with vanilla ice cream

More Favorite Fall Desserts

If you love this easy apple crumble recipe, try one of these delicious fall desserts next:

For even more fun baking recipes, check out this post!

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Apple Crumble

rate this recipe:
4.97 from 60 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 33 minutes
Serves 6
This apple crumble recipe is easier than pie, and it's just as delicious. Made with an oat-y, nutty crumble topping and tender spiced apples, it's the ultimate fall dessert!

Ingredients

Spiced apple filling

  • 5 apples, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • Pinch of sea salt

Topping

  • ½ cup almond flour
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • cup whole rolled oats
  • cup crushed walnuts
  • cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • cup melted coconut oil
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • Heaping ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon water, if needed

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
  • Make the filling: Combine the apples, apple cider vinegar, and water in a saucepan and simmer over very low heat, covered, stirring occasionally (making sure the apples don’t burn on the bottom of the pan) for 15 minutes. Uncover, stir, and add the cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt and stir again. The apples should be tender, and the juices should be thick.
  • Make the topping: In a food processor, place the flours, oats, walnuts, sugar, coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt and pulse until crumbly. Add the water if needed.
  • Scoop the apple filling into the baking dish and sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until lightly crisp on top.

75 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Erikka
    01.09.2024

    What kind of apples do you recommend?

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.12.2024

      Hi Erikka, This recipe comes out great with Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp apples!

  2. Claire
    11.09.2023

    This was the best apple crisp I’ve ever had! It will definitely be on our Thanksgiving table this year 🙂 Wondering if you could freeze before baking then use at another time? Thanks!

  3. Anjali
    12.26.2022

    I just polished off the last few bites of this apple crisp for breakfast today! I prepped it on Christmas Eve without a few ingredients, so I substituted where I could and it was still the best dessert I’ve ever made. I didn’t have nutmeg for the apples, but I threw in a dash of a homemade chai spice blend on top of the cinnamon and ginger. For the crumble, I used butter in place of coconut oil, omitted walnuts (but served with butter pecan ice cream), and added crushed Lidl butter almond thins for extra crunch.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.27.2022

      I’m so glad you loved it! Love the chai spice blend idea.

  4. Collette
    11.25.2022

    5 stars
    I made this Apple Crisp as an option on Thanksgiving for some guests who either do not like pumpkin pie, or my vegan guests. I bought some sea salt caramel Oatly to top it off – and it got RAVE reviews. It was so incredibly delicious! I will definitely be making it again when I need a vegan dessert.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.27.2022

      Hi Collette, I’m so happy to hear it was a hit!

  5. Lou
    10.09.2022

    5 stars
    Just made it tonight !!
    What an easy recipe full of flavours a twist of crunch
    Did not disappoint
    Unfortunately I can’t stop eating it 🥴😊

  6. Reem Bieber
    09.28.2022

    what can I replace the coconut oil with ? thank you

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.28.2022

      Hi Reem, melted butter would be best, or a neutral oil like avocado oil or vegetable oil.

  7. Debra
    03.12.2022

    This looks amazing! I absolutely love your recipe ideas and your wonderfully inspiring cookbook.
    I don’t have almond flour on hand. Can this be made using all-purpose flour only? What would the measurement be if the almond flour is omitted? Or would you recommend I grind up oats into a flour-like consistency and substitute with that?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.13.2022

      Hi Debra, I would skip it and add extra (finely chopped or crushed) walnuts in it’s place.

  8. Nicole Schafer
    12.09.2021

    How can I make this gluten free? Replace flour with corn starch? Increase almond flour?
    I appreciate that it is already dairy free… thanks!

  9. Sarah
    11.21.2021

    5 stars
    Absolutely Delicious thank you!!

  10. Amy
    10.03.2021

    4 stars
    Yummy, different than the usual apple crisp. Tasted nuttier and the coconut flavor was definitely present. I enjoyed it for my family but would probably make a more traditional recipe if I was sharing it

    • JD
      11.05.2022

      You need to use refined coconut oil if you do not want a coconut taste

  11. Elizabeth
    09.05.2021

    Do you recommend serving this immediately after cooking or could I make this a few hours before? Do you serve hot or cold?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.06.2021

      Hi Elizabeth, I like it warm… when I make it ahead, I often make the components hours in advance, and then assemble and bake it closer to when I’m ready to serve it.

  12. Charissa
    07.29.2021

    Hi! Would this work with frozen apples? Thx!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.30.2021

      Hi Charissa, I haven’t tried but it should work – the cooking time on the apples would be different, just be sure to cook them until they’re soft but not watery.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.