Warm cinnamon apples, a buttery brown sugar topping, and a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream, this is the best apple crumble recipe for fall baking and holiday gatherings! It's made with a mix of tart and sweet apples and a classic streusel-style crumble that bakes up golden and crisp. If you love my healthy apple crisp or my healthy apple cobbler, this cozy classic belongs in your apple season lineup!
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The Best Easy Apple Crumble Recipe
This easy apple crumble is made in two simple parts. First, chunks of peeled apples are tossed with sugar, a little flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and fresh lemon juice. Then a quick crumble topping of flour, brown sugar, warm spices, baking powder, melted butter, and vanilla gets sprinkled over the top before baking until bubbly.
Using half Granny Smith and half Honeycrisp apples gives you the perfect balance of tart and sweet, and the apples hold their shape while turning soft and jammy. Unlike a crisp, this crumble topping has no oats or nuts, so it bakes into a buttery, streusel-like layer. If you love apple desserts with a crumbly topping, my apple crumble cake is another fall favorite.
It serves 8, so it's perfect for Thanksgiving, holiday dinners, or a cozy weekend treat. And if you need more apple desserts like this one, you're going to LOVE my apple crumble cheesecake or my easy apple galette!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Buttery, golden topping. A classic streusel-style crumble with brown sugar and warm spices.
- Perfectly balanced apples. Tart Granny Smith and sweet Honeycrisp make the best filling.
- Easy to make. Just two bowls and one baking dish.
- Feeds a crowd. It serves 8, so it's perfect for holidays.
- Great for apple season. A delicious way to use up your apple-picking haul.
- Even better with ice cream. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel.
Ingredients Needed To Make This Best Apple Crumble
Here's a little bit about everything that goes into this best apple crumble:
- Apples: Tart apples work best. A mix of half Granny Smith and half Honeycrisp gives the perfect sweet-tart balance.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the apple filling.
- Flour: A little in the filling helps thicken the juices, and more forms the base of the crumble.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg: Warm, cozy spices in both the filling and the topping.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the apples and keeps them from browning.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark both work and give the crumble a rich, caramel-like flavor.
- Butter: Melted butter brings the crumble topping together.
How to Make the Best Apple Crumble
This apple crumble comes together in two easy steps: the apple filling and the crumble topping. Toss the apple chunks with sugar, flour, spices, and lemon juice, spread them in a greased baking dish, then mix up the crumble in a separate bowl.
Spread the crumble evenly over the apples, covering as much as you can, and bake until the topping is golden and the apples are bubbling. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before serving so the filling has time to thicken.
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9x9 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Step 2: Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1.5-inch chunks and add them to a large bowl.
- Step 3: Toss the apples with the granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice until coated. Pour them into the baking dish.
- Step 4: In a separate bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder.
- Step 5: Stir in the melted butter and vanilla until a crumble forms. Spread the crumble over the apples, covering as much of the surface as possible.
- Step 6: Bake for 50-55 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the apples are bubbling. Let cool for at least 30 minutes, then serve with vanilla ice cream.
Erin's Expert Tips
From my kitchen to yours
- Use tart apples. Granny Smith holds its shape and balances the sweet topping.
- Cut the apples evenly. Same-size chunks bake at the same rate.
- Cover the apples well. Spread the crumble over as much of the surface as you can.
- Let it cool. Thirty minutes gives the juices time to thicken.
- Reheat in the oven. It keeps the topping crisp, unlike the microwave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions about this best apple crumble recipe.
Tart apples work best. I love using half Granny Smith and half Honeycrisp for the perfect sweet-tart balance.
A crumble has a streusel-like topping made without oats or nuts, while a crisp usually includes oats and sometimes nuts.
Yes! Any baking dish works, but you may need to adjust the baking time.
Either one works in the crumble topping.
Reheat leftovers in the oven rather than the microwave to bring back the crisp topping.
Vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce are perfect! Glazed pecans or walnuts make a great topping too.
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it keeps for 4-5 days.
Storing leftovers
Store leftover apple crumble in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To bring back that crispy topping, reheat it in the oven instead of the microwave.
If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!
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Ingredients
- 8-9 heaping cups peeled + cored apples diced into big chunks (about 1.5 inch all around) I used half granny smith, half honeycrisp
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoon flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1.5 cups flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and grease a 9x9 casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- Prepare apples by peeling and dicing into chunks, then add to a large bowl.
- Sprinkle apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice. Stir until all of the apples are completely coated. Pour into greased dish.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, for the crumble, add flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, baking powder. Mix together.
- Add in melted butter and vanilla and stir until crumble forms.
- Add the crumble topping to the apples, covering as much of it as you can.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes or until crumble is golden brown and apples are bubbling.
- Let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving! Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Nutrition
Per serving. Nutrition is an estimate.
Leave a star rating below and tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Rate This RecipeRecipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Chani says
Thanks for the recipy! Can I use gluten-free flour?
Erin says
Hi Chani, yep, that should be fine. Let me know how yours comes out!!
Madison Cooley says
The best fall dessert! Was a crowd pleaser and SO delicious. Used 1/4 cup sugar for the filling and subbed coconut sugar for brown sugar. 10/10!
Erin says
Hi Madison, so happy you liked it!!
Meghan says
Initially I halved the recipe…my husband asked me to make more before we finished the first round! So delicious!
Erin says
Hi Meghan, so glad you both loved it!! 🙂
Jennifer Burns says
I’ve been so sick, not able to eat much and I saw this and said..that’s the only thing that looks good to me! 2 hours later, my husband whipped it up and I ate an entire bowl!! He was happy and so was I!! Absolutely Delicious 🍎🍏❤️
Erin says
Hi Jennifer, so glad you loved it and hope you feel better soon!! 🙂
Kellen says
I love this recipe! I use it as my base for any fruit crumble I make and it always turns out amazing!
Erin says
Hi Kellen, so happy you loved it!
Christine says
Hi Erin,
Can I make this in advance and put it in the fridge overnight?
Erin says
Hi Christine, yes! It can be store in airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4-5 days. 🙂
Maddie says
Best apple crumble recipe. I've used it two years in a row and won't use anything else!
Erin says
Hi Maddie, so happy you loved it so much!! 🙂
Allison says
I had the same issue, 9 heaping cups was way too much for a 9x9. I was only able to fit about 7-1/2 cups and had some serious drippage coming out (make sure you put a pan underneath to catch the drips). I'm curious as to how deep her 9x9 dish was to fit all of those apples. That aside, the flavor is spectacular
Abbey says
So delicious! Flavor and consistency were absolutely perfect! Made this for a midweek dessert pick-me-up. Thank you Erin!!
Erin says
Hi Abbey, so glad you loved it!!
Chex says
Absolutely delicious! I added cloves in the filling and used brown sugar instead of white for the filling as well. My family of three ate nearly the entire crumble in 1 sitting!! Will definitely be making again.
Erin says
Hi, so happy you loved it and made it your own! 🙂
Jo says
Can I use nectarines? My husband is allergic to apples
Erin says
Hi Jo, yep! Let me know how your nectarine crumble comes out!!
Daisy says
So delicious! One of mine and my husband’s favorite treats 😋
Erin says
Hi Daisy, so happy you both love it! 🙂
Jo says
Thank you! Husband and I changed it to canned peaches! 🙂 Will do!
Erin says
Hi Jo, so glad you both loved it and made it your own! 🙂
Nicole says
I made this for Mother’s Day and it was a hit with my entire family! Very good and easy to make!
Erin says
Hi Nicole, so glad you all enjoyed it!!
Mimi says
My husband said “this is the best apple crumble I’ve ever had!” So easy and delicious, especially served warm with vanilla ice cream!
Erin says
Hi Mimi, so happy he loves it so much!!
Abby says
Sooo good and so easy! I made 1.5x the recipe for my family of 8. It was devoured at Thanksgiving and requested again at Christmas!
Erin says
Hi Abby, so happy everyone loved it! 🙂
LaRee says
So delicious! This was such a hit at Thanksgiving I was asked to make it for two Christmas parties!
Erin says
Hi LaRee, so happy everyone loved it! 🙂
Nora says
Made this three times over the holidays, a huge hit with everyone!! thank you
Erin says
Hi Nora, so happy everyone loved it! 🙂
Lauren says
Best dessert!! It was so easy to make and everyone loved it.
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy it was a hit!! 🙂
Lauren H. says
I made this for thanksgiving and it was amazing! I was able to whip it up super quick. My husband usually only eats apple pies or pastries but he loved this recipe too!
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so glad you all loved it! 🙂
Sarah says
I made this recipe twice already, and plan to make it many more times! The apple crumble is so easy and turns out great. I highly recommend giving it a try!
Erin says
Hi Sarah, so happy you loved it! 🙂