How to Make Apple Crumble

Co-authored by Maria Short

Last Updated: February 28, 2024 Approved

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Most cultures have some form of baked apple dessert. Apple crisps, betties, and slumps or grunts are all closely related to the apple crumble. While many variations exist, at its simplest, the apple crumble consists of sliced apples covered with a buttery crispy topping. A baked apple crumble is gooey, bubbly, juicy, and smells incredible. Start with a simple apple crumble, then play with the variations. You'll quickly see why this apple dessert is well-loved around the world.

Makes one 9 inch pan.

Ingredients

5-6 quality baking apples
2/3 cup flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon {option}
6 tablespoons unsalted butter

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Simple Apple Crumble

Turn the oven on to 350ºF/177ºC. Butter an 8 or 9-inch baking dish or pie pan.
2
Prepare the apples. Peel and core the apples. Then, cut them into ¹⁄₄ inch (0.6 cm) slices or dice them into small chunks. Place them into your prepared pan.
- Use Granny Smith apple for making an apple crumble, as they have less juice and they are firmer.
- You may need more apples, depending on the size of your baking apples. Make sure the apples fill about three-quarters of your pan.
3
Make the crumble topping. Whisk the flour, sugars, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
- You can also sift the ingredients together into a bowl, but whisking is faster.
4
Add butter to the dry crumble ingredients. Use a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands to cut the butter into the dry mixture. Cutting in simply means combining the butter with the flour till it reaches a crumbly sandy texture.
- Make sure your butter is firm and cold before you start using it to incorporate it to get a crumbly shortbread texture.
- If you use your hands, be sure not to overwork the butter or it will become soft and hard to work with. Try to keep your hands cold and work quickly.
Scatter all of the topping evenly over the apples in your pan. Press down lightly to gently pack it over the mounded apples.
6
Cook the apple crumble. Bake it for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the top is golden, the juices are bubbly, and the apples are cooked through.
- You may want to set a baking sheet below the apple crumble in the oven. This way the sheet will catch any drips from the bubbly apple crumble.
7
Remove and serve. Let the apple crumble sit a few minutes before dishing up. Serve apple crumble with cream, sauce, or ice cream.
- Cover and refrigerate any leftovers. Apple crumble will keep a few days, but may lose its crisp texture.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Trying a Variation on Apple Crumble

1
Switch up your fruit. You can make crumbles all year using seasonally fresh produce. Try blackberries and strawberries during the summer or pears and rhubarb during the spring. If you use fruit that is considerably tarter, you may need to adjust the sugar. For example, rhubarb will require extra sugar.
- Frozen fruit can also be used in crumbles. Don't thaw before covering it with crumble topping. Simply top and bake.
2
Use oats in the topping. To add a heftier chewy texture to your crumble topping, consider adding oats. Replace half of the flour with oats. This will give your crumble a bit of a granola taste.
- Remember to keep some flour in your topping, even when using oats. Flour acts as a binder and keeps the topping together. It will also help soak up juices from the fruit.
3
Add nuts. Nuts can add flavor, nutrition, and crunch to a crumble. Use your favorite nut, or try pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts. They're best if you use roasted nuts and chop them before adding them to the topping.
- Make sure nuts are well mixed into the crumble topping. If simply scattered over the topping, they're likely to burn.
4
Serve with whipped cream, ice cream, or crème anglaise. While apple crumble is great on its own, try adding a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream over it. Or pour crème anglaise, a rich creamy custard, over the warm crumble.
- You don't have to stick to vanilla ice cream. Apple crumbles work well with caramel or dulce de leche ice cream.

Community Q&A

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Question

My crumble is too smooth. How can I make it more crumbly?

Community Answer

Your butter must be cold, not soft. Don't mix it too long, just until you have a sandy looking texture. When you bake it, spread it out, don't press the lumps together.

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Question

Do I have to put cinnamon?

Ruby

Top Answerer

You don't have to add cinnamon, it's completely optional, but it will probably taste nicer if you do.

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Question

Can I cook an apple crumble in the microwave?

Qamar

Top Answerer

You can, but you'll need to use anther recipe that would support a microwave. Check out how to make apple crisp in the microwave for instructions.

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Tips

Use oven mitts and caution when handling hot containers and dishes.

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If you prefer to make your crumble a bit fancier, add a few slices of apple with a bit of sugar on top for a beautiful presentation.

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When you are making any pastries or biscuits, always leave the dough to rest for up to 30 minutes so it can be easier to use.

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