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Home » Puddings and Desserts » The Best Apple Crumble.

The Best Apple Crumble.

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This is a divine Apple Crumble recipe with just the best nubbly and crunchy crumble topping. It is a great dessert for feeding a crowd and can be made ahead and reheated for easy entertaining. Plus it makes your kitchen smell absolutely heavenly.

apple crumble on a white dessert plate with another plate above and a white baking dish with the rest of the crumble to the left middle of the picture

This is an old fashioned traditional Apple Crumble recipe without oats. I prefer mine fuss free and simple with only a few ingredients. and a buttery, crumbly topping.

Perfect for a Sunday Lunch pudding. Comfort food at it's best, just like my Treacle Sponge and Jam Sponge recipes. Retro but still damn epic.

apple crumble on a white dessert plate with another plate above and a white baking dish with the rest of the crumble to the left middle of the picture

I have felt like the best Mum EVER this week handing out bowls of this spiced apple warmth drowned in custard to my ankle biters.

"Watch out it's hot!" I advised as "Storm Gareth" buffeted the house around us, their happy faces wide eyed at their steaming bowls. Normally they only get an ice pop........

*There is a complete printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.*

cooking apples, butter, cinnamon, sugar and flour

I tend to use 800 grams from my Stewed Apples recipe. But I have given you the recipe for this apple pudding to make the stewed apples from scratch.

Which apples are best for Apple Crumble?

I do recommend Bramley Apples too as they really are the best choice of cooking apples. They have a tartness that is perfect for baking with and break down really well when cooked. Click here for more info about great apple varieties to cook and bake with.

Equipment Required

  • scales
  • peeler
  • chopping board
  • knife
  • large saucepan
  • wooden spoon
  • 22 cm x 15 cm baking dish or similar
  • food processor or mixing bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 kg (35 oz) cooking apples
  • 150 grams (5.3 oz) caster sugar
  • 25 grams (1.76 oz) unsalted butter
  • 50 mls water
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Crumble

  • 170 grams (4.9 oz) plain flour
  • 100 grams (3.17 oz) butter
  • 90 grams (2.82 oz) sugar

Recipe Steps

  • Peel and chop the cooking apples into roughly 2 cm chunks and add to a large saucepan. Sprinkle over the 1 tsp of cinnamon (optional, it does make the apple mixture brown!) and then tip in the 50 mls water.
  • You want to bring the apple mixture up to a simmer for about 15 minutes.
  • Stir it every minute or so to make sure it isn't catching on the bottom and to encourage the apple to break down a little. I like to have about half puree and half intact apple chunks.

Taste to check that the apple mixture is sweet enough. Add more sugar if it is not.

stewed apples in a saucepan
  • Stir through the butter.
  • Tip the apples into your baking dish. I use one that is about 22 cm x 15 cm . It should be roughly this size. Too small and the crumble can be stodgy and much bigger and it won't layer up nicely.
  • Do add more sugar if your stewed apples need it. Apples sharpness can vary greatly and you may need more sugar sometimes.
stewed apples in a dish
  • To make the crumble topping the easiest way is to use a food processor. A couple of pulses and the butter is rubbed in perfectly. I love it deeply it's so incredibly easy and fast. However it is also fine to rub in the cold butter using just your fingers.
Butter and flour in a mixing bowl ready for rubbing in.
  • You are after a breadcrumb vibe. When you have that going on then stir the sugar through.
crumble mix in a mixing bowl ready for topping apple crumble
  • If you like a crunchy crumble top you can always give your crumble topping a quick toast on a baking tray before putting it on top of the crumble.
Crumble mix ready for the oven on a baking tray
  • About ten minutes at 180 C/350 F/Gas Mark 4. Keep an eye on it though as it can easily catch. You want lightly coloured. Let it cool and then break it up with a fork.
Baked Crumble mix topping on a baking tray
  • If you have pre baked  your topping then heat the apples up in the dish covered in tin foil for about 15 minutes at 180 C/350 F/Gas Mark 4 and then remove the tin foil, check it's hot enough and sprinkle over the toasted crumble. Pop it back in the oven for another 10/15 minutes then serve as normal.
  • If not toasting the crumble beforehand then scatter the unbaked crumble topping over the stewed apples.
Apple Crumble in a dish ready for the oven.
  • Bake for 35/45 minutes until golden brown and bubbling. The cooking time can vary depending on how hot your apples were going into the oven, the actual temperature of your oven and what sort and size your dish is.
  • Smaller than my noted size dish will have a thicker layer of crumble and so will take longer to bake through and the crumble may still be under baked in places. As a rough guide you are looking for the crumble topping to be about ¼ the depth of the apple mixture.
  • Just use your common sense and don't be afraid to get it out and have a little scrape of the crumble particularly in the middle.
  • To get ahead then make this crumble up until you are ready to bake and then cover and set aside. If baking the next day then store in the fridge. Remove the cover and bake for 40-50 minutes if straight from the fridge or the recommended standard time if at room temperature.
baked apple crumble with bramley apples

How To Make Tips

  • Taste to check that the apple mixture is sweet enough. Add more sugar if it is not.
  • It is very simple to make it gluten free. You merely substitute the plain flour for gluten free flour.
  • I store any leftovers in the baking dish simply covered with silver foil. Making sure it is cold I then keep it in the fridge. If there is only a small portion left I would transfer to a smaller bowl.
  • I find the best and easiest way to reheat is to cover with cling film or a plate and use the microwave. Be careful hot fruit is like lava.
  • If you have made the crumble before hand then pop it in the oven at 180 C/350 F/Gas Mark 4 for 20 - 30 minutes until piping hot throughout. Use a silver foil hat if it starts to darken too much on top.
  •  Apple Crumble freezes well. I prefer to freeze it unbaked in something like a Pyrex dish and double cover it with silver foil. Defrost overnight and then bake as normal. Recently I bought some Pyrex dishes with freezer lids. Genius for this sort of thing.

 What Do I Serve With Apple Crumble?

I like to eat mine with double cream, a puddle of it. But the rest of my family loves Vanilla Custard.

There is of course Vanilla Ice Cream. I have served it with mincemeat ice cream too.

apple crumble on a white plate with a serving spoon. A blue and white jug is being tipped forward pouring cream onto the crumble

If you like this recipe then you may like these....

Apple Crumble Cake

Apple Crumble Pie

Spiced Apple Muffins

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Apple Pie

Deep Fried Apple Pies

Rhubarb Crumble

Biscoff and Raspberry Croissant Pudding

portion of rhubarb and strawberry crumble on a white small plate with a serving spoon all resting on a pink napkin with the corner of the rest of the crumble showing in the top right corner
Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble
apple crumble on white plates with dessert spoons, the rest of the apple crumble to the side in a white baking dish

Apple Crumble

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This Apple Crumble recipe is just delicious. Made with only a few ingredients it is comfort food at it's best. Perfect for feeding a crowd too.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr 5 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine English
Servings 4
Calories 688 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 1 kg cooking apples I prefer Bramleys
  • 150 grams unrefined caster sugar standard is fine too.
  • 25 grams unsalted butter
  • 50 mls water
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon optional

Crumble Topping

  • 170 grams plain flour
  • 100 grams unsalted butter
  • 90 grams unrefined sugar

Instructions
 

  • Pre heat your oven to 180° C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Peel and core your 1 kg apples. Chop into roughly 2 cm pieces. Place in a large saucepan. Add 15o grams sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon if using and 50 mls of water and heat over a medium heat for about 15 minutes and the apples are half puree. Stir through the 25 grams butter.
  • Empty into your chosen baking dish and set aside. Put the 100 grams of butter and 170 grams flour into a mixing bowl or the bowl of a food processor. Whizz the food processor until you have breadcrumbs and if rubbing the butter in by hand then rub in until you have the same. Stir through the 90 grams of sugar.
  • Scatter the crumble on top. Ideally you want about half of the depth of the apples. Bake in your oven for 30-45 mins or until piping hot and the crumble is baked through enough in the middle.
  • Apply to Well And Truly Cuddled Face

Video

Notes

Taste to check that the apple mixture is sweet enough. Add more sugar if it is not.
Make sure you baking dish is roughly 15 x 22 cm
Check your crumble top is cooked enough in the middle.
Double the recipe to feed up to 12 people. Increase the dish size too! You are looking for the crumble topping to be about ¼ the depth of the apple mixture.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 688kcal | Carbohydrates: 119g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 305mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 83g | Vitamin A: 853IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg

All nutritional information is approximate and intended only as a guide.

Keyword apple crumble
Tried this recipe?Take a pic and tag @applytofaceblog on Instagram. I would so love to see them!
apple crumble in a white baking dish with a serving spoon alongside , some white plates to the above right and a green apple and leaves to the top left corner.

Do let me know how you get on in the comments below or come on over and join me on social media. I would love to see you there x

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Comments

  1. Rebecca - Glutarama

    March 14, 2019 at 6:47 am

    Apple crumble is quite simply the best pudding EVER if I had my way I'd eat crumble every day!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:23 pm

      And me....sooo good! You can't beat a good old fashioned pudding.

      Reply
  2. Monika

    March 14, 2019 at 12:49 pm

    Looks gorgeous, simple and just as it should be. For me apple crumble is timeless, and I think everyone likes it. So you should get lots of views:) Thank you for bringing your crumble to #CookBlogShare

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:22 pm

      Thanks Monika. The oldies are still the goodies!

      Reply
  3. Corina Blum

    March 15, 2019 at 11:25 am

    I love a good apple crumble and this one look so good! I love it when the apple breaks down a lot like yours has.

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:21 pm

      Thanks Corina. I so agree. Bramleys are just so good at that.

      Reply
  4. Jenny paulin

    March 15, 2019 at 8:58 pm

    mmmmmm we love apple crumble in this house. its just so comforting isn't it? I tend to use eating apples rather than Bramleys, but this is usually laziness on my part, as I cannot be bothered to go and buy them for my crumble. I just use what I have in my fruit bowl!
    Anyway, your crumble looks proper lush xx
    thanks for sharing with #Bakeoftheweek

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:20 pm

      Thanks Jenny. I have a bit of a thing for Bramleys... they mush up so good!

      Reply
  5. Michelle Frank

    March 16, 2019 at 12:28 am

    Yes to everything you said about apples and cinnamon! I'm always looking for easy recipes for dessert that can be baking while I enjoy dinner with the fam. This is perfect!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:16 pm

      Thank you Michelle! The easier the better!

      Reply
  6. Cat | Curly's Cooking

    March 16, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Ooh this looks delicious. I love apple crumble and my husband would love yours with that generous helping of custard!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:14 pm

      You gotta go home or go hard Cat!

      Reply
  7. Kat (The Baking Explorer)

    March 18, 2019 at 1:20 pm

    I love a good crumble and this one looks so tasty!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:13 pm

      Thanks Kat!

      Reply
  8. Abbey | threecatsandagirl

    March 18, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    I love apple desserts and this is one that looks great!! Thanks for bringing it to Fiesta Friday! I hope your weekend was great!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 7:12 pm

      Thank you! Thanks for hosting x

      Reply
      • Abbey | threecatsandagirl

        March 18, 2019 at 10:50 pm

        Sure thing! I had a great time with it! x

  9. Eb Gargano

    March 18, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    Aaah - I absolutely LOVE apple crumble. It's one of my favourite desserts of all time - there is something so homely about it. And I get the same - smug supermum feeling when I make it too! (mine usually get a chocolate yogurt!) I had no idea it was such a recent invention - but it makes sense that it would have been invented when food was scarce. Eb x

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      March 18, 2019 at 6:55 pm

      Thanks Eb. I was surprised too about it being so recent. I always imagined it had been with us since at least the Tudor times!

      Reply
  10. FrugalHausfrau

    March 26, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    YES PLEASE~ with the custard sauce! Great post. I like to freeze toppins and streusel like this just to have on hand and then sprinkle them over whatever I want to make, crumbles, crisps, muffins, whatever!!

    Reply
    • applytofaceblog

      April 01, 2019 at 9:42 am

      Thank you! I love a nubbly top so much too!Bring on the crumble.....

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Jenny Walters. A mother of two and passionate filler of bellies with stress free, simple and delicious recipes that gladden the soul. I am at heart a home cook.

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