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1 Comment f there is one dessert that immediately makes me think of fall, it has to be apple crumble. Warm, soft apples underneath a crunchy, buttery crumble topping… preferably with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top. Yes please!
This easy apple crumble with walnuts is ready for the oven in no time and you only need a handful of ingredients. It’s perfect for apple season, but to be fair, I can happily eat this all year round.
Table of contents
Tip from Simone
Use apples that keep a little bit of bite after baking. I used Pink Lady here, but Elstar, Jonagold, Honeycrisp or Braeburn are also delicious. And don’t cut the apples too small; you want actual pieces of apple underneath that crunchy crumble!
Apple Crumble Ingredients
You only need a few basic ingredients for this apple crumble:
- Apples – I use four apples for this recipe. Pink Lady works really well, but you can use your favorite baking apple. Pears are also a delicious alternative.
- Brown sugar – adds a lovely caramel-like sweetness to the apples. If your apples are already quite sweet, you can use less or leave it out. A little maple syrup or honey also works.
- Walnuts or pecans – these add extra crunch and make the crumble even better. Almonds or hazelnuts would work too. Or simply leave the nuts out.
- Flour – regular all-purpose flour is perfect for the crumble. For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour blend. Almond flour is also delicious, although the texture will be slightly different.
- Butter – use cold butter straight from the fridge. This makes it much easier to create those lovely crumbs.
- Granulated sugar – for a sweet and crunchy crumble topping.
I also love adding cinnamon or gingerbread spices to the apples. Because apples and cinnamon are basically made for each other. A little lemon juice or lemon zest is great too and balances the sweetness.
How to Make Apple Crumble
Step 1: Prepare the apples
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
Peel the apples, remove the cores and cut them into cubes. Place them in a bowl and mix with the brown sugar and roughly chopped walnuts or pecans.
Want a fresher flavor? Add a squeeze of lemon juice. This also helps prevent the apples from browning, although considering they’re about to disappear underneath a crumble and go into the oven, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over that.
Step 2: Make the crumble topping
Put the flour, granulated sugar and cold butter in a bowl. Rub everything together with your fingertips until you have a coarse, crumbly mixture.
Don’t keep mixing until it becomes smooth. Lumps are exactly what you want here. Those uneven bits turn wonderfully crunchy in the oven.
Step 3: Bake
Transfer the apple mixture to an ovenproof dish and spread the crumble mixture evenly over the top.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the apples are soft and bubbling and the crumble is golden brown.
Let it cool slightly before serving. Apple crumble is especially good while it’s still a little warm.
What to Serve with Apple Crumble
Vanilla ice cream is the obvious choice and definitely one of my favorites. The combination of warm apple crumble and slowly melting ice cream is hard to beat.
For something a little fresher, serve it with thick Greek yogurt, skyr or a spoonful of crème fraîche. And yes, I have been known to eat leftover crumble with yogurt for breakfast. There are apples in it, after all. That counts for something, right?
Variations
The great thing about a crumble is that you can easily change the fruit depending on the season. In fall, try a combination of apple and pear. You can also add extra fruit such as cranberries or raisins.
In summer, make the same crumble with peaches, apricots, cherries or berries. Or check this recipe for cherry crumble or the rhubarb crumble.
Want to sneak in something a little different? Apple also works surprisingly well with a handful of blackberries or a little finely diced rhubarb. It’s an easy way to add more fruit and plenty of flavor at the same time.
How to Store Apple Crumble
In the fridge: Let the crumble cool completely, cover the dish and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can eat it cold, but I prefer reheating it briefly in the oven so the topping becomes crisp again.
In the freezer: Apple crumble can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze it in an airtight container once completely cooled. Let it thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven.
The microwave works too, but the crumble topping will become softer.
FAQ Easy Apple Crumble with Walnuts
Choose an apple that keeps some texture during baking. Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonagold and Elstar are all good options. Using two different varieties is also delicious because you get a combination of sweet and tart flavors.
No. You can leave the skin on if you prefer. It gives the crumble a little more texture and means less work, which is always a bonus. If you prefer a softer apple filling, peel them first. If you’re not using organic apples make sure to wash them thoroughly.
Yes. Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. You can also use almond flour, although this produces a slightly different, nuttier crumble topping. Or follow the recipe for a gluten-free apple crumble.
Absolutely. Simply leave out the walnuts or pecans. You don’t need to replace them with anything.
Yes. You can prepare the apple filling and crumble topping ahead of time and keep them separately in the refrigerator. Assemble just before baking for the crispiest topping.
Make sure your butter is cold and don’t overwork the crumble mixture. You want coarse crumbs rather than a smooth dough. Also avoid covering the crumble while it is still warm, as the trapped steam will soften the topping.
More Crumble Recipes
Recipe: Apple Crumble
Apple Crumble
Ingredients
- 4 apples
- 50 g light brown caster sugar
- 50 g pecans/walnuts
Crumble
- 30 g granulated sugar
- 30 g butter
- 30 g flour
Titel
- Preheat the oven to 180˚C. (350˚F)
- Peel and dice the apples. Mix the apples with the caster sugar and nuts. Pour into an ovenproof dish.
- Make the crumble by using your fingers to work the sugar, butter and flour into a crumbly mixture. There may be a few lumps and that's ok.
- Spread the crumble over the apple mixture and place in the oven for about 20-30 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown.
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
This is so easy to make and so delicious! Absolutely worth it!