Your Best Classic English Apple Crumble Recipe

Apple Crumble is a fragrant and delicious dessert spoon, an English specialty. Perfect to enjoy in autumn, at any time of the day, it is made with a sweet crumbly dough, similar to eggless shortcrust pastry, which covers a soft and warm apple filling. It is a quick and popular home recipe all over the world, based on a few simple ingredients, invented during the Second World War, when the crisis of the moment and the scarcity of food prevented the preparation of the traditional apple pie.

To make it, you just need to mix the flour with the grated zest of a lemon and the cold butter cut into cubes, until you get lots of crumbs: these will then be cooled in the refrigerator so that the crumble is super crunchy after cooking. Separately, peel the apples, cut them into cubes and mix them with brown sugar, cinnamon powder, melted butter and lemon zest; finally, transfer everything to a buttered baking dish, cover with the mixture and bake until golden brown.

The result is a fragrant and juicy dessert, ideal to serve both warm and cold: once ready, you can garnish it with a spoonful of custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy it for breakfast, as a snack or serve it as a delicious end to a meal at the end of a dinner with special guests.

What is Apple Crumble?

Apple crumble originated in Britain during World War II as a practical, delicious alternative to pies, which required more costly ingredients like butter, flour, and sugar. With rationing in full effect, British home cooks needed a simpler dessert that captured the essence of a classic pie without a heavy crust, so they created crumbles with a quick, streusel-like topping. Over time, apple crumble became beloved worldwide, leading to variations like adding oats, nuts, or even spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for extra warmth.

Today, some modern versions include tropical fruits or a blend of tart and sweet apples for flavor depth. Fun fact: in the U.K., crumbles are so popular they even have savory versions, with meat and vegetables under a crumbly topping! And in some parts of the U.S., people love serving apple crumble with a dollop of ice cream for a warm, cool contrast.

Pro Tips for The Best Apple Crumble

• Use a mix of tart and sweet apples, like Granny Smith and Honeycrisp, for a balanced flavor.
• Slice apples into even pieces to ensure they cook uniformly and don’t become mushy.
• A bit of lemon juice prevents browning and enhances the apple flavor.
• Cold butter creates a crisp, crumbly topping. Cut it in until pea-sized for the perfect texture.
• Mix until just combined to keep a light, crumbly texture instead of a dense layer.
• Wait until the top is golden brown and the filling is bubbling at the edges for a perfect bake.
• Allow the crumble to cool slightly to let the flavors set and prevent burns from the hot filling.

Apple Crumble vs. Crisp

The main difference between a crumble and a crisp is in the topping. A crumble has a streusel-like topping made of flour, butter, and sugar, which bakes into a dense, crumbly layer. A crisp, on the other hand, includes oats in the topping, giving it a lighter, crunchier texture when baked.

What Are The Best Types of Apples for Apple Crumble?

The best apples for crumble are a mix of tart and sweet varieties, like Granny Smith for a tangy bite and Honeycrisp or Fuji for natural sweetness.

Do I Have to Peel The Apples?

Peeling the apples is optional for crumble. Peeling gives a softer, smoother texture, while leaving the skin on adds a bit of color and extra fiber. It depends on your texture preference!

What Can I Add to The Crumble?

To enrich your crumble, try adding chopped nuts, like almonds or walnuts, for extra crunch, or spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger for warmth. You can also mix in oats or shredded coconut for added texture and flavor!

What Can I Serve as a Topping?

Classic toppings for crumble include a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or a drizzle of warm custard. These add a creamy contrast to the crumble's warm, crispy texture.

How Do I Keep the Entire Crumble From Turning Soggy?

To prevent your crumble from turning soggy, bake it until the topping is golden and the fruit is bubbling to reduce excess moisture. Also, avoid covering it tightly while cooling, as trapped steam can make the topping soft.

Can I Make Apple Crumble Ahead of Time?

Yes, apple crumble can be made ahead of time! Prepare the filling and topping separately, store them in the fridge, then assemble and bake when ready. Alternatively, you can fully bake it, then reheat before serving for a fresh-from-the-oven taste.

Can I Make Single Portions of Apple Crumble?

Yes, you can make single portions by dividing the apple and crumble mixture into ramekins. This way, each person gets a perfect, personal serving of crumble! Just adjust the baking time slightly, checking for a golden topping and bubbling fruit.

Does Apple Crumble Freeze Well?

Yes, apple crumble freezes well! You can freeze it baked or unbaked. Just cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. For baked crumble, reheat in the oven until warmed through; for unbaked, bake directly from frozen, adding a bit more time.

More Apple Recipes You Need to Try for Fall!

Apple Puff Pastry Squares

Apple Turnovers

Puff Pastry Apple Roses

Caramel Apple Pie

Puff Pastry Apple Strudel

Apple Pie Fries

Apple Cinnamon Crepes

Invisible Apple Cake

How to Store Apple Crumble

Apple crumble can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly closed in an airtight container, for 3-4 days maximum.

How to Make Apple Crumble

Mix the flour with the sugar and the grated zest of an organic lemon, then transfer everything onto a pastry board.

Place the cold butter, cut into cubes, in the center.

Knead with your hands until the mixture becomes crumbly; transfer it to a bowl, put it in the fridge and in the meantime take care of the filling.

Peel the apples and cut them into cubes of about 1cm, removing the core.

Season them with the juice and grated zest of a lemon, the cinnamon powder and the melted butter.

Also add the brown sugar and mix well.

Arrange the apples on the bottom of a greased 20cm baking pan.

Cover the filling completely with the dough.

Once all the crumbs have been distributed, cook the apple crumble at 360°F (180°C) in a preheated static oven for at least 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!