Apple Crumble
Want to learn how to make Apple Crumble with a delicious pecan crumble topping? This apple crumble recipe calls for tart apples, apple cider, cinnamon and more. This classic crumble recipe is the perfect comforting dessert for the fall months ahead.
Love apple desserts? Don’t miss Spiced Apple Upside Down Cake with Bourbon Caramel Glaze and Vegan Apple Crisp.
In celebration of October, let’s do some baking with apples!
Now, this recipe has a funny story behind it.
We now call it “Apple Buddy” in our house because a friend of my sister’s once misunderstood that we were calling it Apple Betty and called it Apple Buddy instead.
(Funnily enough, I learned later that it’s not actually an Apple Betty at all!)
So. No matter what you call this recipe, it’s a delicious fall dessert!
Why I love this recipe:
This Apple Crumble is a simple dish is similar to a cobbler or a crisp.
Except I’ve jazzed up the topping because I really like a good crunch on desserts like these.
Granny Smith Apples our base. We soak them in apple cider (instead of traditional lemon juice.) Then we toss ’em with sugar, butter and cinnamon.
Then we cover the apple mixture with a crunchy, sweet pecan mixture and bake it off.
Honestly, this has become one of my favorite comforting desserts for the fall. It’s easy to put together and tastes amazing hot out of the oven or cold from the fridge.
More fall dessert recipes to make: Mini Apple Spice Rum Cakes | Spiced Pumpkin Sugar Cookies | Caramel Corn Cookies | Halloween Peanut Butter Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies | Praline Upside Down Pumpkin Cake with Bourbon Caramel Sauce
Looking for a dish to make and share this fall? Check out my Fall Recipe Index for more ideas.
What you need to make this recipe:
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- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Vegetable peeler and apple corer
- Mixing bowls
- Casserole dish
Let’s talk ingredients!
In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.
Here’s what you need:
- Dark brown sugar — while you could use a light brown sugar in place of this, I highly recommend using dark brown sugar because it has more molasses flavor.
- Chopped pecans — we’ve also made this recipe with chopped walnuts, if you’d prefer those. I love adding chopped nuts to the crumble topping because it adds some crunch and texture!
- Ground cinnamon — this is the best spice to pair with we need this for both
- All-purpose flour — we keep unbleached AP flour in the house, but you can use the regular kind, too. We’ll need this for both the crumble topping and the apple filling.
- Unsalted butter — it needs to be cold and cut into ¼” squares. We need it for both the crumble topping and the apple filling.
- Granny Smith Apples — you’ll need about 4 of them. I love a Granny Smith Apple for a baking recipe like this one because they’re nice and tart, as well as hold their shape as they bake.
- Spiced apple cider — we toss the apples in this before baking them, and it adds extra flavor and spice!
- Granulated sugar — also known as white sugar, we’ll need a little bit of this to sweeten our tart apples.
How to make Apple Crumble
Prep the apples. Peel and core the apples first before chopping them into bite-sized pieces.
Preheat the oven. Spray an 8″ square baking dish with nonstick baking spray, and set aside.
Make the crumble topping. Combine the brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon and flour in a bowl. Use your hands to massage the butter into the sugar mixture. Work it into the sugar mixture until it resembles wet sand.
Make the apple filling. Measure the chopped apples and cider to a large bowl. Toss. Add the sugar, flour and cinnamon, and stir until combined. Finish with the butter.
Finish the apple crumble recipe. Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the crumble.
Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown. The apple mixture should be bubbling, too.
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream!
Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips
The humble Apple Crumble is a quintessential fall dessert, if you ask me.
This would be excellent to share with friends or family after a comforting fall meal, whether it’s an occasion or a simple dinner where you want dessert.
Here’s how you can make this recipe for a crowd:
- Double the recipe. While this is more than enough for our family, if you’re feeding more than 4 people, I suggest making extra so you’ve got more than enough.
- Make some parts of the crumble in advance. Chop, core and toss the apples in the filling mixture. (The spiced apple cider should prevent them from browning.) You can also make the crumble, too, then pop it into the fridge. Keep the filling and topping separate until it’s baking time.
- Have fun with the toppings. Offer guests classic vanilla ice cream, whipped cream (or your favorite whipped topping), chopped toasted pecans and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
An apple crisp includes oats in the topping. A crumble does not involve oats.
The key to a crispy crumble on top of an apple crumble is the fat (butter) being cold when it goes into the oven.
Our crumble mixture is made of dark brown sugar, pecans, ground cinnamon and all-purpose flour.
No. A cobbler is not the same as a crumble. The texture of the topping is different, even though the filling can be very similar. (For example, my recipes for Dairy Free Peach Cobbler and Dairy Free Blackberry Cobbler involve cobblestone-esque topping, which call for more flour and are more consistent than this crumble topping.)
Quick tips and tricks to the best apple crumble
- Use the right apples. Using a tart apple, like a Granny Smith, will make this apple crumble recipe sing.
- Change up the spices. If you love pumpkin spice, swap the cinnamon for that! You can do the same thing with apple pie spice. Use the same amount.
- How to store leftovers: Store in an airtight food storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More crisp and cobbler recipes to try:
We love this Vegan Apple Crisp, and I know this Gluten-Free Blueberry Crisp would be equally excellent.
Who wouldn’t love a big ‘ol serving of Dairy Free Peach Cobbler or Dairy Free Blackberry Cobbler with a scoop of your favorite ice cream?
Here’s how you can make this crumble at home:
Classic Apple Crumble
Ingredients
Crumble Topping
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 2/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter cut into ¼” squares
Apple Filling
- 4 medium Granny Smith Apples about 4 ½ cups chopped
- 1/3 cup spiced apple cider
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter cut into ¼” squares
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray an 8" square baking dish with nonstick baking spray, and set aside.
- If you haven't already, peel the apples and core them. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
- In a medium-sized glass bowl, combine the brown sugar, chopped pecans, cinnamon and flour. Stir until combined.
- Use your hands to cut the butter into the sugar mixture, working the butter into the sugar mixture until it resembles wet sand.
- In a large glass bowl, measure out the chopped apples and add the cider. Toss.
- Add the sugar, flour and cinnamon, stirring until combined.
- Add the butter, tossing until combined.
- Pour the apple mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Evenly top the apple mixture with the crumble.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping has browned and the apple mixture is bubbling.
- Enjoy warm with a scoop of your favorite ice cream and/or homemade whipped cream.
Notes
Nutrition
About the Author:
Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her…
We were on very similar pages with recipes today and I love it! Drooooling over this.
High-five for similar recipe pages, lady! Going to check yours out because any kind of apple crisp sounds amazing right about now. 🙂
Ha! Well, I have had plenty of servings of apple brown betty, but never apple buddy. 🙂 The walnut topping sounds great!
Like you, I’ve had plenty of servings of apple betty, too… funny how one person can change an entire dish. And the walnut topping is so good — crunchy and full of flavor!
This dessert is looking for a new friend (aka buddy) in me. 😉
Love that steamy photo! 🙂
Yep, this dish definitely wants to be a friend! Thanks! If you try it out, let me know what you think… I’m half-tempted to make myself another pan of this, even though I know that would spell major trouble!
I can’t wait to try this!! I’ve been waiting for this recipe since your instagram photo 🙂
Let me know what you think of this when you try it, Madison! Honestly, this is a household favorite dessert, and the crunchy topping is hard to beat!