Apple Crumble – the 10 best recipes (2024)

Easiest Apple crumble

This is the easiest apple crumble recipe and an all-time favourite quick and easy dessert.

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 6

Dietary
Vegetarian

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Place the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl and mix well. Taking a few cubes of butter at a time rub into the flour mixture. Keep rubbing until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
3. Place the fruit in a large bowl and sprinkle over the sugar, flour and cinnamon. Stir well being careful not to break up the fruit.
4. Butter a 24cm/9in ovenproof dish. Spoon the fruit mixture into the bottom, then sprinkle the crumble mixture on top.
5. Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the crumble is browned and the fruit mixture bubbling.
6. Serve with thick cream or custard.

BBC Goodfood Apple crumble

Preparation time
15 mins

Cooking time
40 mins

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

Ingredients

For the filling

• 575gBramley apple
  (3 medium apples), peeled, cored and sliced to 1 cm thick (see tip)
• 2 tbsp golden caster sugar

For the crumble

• 175g plain flour
• 110g golden caster sugar
• 110g coldbutter

For the topping (optional)

• 1 tbsp rolledoats
• 1 tbsp demerara sugar
• double cream, clotted cream or custard, to serve

Method

1. Heat the oven to 190C/170 fan/gas 5.
2. Toss 575g peeled, cored and sliced Bramley apples with 2 tbsp golden caster sugar and put in a 23cm round baking dish at least 5cm deep, or a 20cm square dish. Flatten down with your hand to prevent too much crumble falling through.
3. Put 175g plain flour and 110g golden caster sugar in abowlwith a good pinch of salt.
4. Slice in 110g cold butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mixture looks like moist breadcrumbs. Shake the bowl and any big bits will come to the surface – rub them in. Alternatively, pulse in aprocessoruntil sandy (don’t over-process).
5. Pour the crumb mix over the apples to form a pile in the centre, then use a fork to even out.
6. Gently press the surface with the back of the fork so the crumble holds together and goes crisp, then lightly drag the fork over the top for a decorative finish.
7. Sprinkle 1 tbsp rolled oats and 1 tbsp demerara sugar over evenly if you wish.
8. Set on abaking trayand put in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until the top is golden and the apples feel very soft when you insert a small, sharp knife. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Jamie Oliver Apple crumble

Feedback on Jamie’s apple crumble recipe from those who have tried it said … “Quantity of crumble is much too small for the apples, IMO you should at least double it.“;“Totally agree tastes great, but I needed to at least double the quantities for the crumble“; “Thanks, I doubled the qty of crumble as you advised, it was perfectly balanced“. The crumble quantities in the ingredients below are the doubled quantities that people recommended and Jamie’s original cooking time has been doubled from 20 mins to 40 mins.

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 6

Dietary
Vegetarian

Ingredients

FILLING

• 400 g cooking apples
• 50 g caster sugar

CRUMBLE

• 70 g wholemeal flour
• 70 g rolled oats
• 70 g unsalted butter
• 40 g caster sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas 5.
2. Peel and core the apples, then quarter and cut into chunks.
3. Put the apples into a pan with the sugar and 1 tablespoon of water, then cook over a low heat for 5 minutes to soften slightly, stirring occasionally, then tip into a small ovenproof baking dish.
4. Place the flour and oats in a bowl and mix well. Chop the butter into small cubes and add this to the oats and flour. Mix and rub in with your fingertips until it resembles an even crumb texture.
5. Add the sugar and mix through, then cover the fruit with the crumble mixture.
6. Bake for around 40 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.

Delia Smith Apple crumble

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

INGREDIENTS

• 700g Bramley apples
• 225g Cox’s apples
• 25g light brown soft sugar
• 1 level teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

For the crumble

• 75g chilled salted butter, cut into small dice
• 175g self-raising flour
• 1 level dessertspoon ground cinnamon
• 110g demerara sugar
• 110g whole almonds, skin on

To serve
Clotted cream or Isigny Ste Mere creme fraiche

EQUIPMENT

You will need an ovenproof baking dish measuring about 24 cm x 16 cm and 6 cm deep or similar.

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6
2. Prepare the apples by cutting them first into quarters, then pare off the peel with a potato peeler (or leave it on, whichever you prefer) and slice out the cores. Now cut them into thickish slices and toss them in a bowl with the sugar, cinnamon and ground cloves, then place them in the baking dish.
3. For the crumble all you do is place the butter, sifted flour, cinnamon and sugar in a processor and give it a whiz till it resembles crumbs. Next add the almonds and pulse, until they are roughly chopped and chunky. If you don’t have a food processor, in a large bowl, rub the butter into the sifted flour until it resembles crumbs, then stir in the cinnamon, sugar and almonds, which should be roughly chopped by hand.
4. Now spoon the crumble mixture all over the apples, spreading it right up to the edges of the dish, and, using the flat of your hands, press it down quite firmly all over; the more tightly it is packed together the crisper it will be. Then finish off by lightly running a fork all over the surface.
5. Bake the crumble on the centre shelf of the oven for 40–45 minutes, until the topping is well browned and crisp. Leave it to rest for 10 minutes before serving with well-chilled crème fraîche or clotted cream.

Gordon Ramsay Apple crumble

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
20 to 30 mins

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

INGREDIENTS

• 6 tbsp caster sugar
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1 vanilla pod, seeds only
• 6 apples, cored but not peeled, 3 of them grated, 3 cut into chunks
• 3 tbsp dried cranberries
• Zest of 1 lemon, juice of ½

For the crumble

• 100g plain flour
• 2 tbsp demerara sugar
• 50g butter, chilled and cubed
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• 4 tbsp nutty granola or muesli

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 6.
2. Heat a small hob-proof baking dish, add the castersugar and heat for about 5 minutes until it caramelises.Add the cinnamon, vanilla seeds and grated apples and cook for 1–2 minutes. Stir in the apple chunks, then mix in the cranberries, lemon zest and juice. Remove from the heat and set aside.
3. To make the topping, place the flour, sugar, butter and cinnamon in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the granola and mix until fully incorporated.
4. Scatter the crumble topping over the fruit and heat the dish again on the hob. Once the apple mixture is bubbling, transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 12–14 minutes until the topping is a deep golden colour. Remove and serve warm.

Hairy Bikers Apple crumble

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

INGREDIENTS

• 4 eating apples, peeled, quartered and cored
• 2 Bramley cooking apples, peeled, quartered and cored
• 100g demerara sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon

For the crumble

• 150g plain flour
• 100g golden caster sugar
• 100g butter, cut into cubes
• 50g flaked almonds

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6.
2. Put all the apples in an ovenproofdish, add the sugar and cinnamon and mix well.
3. To make the topping, mix the flour and caster sugar in a bowl, then add the butter and rub it into the dry ingredients with your fingertips. The mixture should have the texture of coarse breadcrumbs. Add the flaked almonds and mix well.
4. Sprinkle the topping over the apples and bake the crumble in the preheated ovenfor about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the apples are cooked.
5. Serve with cream or custard.
   
   Hairy Biker tip: You can add 50g of oats to the crumble mixture for a bitof extra chewiness.

Donna Hay Apple crumble

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

INGREDIENTS

• 5 medium granny smith (green) apples (900g), peeled, cored and cut into 2cm dice
• ½ cup (110g) caster (superfine) sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• store-bought vanilla ice-cream, to serve

For the crumble

• 1½ cups (225g) plain (all-purpose) flour
• ¾ cup (165g) caster (superfine) sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup (90g) rolled oats
• 225g unsalted butter, melted

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the apple, sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix to combine. Transfer to a 1.5-litre-capacity ovenproof dish.
2. To make the crumble topping, place the flour, sugar, cinnamon, oats and butter in a large bowl and mix until just combined.
3. Spoon the crumble mixture over the apple and place the dish on a large baking tray. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the crumble is golden and the apples are soft. Serve with vanilla ice-cream. Serves 6.

James Martin Apple crumble

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

INGREDIENTS

• 1kBramley apples, peeled cored and sliced
• 300g blackberries
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For the crumble:

• 250g plain flour
• 250g Demerara sugar
• 250g butter, diced and chilled

For the custard:

• 8 egg yolks
• 75g caster sugar
• 300ml milk
• 300ml double cream

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.
2. Dice the butter. Mix it through your fingers with the flour creating abreadcrumb texture. Add the sugar and mix together.
3. Add the apples and blackberries to a baking dish and dust with somesugar. Sprinkle the crumble over the fruit and bake in the oven for 30minutes.
4. To make the custardpour equal quantities of milk and double creaminto a pan with one vanilla pod and its seeds.Place over a mediumheat and bring to the boil.
5. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar.
6. Pour the milk mixture over the yolk mixture and stir together.Transfer this to back to the pan, whisking continually until it thickens.
7. Serve the crumble with the fresh warm custard.

Nigella Lawson Apple crumble

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

• 3 eating apples (Golden Delicious work well), or equivalent cooking apples.
• glug marsala
• 25g raisins or sultanas
• 60g walnuts, processed
• 100g plain flour
• 45g sugar
• 50g butter, cold from the fridge
• 1 small pie dish, 21cm diameter, or similar oven-proof container

Nigel Slater Apple crumble

Nigel Slater’s crumble balances tart Bramley apples with a topping that’s made extra crunchy by demerara sugar and oats.

Preparation time
less than 30 mins

Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour

Serves
Serves 4

Dietary
Vegetarian

Ingredients

• 1kg/2lb 3½ozBramley apples
• pinchsugar, to taste
• 1 tbsp water orapple juice
• 100g/3½ozplain flour
• 75g/2½ozbutter
• 50g/2oz rolledoats
• 100g/3½ozdemerara sugar

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. Wipe the apples and cut them into quarters, then remove the cores and slice each piece in two. Put them into a pan, taste a slice for sweetness and add a sprinkling of sugar accordingly.
3. Add a tablespoon of water or apple juice and cook over a medium heat for about five minutes, until the apples start to soften.
4. Transfer the apple mixture to a shallow ovenproof pie dish.
5. Blend the flour and butter in a food processor for a few seconds, until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
6. Stir in the oats and the brown sugar and sprinkle over the cooked apples in the pie dish.
7. Transfer to the oven to bake for 30 minutes or until crisp and golden-brown on top.