Warm & Cozy Baked Apple Crumble
This Warm and Cozy Baked Apple Crumble features tender, cinnamon-spiced baked apples beneath a golden, buttery oat topping that crisps up beautifully in the oven. It comes together with simple pantry staples in under an hour and tastes like pure comfort in every bite. Serve it warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a truly unforgettable dessert.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Vegetable peeler
- Chef's knife and cutting board
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 6 medium apples (mixed Granny Smith and Honeycrisp) peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 0.75 cup all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cold, cut into small cubes
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray and set aside.
- Peel, core, and slice the apples into roughly 1/4-inch thick pieces. Place them in a large mixing bowl and toss with the granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice until every slice is evenly coated.
- Transfer the spiced apple mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Pack the apples in snugly as they will shrink during baking.
- In a medium bowl, combine the rolled oats, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and use your fingertips to rub it into the dry mixture until it resembles coarse, clumpy sand with some pea-sized butter pieces still visible, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the apple layer in the baking dish. Do not press it down; keeping it loose allows the topping to bake up light and crispy.
- Bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes, until the crumble topping is deep golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the crumble to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This helps the filling thicken slightly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Notes
Keep butter cold for the best crumble texture. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate the cubed butter for 5 minutes before using. Use a mix of tart and sweet apple varieties for a more complex flavor. Taste your apples before mixing and adjust the sugar in the filling as needed. The assembled, unbaked crumble can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat well in the oven at 325°F or in the microwave. The baked crumble also freezes well for up to 3 months.