Apple Crumble with Oats is a delicious and comforting dessert that's sure to please! This rustic treat features sweet, tender spiced apples and a classic crumbly oat topping, prepped and baked golden in under an hour. It's the perfect recipe for holidays and all of your family gatherings.
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Why you should try this crumble dessert?
Warm, sweet and gooey fruit crumbles are a perfect dessert for any occasion. They are easy to make with your favorite seasonal fruits, and are very customizable. This simple apple crumble with oats is a delicious fall dessert that everyone loves!
It all starts with a rustic cinnamon apple filling. Then add a crispy and crunchy streusel topping. Bake for less than an hour and - ta-da - you have a scrumptious, comforting, crowd-pleasing treat for the holidays.
The jammy apples are tender and soft, with lots of spice. They are tossed with lemon juice, sugar, and a bit of flour... So the thick filling is just right, not dry nor runny or watery.
And my goodness, the buttery topping! The flavors and textures balance all of the sweet and tart goodness of the crumble filling. Pair with a creamy ice cream or whipped cream, and you have the perfect Thanksgiving dessert to make everyone at the table happy.
*If you are looking for more easy dessert recipes, try these delicious dishes:
- Blueberry Crisp - use fresh or frozen berries for a quick and easy treat.
- Peach Cobbler - with a doughy biscuit-like topping.
- Homemade Apple Pie - a scratch-made crust makes this an extra special dessert. Similar to most apple crumble recipes, but admittedly a bit more complicated to prepare.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
Apples: Choose a variety that is firm, and crunchy.
Lemon Juice: Brightens the apple flavor and keeps them perky.
Granulated Sugar: White castor sugar, coconut sugar, or other granulated white sugar substitution are all good options.
Spices: A mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, and dry ginger. Classic combination for baked apple desserts!
All-Purpose Flour: To thicken the filling.
Crumble Topping
All-Purpose Flour: For a soft, fluffy and tender crumble.
Oats: Old fashioned or instant.
Brown Sugar: Has a faint taste of molasses, and gives the dessert a more deeply sweet flavor.
Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg.
Baking Powder: Leavening agent often included in baking recipes.
Salt: A pinch of this kitchen staple helps to balance the sweet and tart flavors.
Chilled Unsalted Butter: The cold diced butter is combined with the oat mixture for a perfect crumb.
How to make Apple Crumble with oats?
Prepping Up: Firstly wash, peel, and core the apple. Dice into 1-inch chunks.
Pre-heat the oven at 350°F (180°C).
Make Apple Filling:
In a large bowl, add peeled and diced apples, freshly squeezed lemon juice, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and dry ginger, and all-purpose flour.
Give a gentle toss until apples are coated well with sugar, flour and spices. Allow the apple mixture to rest for a while, and prepare the crumble topping.
Making Crumble Topping with oats:
In another large bowl, add flour, oats, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine everything well to form a crumb mixture.
Add chilled unsalted butter cubes to the crumb mixture and mix using your fingers until the mixture comes together to give you a crumbly topping.
Assembly:
Now, place the apple mixture in 10 inch round baking dish (or greased cast iron pan) and spread evenly (you can also use 2 quarts rectangular baking dish instead of round).
Spread the crumble topping with oats evenly over the apples.
Pop it into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling.
Expert Tips
- Quick oats are okay in a pinch. However, I recommend you use rolled oats for the best texture. Old fashioned or instant rolled oats both work well!
- Skip salt if using salted butter.
- There are a few methods to mix the crumb topping: Use a pastry cutter, a stand mixer, or your hands to crumble the dry ingredients and butter together. Choose whichever you prefer! (My personal favorite is to use my hands.)
- Easily assemble and bake in ramekins for individual serving portions.
FAQs
Yes, this is a great dessert to make in advance! Prepare a day or two before serving or even bake and freeze.
I am using granny smith in this crumble recipe. Some of the other options includes honeycrisp, mutsu, pink lady, Jonagold, and Jazz; use any one variety or the mix of apples.
Optional Add-ins and Variations
- Make this recipe with other fruits. Try pear, rhubarb, blackberries, raspberries, plum, peach, or apricot crumble.
- Add more crunch to the streusel crumble! Stir in chopped nuts and/or seeds to the topping mixture. Almonds, walnuts, and hemp seeds are tasty options.
- To make vegan simply swap butter with coconut oil. Refrigerate the oil until it solidifies to make the crumble topping.
- Feel free to use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- It's easy to make as a gluten free dessert! Use cornstarch or arrowroot powder for the filling. For the topping use almond, oat, or your favorite gluten free flour instead of all purpose flour.
Storing, Freezing and Reheating
This quick and easy apple oats crumble recipe is great to make ahead!
To store: Bake, cool completely, and cover with aluminum foil or plastic cling wrap. Store in the refrigerator overnight. In total the crumble will keep well for up to 3 days from the day it's made.
To reheat: Take the crumble out of the fridge and let it rest on the counter while the oven preheats. Uncover and bake again at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until reheated and bubbly.
To freeze: If you plan to freeze I suggest that you make the crumble with oat topping in a metal or foil pan. Then it can more easily go from the freezer to oven. Freeze the crumble unbaked, or bake first and cool completely. Wrap the pan in a layer of plastic wrap, then in a layer of aluminum foil. Keep in the freeze for up to 3 months.
Bake from frozen for 45-50 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven.
Serving
Enjoy homemade apple crumble warm or at room temperature with your favorite toppings.
The cinnamon spice fruit filling is delicious with cold and creamy vanilla ice-cream, custard, or whipped vanilla cream (my fave!).
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📖 Recipe
Apple Crumble with Oats
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 lbs Apples (peeled, cored and diced in 1 inch cubes)
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
- ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
- ¼ cup All-purpose Flour
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1 cup Oats (old-fashioned or instant)
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
- ¾ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¾ cup Chilled Unsalted Butter (diced)
Instructions
Making apple filling
- Pre-heat the oven at 350°F (180°C).
- In a large bowl, add peeled and diced apples, freshly squeezed lemon juice, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and dry ginger, and all-purpose flour.
- Give a gentle toss until apples are coated well with sugar, flour and spices. Allow the apple mixture to rest for a while, and prepare the crumble topping.
Making Crumble Topping
- In another large bowl, add flour, oats, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking powder and salt. Stir to combine everything well to form a crumb mixture.
- Add chilled unsalted butter cubes to the crumb mixture and mix using your fingers until the mixture comes together to give you a crumbly topping.
Assembly and Baking
- Now, place the apple mixture in 10 inch round baking dish (or greased cast iron pan) and spread evenly (you can also use 2 quarts rectangular baking dish instead of round).
- Spread the crumble topping evenly over the apples.
- Pop it into the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling.
- Let the crumble stand for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream, whipped vanilla cream or custard.
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