Apple Crumble

As we are about to enter a new year, I know some of you might be thinking of cutting out desserts and trying to eat healthier. Don’t turn your back on this Apple Crumble recipe, it is mostly fruit and oatmeal! Besides why cut out the delicious things in life? Focus more on having everything in moderation 🙂

This apple crumble, or apple crisp or apple cobbler (people have called it different names every time I have made) is always a crowd pleaser. This has been my go to apple dessert recipe for years. I’ve made it to take to events or just because I wanted dessert at home. It comes together pretty quickly and everyone will love it.

This recipe is also great if you want to make an apple pie with a crumble topping. But to me it is mostly a great alternative to apple pie if you don’t want to go through the process of making the dough, chilling it then rolling it out. Of course you can also just buy a pre-made crust (it’s not the same thing though). Making the crumble is easy and you just have to scatter it over the apple filling. It is best topped with ice cream or with whipped cream, the good kind.

Some Notes

• The thinner you slice your apples, the more likely they will cook all the way through. I like to slice mine really thin but if you don’t mind having some apple slices that have a little bit of a crunch left in them, cut them into thick slices.
• You can add nuts to your crumble topping. I hardly add nuts to mine but this time around I put walnuts and they worked really well in the crumble.
• You can use flour or cornstarch as a thickener. I prefer to use flour because I am not crazy about the consistency of cornstarch in pies. You can try both at different occasions if you are not sure which one you prefer.
• You can use a food processor to mix the topping. Just keep in mind that your oatmeal will be broken into pieces as well.

Apple Crumble

This recipe yields one 8 or 9 inch pie dish.

Topping

• 1 cup flour
• 3/4 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts of choice (optional)

Filling

• 6 medium apples peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons flour or cornstarch (see note)
• 2-3 tablespoons softened butter for buttering

Method

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

In a large bowl or food processor, mix together flour, oatmeal, sugar, salt, and nuts (if using). Grate the cold butter into the mixture, or add chunks and pulse if using a food processor. Mix with your hands or pulse until the mixture looks like a coarse meal. You don’t want it to begin to form a dough.

In another large bowl, put apple slices, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon juice and flour or cornstarch. Mix until everything is combined.

Grease a pie dish with softened butter then add apple filling. Crumble the topping on the apple filling making sure to cover all the apples. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the topping browns and the corners start to bubble. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy topped with ice cream or whipped cream.