Apple Crumble

Love apple pie, but not so into making the crust? Honestly, we get it. If you’re looking for that same delicious flavor with way less effort, then this apple crumble might just become your new go-to fall dessert. With a buttery, cinnamon-pecan crumble and a spiced apple filling, this easy dessert is fall heaven in under an hour. Here’s everything you need to know: 

What’s the difference between an apple crumble and an apple crisp?
While apple crisps and apple crumbles are similar, one ingredient sets them apart. An apple crisp is topped with a combination of oats, flour, brown sugar, and butter. An apple crumble topping has the same ingredients, just without the oats.

The best apples for an apple crumble:
Crisp, slightly tart varieties work best. Granny Smith is the most obvious choice and it'd be lovely here. My personal favorite: Mutsu. Look for it at the farmer's market! Other great options: Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Pink Lady. 

Do I need to peel the apples?
No! In fact, I prefer not to. The skin doesn't affect the taste, or even the texture significantly, so it's not worth the hassle. Plus, they look pretty as hell—especially if you're using apples with a pinkish hue. 

Variations:
This is such a versatile recipe, you can easily make a peach crumble or blueberry crumble just by swapping out the fruit! Allergic to tree nuts? Swap out the pecans for something like peanuts or shelled sunflower seeds, or simply leave them out.

Serving ideas:
If you want to make dinner guests feel extra special by serving them individual apple crumbles, adapting the recipe is easy! Prep the apples and the crumble as the recipe instructs, then divide them both evenly between ramekins and place ramekins on a large rimmed baking sheet before baking. 

Can I prepare the crumble ahead of time?
Absolutely! If you want to prep the day before, we recommend instead of dumping the dry crumble on top of the fruit, just cover the bowl and the baking dish with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until ready to bake. Alternatively, you can simply bake the whole thing and reheat the following day in a 325º oven until the apple is bubbling.

Have you made this recipe? If so, don't forget to rate it below and let us know what you think!