Simple Apple Crumble: An Easy Oat Topped Apple Crisp for Fall

Simple Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp)

Apple crumble, known as apple crisp to plenty of readers in the United States, is a warm, comforting and flavor packed dessert that fits the moment the weather turns cold. The idea is beautifully uncomplicated. Soft, spiced apples sit under a thick, buttery topping that bakes to a deep golden crunch.

This recipe keeps things easy. It leans on a small handful of everyday ingredients, most of which you probably already have in the cupboard, and it needs nothing more than a baking dish and a hot oven.

If you have been looking for a dessert that feels like a hug on a chilly evening, you would be happy to know this one delivers exactly that.

It is the kind of dessert you will make again and again, because crunchy oat topping over tender, spiced apples never gets old.

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Simple apple crumble recipe literally the best in the whole wide world

Let me show you why this one earns such a big title. The method is genuinely simple, and the only real work is coring and chopping the apples. Peeling them is optional, so if you like a little texture in the filling, you can skip that step and save yourself some time.

The recipe comes from The Dinner Bite, where it is described as easy, made with a handful of ingredients, and ideal for cold weather. The author loves a thick and chunky layer of crumble over the fruit, and her family feels the same way.

She even shares that her children would happily eat the crunchy crumble with ice cream on its own.

Cinnamon and nutmeg bring the warm spice, and both can be left out if you prefer a simpler flavor. Mixed spice works as a stand in when you want that cozy taste without hunting down two separate jars.

What should you expect from the finished dish? Perfectly cooked, gooey apples with just the right amount of syrup, a topping that stays crisp, and no dry, watery or soggy spots anywhere in the dish. Serve it warm with ice cream or custard. It freezes well too, so a second helping is never far away.

Here is the whole idea in one line. Chop the apples, toss them with spice and sugar, tip them into a baking dish, then cover them with a crumble made from flour, oats, or both.

Today’s version uses both flour and oats, which gives you a topping that is crisp on top and a little chewy underneath.

If you enjoy fruit desserts with a buttery crumb, you might also like this Apple Crumble Cheesecake for a creamier twist, or this No Bake Oatmeal Apple Pie Lasagna when you want those apple flavors without turning on the oven.

And if you would like to compare how another kitchen handles a similar Simple apple crumble dessert, that version is worth a look as well.

One more thing worth knowing. This is a forgiving recipe. You can serve it straight from the dish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, spoon it into bowls with warm custard, or let it cool and pack it up for later.

The author notes that after perfecting it over the years, she no longer buys store bought apple crumble. That is high praise for a dessert built on pantry basics.

If you want to read the original apple crumble recipe and the full source notes, the post is there for you.

Ingredients to make this recipe

The star of the show is, of course, the apples. The recipe’s author prefers red apples and usually reaches for Fiji or Gala because they bring extra sweetness to the filling.

Granny Smith is a popular choice for anyone who likes a sharper bite, and honestly, any type of apple you have on hand will work beautifully here. Buying a mix of sweet and slightly tart apples is a lovely way to keep the filling interesting.

The warm spice comes from grated nutmeg and about half a teaspoon of cinnamon. All purpose flour helps thicken the juices as the apples bake, and self raising flour can step in if that is what is sitting in your cupboard.

Butter is the heart of the topping. You can use it melted or cold and softened, though this recipe calls for cold butter because it rubs into the flour so nicely.

You will also need light brown sugar, a little white sugar, and lemon juice to brighten the fruit. A pinch of salt goes into the crumble to balance all that sweetness, and it makes a real difference.

That is the whole shopping list. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find.

How to make simple apple crumble in easy steps

Let me walk you through the flow before you start, so nothing feels rushed once the oven is on.

First, heat the oven to 180C/375F and get your baking dish ready. Peel, core and chop the apples, then tip them into the dish. Sprinkle over the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix so every piece is coated. Squeeze in half the juice of half a lemon and stir again.

Next comes the topping. In a separate bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cold butter and a pinch of salt. Rub everything together with your fingertips until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs, and do not worry if a few bigger chunks remain.

Those chunks turn into the crunchiest bits once baked. The topping should look uneven and clumpy, and that is exactly what you want.

Scatter the topping evenly over the apples. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the crumble is golden and crisp and the filling bubbles up around the edges. Let it stand for a few minutes, then serve with vanilla ice cream or custard.

If you want a little more reassurance before you begin, keep the sections below handy. The full ingredient list and the numbered method are right there for you to follow step by step.

Tips

Keep an eye on your crumble after about 20 minutes in the oven. If the top is browning too quickly or looks like it might burn, cover it loosely with aluminium foil so the apples can finish cooking inside without the topping going too dark.

The topping is classic as written, but it is easy to adapt. Swap the brown sugar for white sugar if that is what you have, or use a mixture of both for a lighter color and a slightly different depth of sweetness.

A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg stirred into the crumble mix adds extra warmth and smells wonderful while it bakes.

Out of cinnamon or nutmeg? Mixed spice or a pumpkin pie spice blend can take their place. Same cozy result, no extra shopping trip needed.

Finally, remember that the apples keep cooking under that foil, so you never end up with a burnt top and hard fruit in the middle. A few extra minutes in the oven after covering is all it takes.

Ingredients

Here is the full list for 6 servings, split into the apple filling and the crumble topping.

For the apple filling

• 6 apples
• 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg, or as needed
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon, or as needed
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
• 1 Tbsp white sugar
• Juice of half a lemon

For the crumble topping

• 1 cup all purpose flour, or self raising flour if you prefer
• 1 cup porridge oats
• 125 g butter, cold, though melted or cold softened both work
• 1 cup light brown sugar, or as needed
• 1/4 tsp salt, a pinch to balance the sweetness

You will also need a baking dish, and that is the only equipment this recipe asks for. No mixer, no special pan, no fuss.

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/375F and prepare the baking dish.
2. Peel, core and chop the apples and transfer them into the baking pan. Add the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg, mix to combine, then add half the juice of half a lemon and stir to combine.
3. In another bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cold butter and a pinch of salt. Rub with your fingers until you get a breadcrumb like consistency. Some chunks are allowed too.
4. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the prepared apple filling.
5. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is crispy and golden and the apple filling is bubbly.
6. Remove from the oven, let it stand for a few minutes, and serve with vanilla ice cream or custard.

That is the whole process, start to finish. Warm, gooey apples, a crisp golden top, and a kitchen that smells like autumn.

Recipe details

Prep time is 15 minutes and cook time is about 40 minutes, for a total of 55 minutes, and the recipe serves 6. The course is dessert, and the cuisine is both American and British, which is why you will see the very same dish called apple crisp and apple crumble.

These values come from the source’s own estimate using an online nutrition calculator, so your numbers will shift a little depending on the apples, butter and sugar you use. Leftovers keep well covered in the refrigerator, and the crumble freezes well, so you can bake it ahead and reheat portions when a craving hits.

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Simple Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp)

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Simple Apple Crumble (Apple Crisp) Apple crumble, known as apple crisp to plenty of readers in the United States, is a warm, comforting and flavor packed dessert that fits the moment the weather turns cold. The idea is beautifully uncomplicated.

• Total Time: 55 min
• Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

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Ingredients
6 apples
½ tsp grated nutmeg, grated
½ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp white sugar
half lemon lemon juice, juiced

Crumble topping
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup porridge oat
125 g butter, cold
1 cup light brown sugar
¼ tsp salt

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Instructions

1-Preheat the oven at 180C/375F and prepare: Preheat the oven at 180C/375F and prepare the baking dish
2-Peel, core and chop the apples and: Peel, core and chop the apples and transfer into the baking pan. Add flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, mix to combine then add half the juice of half a lemon and stir to combine
3-In another bowl, combine, oat, flour, brown: In another bowl, combine, oat, flour, brown sugar, cold butter and a pinch of salt, rub with your fingers until you get a breadcrumbs-like consistency. Some chunks are allowed too.
4-Sprinkle the crumble toppings on the prepared: Sprinkle the crumble toppings on the prepared apple fillings
5-Bake in an oven for 35 to: Bake in an oven for 35 to 40 minutes until the topping is crispy, golden and apple filling bubbly.
6-Remove from the oven, stand for a: Remove from the oven, stand for a few minutes and Serve with vanilla ice cream or custard.

Last Step:

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• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 40 min
• Method: bake

Nutrition

• Calories: 483
• Sugar: 60g
• Sodium: 259mg
• Fat: 17g
• Saturated Fat: 11g
• Carbohydrates: 83g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 45mg