What is the secret to a good crumble?

The secret lies in cold butter and the right texture — aim for a sandy, chunky topping that bakes up golden and crisp.

How to make the perfect apple crumble?

Use tart-sweet apples, fresh lemon juice, and cold butter for the crumble. Bake until the topping turns golden brown and the fruit juices start bubbling at the edges — about 30 to 35 minutes.

Is there a difference between apple crisp and apple crumble?

Yes — a crisp often includes oats and sometimes nuts in the topping, while a crumble may skip the oats for a finer, sandier topping.

Do you cook apples before putting them in a crumble?

Nope! Raw apples soften perfectly while baking — just slice them evenly and toss with sugar and spice.

What are the three ingredients in crumble?

The classic trio: flour, butter, and sugar. You can add oats or nuts for variety.

Is it better to crumble with cold or melted butter?

Using cold butter is key — it helps form those rich, golden clusters that stay crisp and melt in your mouth. Melted butter will give you a soggy topping.

Why add lemon juice to apple crumble?

It prevents the apples from browning and adds a pop of brightness to balance the sweetness.

Easy Apple Crumble Recipe

Name: Apple Crumble Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 medium apples (3 Granny Smith + 3 Honeycrisp), peeled and sliced; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 1/4 tsp allspice (optional); 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/3 cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade); 1/2 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; Pinch of salt; 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed; 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Description

Warm, gooey caramel-coated apples topped with a golden oat crumble — this Caramel Apple Crumble is the ultimate cozy dessert for fall!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Filling:

6 medium apples (3 Granny Smith + 3 Honeycrisp), peeled and sliced
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice (optional)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup salted caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)

For the Crumble Topping:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.
Mix the apples: In a large bowl, toss the sliced apples with lemon juice, sugar, spices, and caramel sauce. Spread evenly into the baking dish.
Make the crumble: In another bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add in the cold butter cubes and rub with your fingers until the mixture forms coarse crumbs. Stir in nuts if using.
Assemble and bake: Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple mixture. Bake for 35–40 minutes until the top is golden and the apples are bubbling.
Cool and serve: Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or an extra drizzle of caramel on top.

Notes

Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for balance.
Add chopped pecans for extra crunch.
For a shortcut, use store-bought caramel sauce.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6 servings
Calories: 360
Sugar: 29g
Sodium: 120mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 11g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Carbohydrates: 50g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 3g
Cholesterol: 45mg

Keywords: Caramel Apple Crumble, apple dessert, easy apple crumble, fall dessert, apple crisp, apple oat crumble, caramel apple dessert