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Apple Crumble

Apple crumble is a classic British dessert with a tender, cinnamon apple filling and a sandy golden crumble topping. Bake until the apples bubble at the edges and the topping turns pale golden, then serve warm with custard or cream.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For apple filling
  • 1.5 kg cooking apples peeled and sliced
  • 75 g granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
For crumble topping
  • 225 g plain all-purpose flour
  • 150 g unsalted butter cold, cubed
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • 50 g light brown sugar packed
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
For serving
  • 1 custard, cream, or ice cream

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 baking dish

Method
 

Preheat and prep
  1. Preheat the oven to 190C (375F) and grease a large baking dish.
Make the apple filling
  1. Toss the apple slices with granulated sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice, then spread them in the prepared dish.
Make the crumble topping
  1. Place the plain all-purpose flour and cold unsalted butter in a bowl and rub them together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some larger pieces.
  2. Stir in granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.
Assemble and bake
  1. Spread the crumble evenly over the apples without packing it down.
  2. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is pale golden and the apple filling bubbles at the edges (watch for a sandy golden look).
Serve
  1. Serve warm with custard, double cream, or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

For the best texture, keep the butter cold while rubbing the crumble (short bursts with your fingertips helps prevent it from warming up). Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat individual portions in the oven at 180C for 10-15 minutes until the topping is crisp again. Freezing is not recommended because the crumble can soften after thawing. For a dairy-light option, serve with lactose-free custard or coconut cream instead of traditional cream.