Apple Crumble Spiced Apples (Printable)

Tender spiced apples beneath a buttery golden crumble topping, ideal for a comforting British dessert.

# Ingredient List:

→ Apple Filling

01 - 6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced (approximately 2 pounds)
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
05 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

→ Crumble Topping

06 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, diced
08 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
09 - 1/4 cup rolled oats
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# Directions:

01 - Set the oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) to prepare for baking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced apples with granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, lemon juice, and all-purpose flour. Toss gently to coat evenly.
03 - Place the apple mixture into a greased 9-inch (23 cm) baking dish, spreading evenly.
04 - In a separate bowl, mix flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, and salt. Incorporate cold, diced butter by rubbing with fingertips until the mixture reaches a coarse breadcrumb texture.
05 - Evenly distribute the crumble topping over the apple filling in the baking dish.
06 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling through.
07 - Allow the dessert to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm, optionally accompanied by custard, cream, or vanilla ice cream.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like comfort in a bowl and takes barely an hour from start to serving.
  • The crumble topping gets golden and crispy while the apples underneath stay tender and juicy, creating this perfect textural contrast.
  • You can make it ahead, reheat it, and it somehow tastes even better the next day.
02 -
  • If your crumble topping isn't golden after 35 minutes, don't panic; cover it loosely with foil and give it another 5–10 minutes rather than cranking up the heat.
  • Cold butter truly matters here—I learned this the hard way by using room-temperature butter once and ended up with more of a buttery paste than a proper crumble texture.
03 -
  • A mix of tart and sweet apples creates complexity—if you use only sweet apples, the dish tastes one-dimensional, but a combination keeps you reaching for another spoonful.
  • Keep your butter cubed and cold right until the moment you rub it into the flour; some bakers even chill their mixing bowl beforehand for a crumble topping that's extra light and crumbly.

Return