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Apple Crumble

Apple crumble with a buttery, sandy golden topping and tender cinnamon apple filling baked until the edges bubble. This classic British dessert uses a crumbly breadcrumb-style topping for a crisp, slightly caramelized finish.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

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

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Prep and bake
  1. Preheat the oven to 190C (375F) and grease a large baking dish so it’s ready for the filling.
  2. Toss the apple slices with granulated sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice, then spread the apples in the prepared dish.
  3. For the crumble, rub plain all-purpose flour and cold unsalted butter together with your fingertips until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs with some larger pieces.
  4. Stir in the remaining granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until the crumble looks evenly mixed.
  5. Spread the crumble evenly over the apples without packing it down, leaving a light, sandy layer on top.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 190C (375F) until the topping is pale golden and the apple filling bubbles at the edges.
  7. Serve warm with custard, double cream, or vanilla ice cream right after baking.

Notes

For the crispiest topping, keep the butter cold and avoid packing the crumble down. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the oven at 180C until warmed through. Freezing works for up to 1 month, best reheated from frozen. For a lighter option, swap to vegan butter sticks (use a cold stick-style) to keep the crumb texture.