VEGAN APPLE CRUMBLE WITH OATS

This vegan apple crumble with oats has tender pieces of gooey apples topped with a soft, crumbly, and buttery oat topping. It's budget-friendly too! Serve it warm with ice cream- it's a classic fall dessert.

The apple of my eye 👆🏼🍎

Jump to:

• THE BEST CRUMBLE TOPPING
• A FEW RECIPES TO TRY NEXT TIME
• ❤️ WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS
• 🥄 INGREDIENTS NEEDED AND SUBSTITUTIONS
• FOR THE CRUMBLE
• FOR THE APPLE FILLING
• DO YOU KEEP THE SKIN ON THE APPLES?
• HOW TO FIX APPLE CRUMBLE TOPPING?
• 🍎 3 OF THE BEST APPLES TO USE FOR BAKING
• 👩🏼‍🍳 How to make the best crumble topping with oats
• MAKING THE BASE:
• MAKING THE CRUMBLE:
• 📝 TIPS AND TRICKS
• ❓FAQs
• MAKE-AHEAD, STORAGE AND FREEZING

THE BEST CRUMBLE TOPPING

Is there anything better than curling up with a warm bowl of gooey, buttery apple crumble? If you're nodding "yes" right now, you’re in for a treat. I love desserts that contain fruit. Like yogurt plum cake or strawberry brownies but this crumble is exactly how my Gran used to make it.

You don’t need fancy ingredients to make this dessert or even a lot of kitchen skills to whip this up.

In fact, it’s so easy that my 9-year-old son makes it all the time! It’s our go-to dessert in the colder months, and trust me, your kitchen will smell divine. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds.

A FEW RECIPES TO TRY NEXT TIME

❤️ WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• Simple ingredients make the most comforting dessert.

• Easy to customize, use your favorite fruit or even berries work well.

• Crispy, buttery, sweet and warm

• Take it up a notch and serve it with vanilla vegan ice cream, custard, or vegan cream. 

• The perfect dessert for easy entertaining or a cozy night in.

🥄 INGREDIENTS NEEDED AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Note: Please scroll to the full printable recipe card at the bottom for ingredient quantities and the method.

FOR THE CRUMBLE

Rolled oats: If you are gluten-free, check the packaging to ensure it is GF and made in a GF factory.

Brown sugar: You can swap this for coconut sugar.

All-purpose flour: Or gluten-free flour if needed.

Butter: For dairy-free options, use plant-based butter such as margarine.

FOR THE APPLE FILLING

Apples: You can also use pears, plumbs, or apricots.

Maple Syrup: You can substitute this with agave or golden syrup.  

Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon.

DO YOU KEEP THE SKIN ON THE APPLES?

It's totally up to you! If you prefer a smoother texture, you can peel the apples before slicing. However, leaving the skin on adds a bit of extra fiber and texture to the crumble. Plus, if you're short on time, keeping the skin on makes the prep even quicker. Both ways taste great, so it comes down to your personal preference!

HOW TO FIX APPLE CRUMBLE TOPPING?

If you feel that your crumble is too dry there is a quick fix solution: simply melt butter and spoon it over the crumble. Put it back into the oven to bake for a little longer and your crumble will be soft, buttery, and delicious.

🍎 3 OF THE BEST APPLES TO USE FOR BAKING

Granny Smith: These green apples are tart and firm, making them an excellent choice for pies, crisps, and tarts. They hold their shape well and provide a nice contrast to sweet fillings.

Honeycrisp: Honeycrisp apples are known for their sweet, crisp texture. They work well in recipes where you want a balance of sweetness and tartness, such as apple crisps and crumbles.

Braeburn: Braeburn apples have a sweet and slightly tart flavor and maintain their shape nicely when baked. They are good for pies, galettes, and turnovers.

👩🏼‍🍳 How to make the best crumble topping with oats

You can find the complete printable recipe down below

½ cup (75g) all-purpose flour

½ cup rolled oats (60g)

¼ cup (50g) brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

80 g butter

5-6 apples sliced

4 Tbsp maple syrup

1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

MAKING THE BASE:

MAKING THE CRUMBLE:

Mix brown sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon (optional but recommended!) in a separate bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; spread over apples and pat down gently until even.

Bake in the oven until golden brown and sides are bubbling, about 40 - 45 minutes.

Once golden on the top, remove from the oven. Serve with ice cream, custard, or whipped cream. 

📝 TIPS AND TRICKS

🍎 Use Different Apple Varieties: Experiment with different apple varieties. I would really recommend combining sweet and tart apples together. It gives the apple crumble a unique taste. A little sweet and a little tart. 💫

🌾 Gluten-Free Option: This recipe is not naturally gluten-free, as oats contain gluten. So, if purchasing GF oats, double-check the packaging to ensure they are 100% gluten-free. You can use gluten-free flour instead of all-purpose flour.

🌰 Different Topping Add-Ins: Add chopped nuts, like pecans or walnuts, to the oat topping for added crunch.

❓FAQs

MAKE-AHEAD, STORAGE AND FREEZING

Make-Ahead: You can prep the apple filling and crumble topping separately up to a day in advance. Store the sliced apples (tossed in maple syrup) in the fridge, and keep the crumble topping in an airtight container. When ready to bake, assemble and pop it in the oven!

Storage: After baking, let the apple crumble cool completely, then store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Feezing: Cooked apple crumble can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Reheating: To reheat, warm individual portions in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. For a crispier topping, reheat the whole dish in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10-15 minutes.

Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚

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