Warm Apple Crumble

Apple crumble is the kind of dessert that feels special but takes almost no skill to make. No pastry, no fuss — just tender, cinnamon-spiced apples under a buttery, oaty crumble topping. Serve it warm from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the top and you have one of the great simple pleasures.

Ingredients

• Apple filling:
• 6 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled and sliced
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• Crumble topping:
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed

Instructions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. 2
   In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch until well coated. Spread evenly in the prepared dish.
3. 3
   In a separate bowl, combine oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold butter cubes. Use your fingers to work the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbles with some pea-sized chunks remaining. The lumps are what make the topping crunchy.
4. 4
   Spread the crumble mixture evenly over the apple layer, covering completely.
5. 5
   Bake for 30–35 minutes until the topping is deep golden brown and the apple filling is bubbling at the edges.
6. 6
   Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a pour of cold cream.

Notes

• Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping for extra crunch
• Substitute pears, peaches, or berries (or a mix) for the apples
• Make gluten-free by using certified GF oats and oat flour in the topping
• Leftovers reheat beautifully in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes

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