I absolutely love this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe because it’s one of those desserts that feels like a warm hug from your oven. The combination of tender, cinnamon-spiced apples and that buttery, crumbly topping hits all the cozy notes, making it perfect for any time you crave a comforting treat — whether it’s a chilly evening or a casual weekend dessert. I first tried this recipe after struggling to find a truly satisfying vegan crumble, and it quickly became a family favorite.
What makes this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe stand out is how simple and approachable it is, yet the results feel like a bakery-level achievement. From selecting your favorite apples to mixing the topping by hand, you’ll find that it’s easy to customize and comes together quickly. Plus, since it uses common pantry ingredients, you’re likely to have most of what you need on hand already!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: Everything you need is easy to find and usually already in your kitchen.
- Perfect Texture: The mix of tender apples and crunchy topping is always spot on.
- Totally Vegan & Customizable: Swap ingredients with ease to match your dietary needs or taste preferences.
- Kid-Friendly: My family goes crazy for this crumble, and I bet yours will too!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe plays a role to create that perfect balance of tart and sweet with a satisfyingly crumbly topping. You’ll want good baking apples and quality vegan butter for the best flavors.
- Apples: I like using a mix of Granny Smith for tartness and Honeycrisp for sweetness, but feel free to choose your favorites.
- Brown sugar: Adds rich sweetness, and I recommend packed for the best texture.
- Lemon juice: Helps brighten the apples and keeps them from browning too quickly.
- All purpose flour: Binds the apple filling and provides structure to the crumble topping.
- Cinnamon: The warm spice that makes apple crumble truly comforting.
- Salt: Enhances flavor depth and balances sweetness.
- Baking powder: Gives a light lift to the crumble topping for texture variation.
- Vegan butter: I use Miyoko’s brand, but any plant-based butter works beautifully to get that crispy topping.
Variations
One of my favorite things about this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe is how easy it is to switch things up depending on the season or your mood. I encourage you to play around with it and make it your own.
- Nutty Twist: Add chopped walnuts or pecans into the crumble topping for extra crunch; my family loves this for holiday dinners.
- Gluten-Free Version: Swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend that measures cup-for-cup, and you’re good to go without compromise.
- Spiced Up: Mix in a pinch of nutmeg or allspice to the apple filling for a deeper warm spice flavor.
- Fruit Mix: Feel free to add pears or berries to the apple base for a creative spin I discovered one summer.
How to Make Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Apples
Start by peeling, coring, and dicing about 6 to 7 cups of apples. I like to keep my pieces roughly the same size so they cook evenly, but not too small or they’ll disintegrate into mush. Toss them in a big bowl with brown sugar, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon, and salt, coating everything evenly. This step helps the apples release just enough juice without the crumble becoming watery — a trick I learned after a few too-runny batches.
Step 2: Make the Crumble Topping
In another bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Pour in melted vegan butter and stir until the mixture comes together nicely but remains crumbly. I like to use my fingers at the end so I can pinch some of the mixture into bigger clumps — those are the golden crunchy bits you’ll love once baked.
Step 3: Assemble and Bake
Spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish lightly with oil, then spread your apple mixture evenly inside. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples, leaving some larger chunks here and there for texture. Bake at 350°F for about 45 minutes, or until the topping turns golden brown and the apple filling is soft and bubbling at the edges. You’ll want to check towards the end to make sure the topping doesn’t over-brown — if it starts getting too dark, loosely cover with foil.
Pro Tips for Making Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe
- Choose the Right Apples: Mixing tart and sweet varieties balances flavor and keeps the crumble from being too sweet or mushy.
- Use Lemon Juice Generously: It brightens the filling and keeps the apples looking fresh and appetizing.
- Don’t Overmix the Topping: Keeping some chunkiness creates those delightful clusters that make every bite interesting.
- Watch the Baking Time: Oven temps vary — start checking a few minutes early to avoid a burnt topping, and cover with foil if needed.
How to Serve Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe
Garnishes
I love serving this crumble warm with a scoop of vanilla vegan ice cream — the cold creaminess is a perfect contrast to the warm apples and crunchy topping. Sometimes, I drizzle a little vegan salted caramel sauce on top for an indulgent twist, and that always brings extra wow-factor when I have guests over.
Side Dishes
This crumble shines on its own, but if you want to turn it into a more substantial dessert spread, try it alongside a cup of rich hot chocolate or a pot of spicy chai tea. On special occasions, I like to pair it with a vegan whipped cream or coconut yogurt to crank up the creaminess.
Creative Ways to Present
For festive dinners, I’ve served this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe in individual ramekins sprinkled with extra cinnamon sugar on top — it makes each serving feel special. Another favorite trick is layering the apples and crumble in clear glasses for a pretty parfait-style presentation that kids adore.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying the fresh crumble, cover any leftovers tightly and refrigerate. I usually store mine in the original casserole dish, covered with foil or plastic wrap. It keeps well for about 3 to 4 days, and the flavors actually deepen over time.
Freezing
Yes, you can freeze this crumble! For best results, I bake the crumble first, let it cool completely, then portion it into airtight containers or freezer-safe bags. It freezes beautifully for up to 2 months, which is great for prepping ahead or saving leftovers.
Reheating
To reheat, I prefer the oven for maintaining that crisp topping—just cover loosely with foil and warm at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until heated through. If you’re in a hurry, the microwave works but the topping won’t stay as crunchy.
FAQs
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Can I use apples that are not peeled for this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe?
You can technically leave the skins on, but peeling the apples helps the filling become tender and smooth, which is what I prefer for the best texture. If you want a more rustic feel or are using very thin-skinned apples, leaving the skins on is fine.
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What vegan butter do you recommend for the crumble topping?
I’ve found Miyoko’s vegan butter works wonderfully for that rich flavor and consistency. However, any quality vegan butter or even coconut oil will give you a deliciously crisp topping—just note that coconut oil might add a subtle coconut taste.
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How do I make this Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe gluten-free?
Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking flour blend. Make sure your blend includes xanthan gum or another binder for the best topping texture.
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Can I prepare this crumble in advance?
Absolutely! You can assemble the crumble the night before, keep it covered in the fridge, and bake it fresh the next day. This actually helps the flavors meld and makes it a great make-ahead dessert.
Final Thoughts
This Vegan Apple Crumble Recipe holds a special place in my kitchen because it proves that you don’t need fancy ingredients or complicated steps to make a truly comforting dessert. Every time I bake it, I get a little excited over those bubbly apples and golden topping that remind me of home and simple pleasures. I encourage you to give it a try—it’s an easy way to bring warmth and joy to your family table or impress any guests, no matter their diet. Trust me, once you taste it, you’ll be making it again and again.
PrintVegan Apple Crumble Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Vegan Apple Crumble is a warm and comforting dessert featuring tender cinnamon-spiced apples topped with a crunchy, buttery vegan crumble. Perfect for cozy evenings, it’s easy to make and delicious served with vegan vanilla ice cream or salted caramel.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 6-7 cups peeled, cored, and diced apples (about 2 1/2 pounds whole apples)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Crumble Topping
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with a non-stick spray to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.
- Mix Apple Filling: In a large bowl, combine the peeled, cored, and diced apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and salt. Stir thoroughly until all the apple pieces are fully coated with the mixture.
- Assemble Filling: Transfer the apple mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish and set it aside while you prepare the crumble topping.
- Prepare Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the melted vegan butter and stir until the mixture becomes crumbly. Use your fingers to pinch and combine the topping, creating some larger chunks for texture.
- Top the Apples: Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the apple filling. Aim to leave some larger clusters to create delightful crunchy bites once baked.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, the apples are tender, and bubbling sides are visible.
- Serve: Let the crumble cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm, ideally paired with vegan vanilla ice cream and optionally drizzled with vegan salted caramel for an indulgent touch.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Any apple variety works well; Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples or a combination provide a great balance of tartness and sweetness.
- Miyoko’s vegan butter was used, but feel free to use your preferred vegan butter or coconut oil as an alternative in the crumble topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8th of the recipe)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg