This easy vegan apple crumble is the perfect cozy fall dessert, made with tender baked apples and a crispy, buttery crumble topping. If you’re looking for the best vegan apple crumble recipe that’s simple, dairy-free, and absolutely delicious, this is the one to make.
the inspiration
In 2021 on one of my first dates with my now fiancé we went apple picking. It was so much fun and I had the best time. We came home with over 40 apples so it was time to get to baking. I originally created and wrote this recipe up back in 2021 but now the blog post needs a little updating.
I made an Apple Crisp for my fiancé that same day, which is similar to this but not quite the same. So, then I decided I also wanted to make this vegan apple crumble because why not! I also have a few other recipes I want to try so keep your eyes peeled for more apple things.
the ingredients
- Apples
- Vegan Butter
- All Purpose Flour
- Organic Brown Sugar
- Organic Granulated Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon
how to make vegan apple crumble
- Peel and chop up the apples. Then, in the baking dish mix with them flour, organic sugar, and cinnamon.
- In a bowl create the crumble by combining the vegan butter, all purpose flour, organic brown sugar, and cinnamon. Use a fork to cut the butter in the sugar and flour. Then, use your hands to create a crumble. It should resemble wet sand.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples.
- Bake until golden and crispy. If desired drizzle with a glaze and enjoy.
apple crumble vs apple crisp vs apple cobbler, what is the difference?
Let’s just have a quick chat about the apple desserts. If I am being honest I was a bit confused and did some research on these apple recipes to get a clear definition between them.
There are some blogs that seem to use similar ingredients and blur the lines a bit between each recipe so this is my interpretation. All 3 apple desserts are made in a baking dish but here are the major differences:
- Apple Crumble: the topping is made from vegan butter, flour, and brown sugar. Can contain oats but overall topping is crumbly and resembles a coffee cake.
- Apple Crisp: the topping is made from vegan butter, flour, brown sugar, and oats. The topping is crispier and crunchier compared to a crumble.
- Apple Cobbler: this topping is more cake like. Typically made with flour, vegan butter, sugar, baking powder (eggs if non vegan). Some people also use drop biscuits as a topping.
So, as you can see they are all similar but also different. In my mind apple crisp and apple crumble are much more similar and apple cobbler is the most different.
what apples should i use?
So, since I got these apples while I was apple picking I don’t have the best idea of what they were. Normally for baking the go-to is a granny smith. However, I have to say I have baked with quite a few different apple types and I have always enjoyed the outcome so don’t be afraid to just use what you have in the house!
The apples I used were medium sized and red they were definitely not McIntosh apples because the apple orchard didn’t have any in season at that time. My only rule for this is that you should definitely peel the apples. In a cake I normally don’t mind if the apples aren’t peeled but for this you should.
If you want a safe bet the best apples for baking are typically granny-smith, fuji, or honeycrisp. They won’t turn into mush or get grainy.
tips for Tips for the best Crumble Topping
The magic of this dessert is of course that gorgeous crumble topping. It really doesn’t get better than that. The most important part is to make sure the vegan butter and flour have mixed together well.
Do not let there be dry white bits of flour otherwise it will result in a not so great crumble. So, keep on crumbling it together until the crumble resembles wet sand. If you like bigger pieces of crumble just be sure to leave some bigger clumps and don’t break everything down quite so small.
After baking the top should be a bit crispy and golden while still being soft and delicious.
what should i top the vegan apple crumble with?
Of course I would say the most classic topping on an apple dessert is some vegan vanilla ice cream. I did put a little powdered sugar glaze on top of mine just to give it a little something extra but that is totally optional. You can also serve it with a scoop of vegan yogurt.
I also sometimes like to pair mine with some vegan cocowhip, gives it the same feel as vegan ice cream but good for when I don’t have any in the house. You can even add a drizzle of maple syrup, some nuts, vegan caramel. There are tons of ways to customize the top of this dessert.
more apple recipes
why you’ll love this vegan apple crumble
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Perfectly crispy crumble topping
- Naturally dairy-free and vegan
- Is made without oats
- Great for fall, Thanksgiving, or anytime
vegan apple crumble faq
Is this recipe allergy friendly?
It does not use soy or nuts. To make this recipe gluten-free use a gluten-free all purpose flour for the crumble topping and cornstarch for coating the apples.
How do I store leftovers?
You can either keep them in the fridge for 2-3 days or you can keep it on the counter for 1-2. I will typically just cover with foil.
How do I heat this dish up?
You can heat it up in the oven or microwave.
What vegan butter do you like?
I really love the Country Crock olive oil plant butter sticks, Earth Balance sticks or you can use my homemade recipe.
Why did my topping not come out right?
If you are having some issues with the crumble topping. First, be sure that your vegan butter is cold and not very soft. Second, make sure as you are combining it and making the clumps that the texture resembles wet sand. Third, most vegan butters are made of oil so some oils like coconut oil are too soft and become mushy.
What else can I add to this recipe?
You can always add in nuts like pecans, almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts. They would be delicious here. If you want to add in other spices like nutmeg or ginger you definitely can.
I want to make individual servings, can I do that?
Of course! Just use some ramekins or little oven safe dishes instead of the big dish.
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Vegan Apple Crumble
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 4 medium red apples peeled and chopped (about 16 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons organic granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ¼ tablespoon all purpose flour
Crumble Topping
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 4 ½ tablespoons vegan butter, cold
- ½ cup + 1 tablespoon organic brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
- Add the apples to the baking dish. Pour the apple filling ingredients over and toss to coat. Here is a link for the exact baking dish I used.
- In a separate medium bowl add the ingredients for the crumble topping. Using the side of a fork cut the butter into the flour to make crumble pieces. Do your best to make sure all the flour has been mixed in some way with the butter. You can also use your hands. If you like bigger pieces on top for the crumble do not make the pieces too small.
- Cover the apples with crumble topping.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Allow the crumble to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy with vegan ice cream or vegan whipped cream.
Video
Notes
- I used apples from when I went apple picking to make this crumble, I am not sure what type of apple they are so that is why I said “medium red apples.”
- I would say that this makes 4 to 6 servings depending on how much you would like to eat.
- If you want to make this gluten free I would suggest using gluten free all purpose flour.
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hey there!
Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
Made this tonight with homemade coconut ice cream. Very easy and yummy!
hi Arianne! oh yay I am so happy you made it and enjoyed it. thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and review!! 🙂
This simple & delicious recipe was the perfect way to utilize some aging apples. It was the perfect combination of fruit & spice, and was gobbled up in record time. Definitely making this again.
Hi Peggy, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for trying it and taking the time to leave a comment/review it means so much!
Made this tonight, it was super easy and it was so delicious. Followed the recipe exactly, loved that it didn’t make a massive amount.
yay thank you so much for making it Kris! so so glad you enjoyed it. thank you for taking the time to leave a comment/review!
Made this last night, tasted lovely but struggled to make the crumble, are the flour and sugar amounts mixed up?
glad it tasted good! no the amounts aren’t mixed up, what was the problem you were encountering?
Hiya, I am making this now and think I might be having the same problem as this poster. My topping was the consistency of a cake batter and not a didn’t crumble. Maybe it was because I used my hands to mix so I over-mixed?
Hi, it turned into the consistency of cake batter? Was your butter melted? The butter should be cold and it will just break into little clumps. I am a little confused how it would turn into cake batter consistency since there isn’t any liquid. This was a video I did for a coffee cake with a crumb topping it is the same exact technique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGEVySLw4U8&t=7s maybe watching the visual will help at 2:47 mark.
I totally agree with the comments that it is like batter rather than crumble. I’ve just made it for an occasion tonight, and having made apple crumble for many years this was not the crumble consistency it should be. It far too wet and there needs to be more dry ingredients and less wet. The amount of butter and moist brown sugar made it like cake batter. More flour and less wet ingredients please! I’ve sprinkled flour on top with the hope the topping doesn’t melt into the apple 😫 I’m an accomplished cook and food studies teacher so know. But about cooking chemistry!!
hi Rose, I have tried this recipe several times since making it and posting it to double check after receiving a few of these comments, however I am not finding this happening. To have a cake batter consistency just doesn’t even really make any sense as the crumble topping is just flour and butter. My only thoughts are the vegan butter you are using may not be cold enough or that it is a very highly oil based super creamy vegan butter or possibly a vegan butter spread. I am using Miyoko’s vegan butter for this. I am sorry to hear that you had issues as well maybe something of what I said can help us figure out where the problems are arising.
This recipe is amazing, thank you!! I have made this recipe so many times the past month as my family and friends keeps asking me to make it! I double the recipe to make a larger portion and was wondering if I wanted more crumble on top, how would I go about this? I tried x3 the apple crumble on top of x2 apple filling but it was too buttery and rich.
so glad you enjoyed it and thank you for leaving a comment/review! just double the recipe as is, no need to do anything too crazy or make the crumble top x3! hope that helps.
Thank you for replying. I doubled the recipe as is and it was amazing! I just wanted to know if I wanted a more thicker layer of crumble on top could I add more flour or add baking powder to crumble? Thanks again
glad you enjoyed it! if you wanted more a thicker layer you can just double or triple the recipe of the crumble. i wouldn’t add baking powder and if you add more flour it will be too powdery. so just double it or quadruple it if you are already doubling the recipe!
I made this last night but used coconut sugar instead of brown sugar (I was out) and added chopped pecans to the crumble top. It was delicious–the apples were tender but still had a slight crunch.
Hi Tori! So glad you made it and enjoyed. Love the addition of the pecans in there yum! thank you for taking the time to leave a comment means so much xo
Really good recipe thanks! Tried it with two granny smiths and two red apples. Also, I put a little less sugar in the topping. It was delicious and a perfect small serving for the fam 🙂
Hi Maia! I am so glad to hear you and your family enjoyed it, thank you so much for trying and taking the time to leave a comment/review xo
Just made this for me and my roommates and it was so much easier than I thought it would be and so delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
Oh yay I am so happy you all enjoyed it thank you so much for trying it and leaving a comment/review!!
Absolutely fantastic. Made it for Rosh Hashanah last night. Everyone loved it. Used the plant butter you recommended straight from the fridge and the consistency was perfect. I also used gala apples. I should have doubled the portion size because the non-vegans at the table ate it all before the vegans even got to try it 😭😂
Hi Rebecca!!! Yay I am so so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed it! Haha omg that is too funny, who can pass up on apple crumble though?! thank you for trying it and taking the time to leave a comment and review xoxo
This was absolutely delicious and easy to make, i’ve also added berries to the apple filling and it was such a good contrast! Thank u <3
Hi Inês oh yay! I am so happy you liked it so much. Thank you for trying it and taking the time to leave a comment!
Just made the crumble – very easy – best to mix with you fingers with the butter hard as you said – very tasty
Thank you so much Jay I am so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for trying the recipe!
AMAZING! I’m not vegan, so I used regular butter, and it had more of a sticky cookie dough consistency. That isn’t a complaint! I also used granny smith apples and used apple pie seasoning with cinnamon, so it had extra seasoning. My mom loves it, and we’ll be making two batches for Christmas dinner with family! 😁
Hi Kadence I am so glad to hear you and your family enjoyed it. Thank you for trying it and taking the time to leave a comment and review. I am so glad to hear you will be making it for Christmas 🙂
Tried this recipe for family Mother’s Day lunch and it was lovely, everyone loved it! Will definitely make again!!
Hi Lauren! Oh yay! I am so so glad you enjoyed it! Yay thank you so much for trying and taking the time to leave a comment and review xo
I made this tonight and it was amazing on top of my Oatley ice cream! Yummy! Can the leftovers be frozen? Thanks!
Hi Anna, So glad you enjoyed it! Hmm I have never tried freezing it but I think it should be okay!
Hey, haven’t tried making this yet but would like to do so soon! Do you think I could portion it into muffin tins (cupcake liners) and bake for the same amount of time? Or would I need to tweak the recipe?
Hi Sarah, I have no tried that I think it would fine! I would just check it halfway through the instructed baking time and see how they look. I would assume they need less baking time but can’t be certain!
Delicious and simple recipe. I did find the ratio of crumble to apple was a bit less than I personally like so I made more than the recipe calls for.
So simple, so easy , and absolutely delicious. I had no trouble with the crumble or any of it. The only downside was I ate it too fast and need more. That’s on me. LOL
hahah the cons of a yummy dessert, it will be gone too quickly. so glad you enjoyed it yay xoxo
Brown sugar isn’t vegan. It’s white sugar, which is filtered thru charred bones and the molasses are added back. So tired of these people who pay”vegan” recipes who don’t know what they’re talking about. Your recipe is dairy free not vegan.
Hi Chris. Organic brown and organic granulated sugar are vegan. I am a vegan of over 9 years. I know exactly what I am talking about. https://www.peta.org/living/food/is-sugar-vegan/
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