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    Home » Recipes » Dairy-free Recipes

    The Best Vegan Apple Crumble

    Published: Oct 12, 2019 · Modified: Dec 1, 2021 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    This is definitely the best vegan apple crumble. A million times better than the classic version, and it's naturally gluten-free and dairy-free!

    Oh... hello fall season! I'm super excited to start the baking season all over again, and the first recipe that jumped in mind was this delicious vegan apple crumble.

    I've been making this crumble for YEARS, and the family still can't get enough!

    This recipe has been tested, improved and approved exhaustively, to bring you the BEST apple crisp you'll ever make.

    I'm a massive apple fan, and right now the farmer's market is PACKED with the most delicious varieties out there.

    From the tart Granny Smith to the sweet Honeycrisp, there's a different apple for every day of the year, and even more *there are actually more than 7000 apple varieties in the world*.

    And as much as I love biting into a juicy apple, this crumble, served warm with some ice cream on top, is definitely my favourite way to make the most of apple season.

    vegan apple crumble in a baking dish with golden spoon, a green napkin on the side

    This vegan crumble features a nutritious crisp topping of toasted hazelnut and almond flour and a deliciously warm spiced apple and cranberry filling.

    It's my kind of dessert. FULL of flavour, with a perfectly balanced combination of sweet, tart, crunchy and spice flavours.

    Plus, the dairy-free crumble topping with almond flour and added nuts, turns it into an energy-packed treat to easily fuel you up during the cold season!

    Here are a few reasons why you should love this dessert:

    • vegan
    • gluten-free
    • only 2 steps required
    • ready in less than 40 minutes
    • made with simple ingredients

    SIMPLE INGREDIENTS

    This is the easiest crumble recipe you can possibly make, and requires less than 10 ingredients:

    • apples
    • cranberries
    • coconut oil 
    • demerara sugar
    • almond flour
    • hazelnuts
    • a few favourite spices (I use a combination of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg).
    vegan apple crumble ingredients: 1 red apple, half apple plus two extra slices, one green apple, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, one teaspoon of ginger powder, one teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of sugar, one small pot with coconut oil, one small pot with cranberries, one small pot with toasted hazelnuts, and 1 flour spoon with almond flour.

    Traditional crumble recipes call for tons of sugar, flour and butter, but this apple crumble has a reduced amount of sugar and no flour or butter in sight.

    I like to use dark or light demerara sugar, but you can also use regular brown sugar if you like.

    Avoid white sugar and caster sugar, as I find they're both overly sweet and they don't add the subtle but lovely caramel note as the other mentioned sugars.

    For the crumble topping:

    I use a combination of almond flour, toasted chopped hazelnuts, a pinch of sea salt, demerara sugar and coconut oil, and the result is totally amazing!

    For the apple filling:

     You can use your favourite apples, as long as you choose the ones with a firm and crisp texture.

    I usually go for a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp (or Braeburn) apples when making this delicious crumble. They have a firm texture and a nice mix of tart and sweet flavour, which goes very well with sweet cranberries.

    HOW TO MAKE APPLE CRUMBLE

    Ok, I've said it before, but allow me to say it again, this recipe is SO EASY.

    And requires the minimum amount of tools, in fact, one bowl and an ovenproof dish is all you need.

    recipe step 1: sliced apples, cranberries, spices and sugar in a baking dish

    First thing, peel, core and slice the apples and place them in a large bowl (you can do this in advance and drizzle a little lemon juice on top to avoid them browning).

    Then add cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger powder, and mix everything together.

    Distribute the mixture evenly into a medium baking dish.

    For the crumble topping, place about ½ cup of almond flour, toasted chopped hazelnuts, melted coconut oil (or vegan butter), sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt, in the same bowl you used for mixing the topping.

    recipe step 2: baking dish with apple filling topped half-way through with the crumble topping, a small white plate filled with crumble topping and a spoon, next to the baking dish

    Mix everything together until the mixture you have resembles breadcrumbs. If it's a little too wet, add some extra almond flour.

    Distribute the crumble mixture evenly over the apple filling. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake at 180C for 30 minutes.

    Note: For a super crunchy texture some pastry chefs suggest preheating the oven to 200 C, then place the crumble in the oven and reduce to 180 C.

    After 30 minutes, your kitchen will smell amazing, and your apple crisp should be nicely golden and crunchy on top, and deliciously soft on the inside.

    vegan apple crumble served with vanilla ice cream on top.

    It's time to take it out from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.

    Then, serve your crumble with some vanilla ice cream and enjoy every bit of it.

    BAKING TIPS

    • You can easily make a large cake-sized version as featured here, or mini individual portions for a more sophisticated dessert.
    • This crumble freezes super well. After baking it, store in freezer-friendly containers for up to 1 month. 
    • If you don't like cranberries, substitute with chopped dried figs, or chopped pear.
    • You can substitute hazelnuts or almonds with walnuts, cashew nuts, pecans or pistachios. 
    On the right down side, vegan apple crumble on a red plate topped with vanilla ice cream and a spoon next to the plate. On the top right side 2 apples, one green and one red, cranberries in a small glass pot and some almond flour scattered over the counter. On the top left side, apple crumble in a baking dish with a gold spoon.

    This vegan apple crumble tastes incredible, is loaded with flavour, made with simple ingredients, and it's just way better than the classic version.

    Plus, it's totally allergy-friendly, so it would make a great dessert for the upcoming Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner parties.

    If you're looking for a heart-warming winter treat or a vegan Christmas dessert, look no further.

    This is the ultimate apple dessert you should be baking until spring!

    MORE VEGAN DESSERT RECIPES TO TRY

    • 2-Ingredient Biscoff™ Cookies - Vegan!
    • Chokladbollar: Swedish Chocolate Balls {Vegan + GF}
    • The EASIEST Vegan Chocolate Muffins
    • 2-Ingredient Cookies (Vegan + Flourless)
    • Water Cake: A Dairy-free, Egg-free, Magic Cake
    • Vegan Fruit Flapjacks {Oat Bars}
    • Vegan Bounty Bars - Just 4 Ingredients!

    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

    Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook!

    Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.

    vegan apple crumble in a baking dish with golden spoon, a green napkin on the side
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    5 from 10 votes

    The BEST Vegan Apple Crumble

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    This is definitely the BEST vegan apple crumble. A million times better than the classic version, and it's naturally gluten-free and dairy-free!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time35 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: English
    Serving: 8
    Calories: 312kcal
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    Filling:

    • 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
    • 2 Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoon dried cranberries, softened, chopped
    • 1 teaspoon demerara sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ½ teaspoon ginger powder

    Topping:

    • 115 g hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
    • 120 g almond flour
    • 1 tablespoon rice flour, optional
    • 4 tablespoon demerara sugar
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 4 tablespoon coconut butter, melted

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 F/180 C.
    • In a large bowl, mix sliced apples, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger powder. Distribute the mixture evenly in a medium baking dish.
    • In the bowl previously used, mix together chopped hazelnuts, almond flour, rice flour, demerara sugar, cinnamon, salt and coconut butter. If the mixture looks too wet add in 1 tbsp of rice flour.
    • Distribute the topping mixture evenly all over the apple filling.
    • Place the apple crisp in the oven, and bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apple filling is soft and the topping is crunchy and golden-brown. If the top browns too quickly, cover with foil and continue to bake. 
    • Once ready, remove the apple crumble from the oven and allow to cool before serving.

    Notes

    Crumble variations: 
    • You can choose any apple variety, as long as it has a firm and crisp texture, and a slightly tart flavour. I like to use a combination of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples
    • You may use only hazelnuts or substitute half the amount with almond flakes, pecan nuts, walnuts or pistachio.
    How to store it: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 195mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 49IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. E says

      October 04, 2020 at 7:28 pm

      Apologies if this has already been asked - if cooking from frozen in one portion sized ramekins, can you recommend cooking time and temp? Thank you

      Reply
    2. Jess says

      November 15, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      Hi i love this recipe, just one question, do you have to add water to the apple ingredients or just cook without liquid

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        November 16, 2018 at 10:19 am

        Hey Jess! I'm so glad to hear you like the recipe! I don't add water, I did try a different version of this recipe where the filling was briefly cooked over the hob and I did add some water in the mixture, however the filling comes out a bit soggy, so I went back to this original version where the filling is not cooked beforehand and the result is so much better!

        Reply
    3. Andrea says

      November 15, 2018 at 12:32 pm

      Hi Esther, there was a bit of a mixed up with the recipe when I updated the post, it's all sorted now and the old recipe (triple tested just to make sure) is back on!

      Reply
      • Esther Mahieu says

        November 15, 2018 at 9:02 pm

        Sorry to disturb Andrea... but I don’t seem to find that old version of the recipe ? Could you please send on this thread?

        Reply
        • Andrea says

          November 16, 2018 at 10:15 am

          Hi Esther, no disturb at all, I'm always here for you guys 🙂 The recipe has been updated so what you see on this page is the actual old&true version of the recipe! Let me know if you need anything else!

          Reply
          • Esther Mahieu says

            November 16, 2018 at 9:25 pm

            Thank you very much ?

            Reply
    4. Natalie says

      October 22, 2018 at 7:03 pm

      Oh how delicious this looks. I absolutely love apple crumble. It's one of my favorite Fall treat really. Can't wait to give your version a try. Sounds very flavorful and sooooo good.

      Reply
    5. Donna says

      October 22, 2018 at 5:10 am

      Now this is the way to my heart, crumble truly is my love language - and this one is amazing!

      Reply
    6. Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:39 am

      This looks SO delicious and I love that it's vegan. I also love your addition of cranberries. I bet their flavor blend perfectly with the apples.

      Reply
    7. Eileen xo says

      October 22, 2018 at 2:27 am

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this vegan apple crumble! I am also the dessert provider for just about every Holiday! I have vegan, dairy free, gluten-free, etc. I am always looking for delicious desserts! I love the flavors and the crumble is perfect!

      Reply
    8. Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says

      October 22, 2018 at 1:23 am

      My neighbor brought over apples yesterday and I made some caramel apples but now I need more recipes to use them up soon. I love apple crisp but I haven't made an apple crumble. It has all the same flavors I love the most and I know it'll taste great with ice cream.

      Reply
      • Deb says

        October 08, 2021 at 10:43 pm

        Mine was very tasty but very dry. I too used coconut flour but instead of rice flour (didn’t need either). I guess maybe the apples were a bit old and I used too much almond flour as my conversion from grams to cups was wrong. Also I used applesauce instead of butter. Anyways, will try again. Thanks!

        Reply
    9. Michele says

      October 21, 2018 at 11:07 pm

      5 stars
      This Apple Crumble is calling my name! I would love a big bowl with some vanilla frozen yogurt. I've really been wanting to make a dessert with apples with all of the varieties in the stores right now. This will be perfect!

      Reply
    10. Anne Murphy says

      October 21, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      Oh! A topping without oats! I made an apple cranberry crumble recipe for years, using oats as the topping - and now I've discovered that I cross react to them, but I haven't gotten around to adapting the recipe. I"d just gotten to the time of year when I think "I really need to figure that out..." and look - you did it for me!. And the whole recipe looks delicious...

      Reply
    11. Sri Mallya says

      October 21, 2018 at 6:00 pm

      Thank you for Sharing vegan version. Recipe looks so flavorful. Can' t wait to try these.

      Reply
    12. Celebrating Sweets says

      October 20, 2018 at 10:26 pm

      This looks so good - I bet I wouldn't even miss the butter. I love the combo of apples you chose. Yum!

      Reply
    13. Ruchi says

      October 20, 2018 at 11:35 am

      The combination of spices is fantastic, just right to my taste. We dont do a lot of vegan recipes at home , hopefully will start with your apple crumble!

      Reply
    14. Jenni says

      October 19, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      I love that you've added cranberries to this to kick the flavor up even more! I bet the coconut butter is fantastic in this!

      Reply
    15. Dominique | Perchance to Cook says

      October 19, 2018 at 1:42 pm

      Wow! What a beautiful apple crumble! I love the addition of the cranberries here and I really love that the recipe is vegan. This is perfect for Fall!

      Reply
    16. Tina @ girlsgospel.com says

      September 17, 2018 at 10:34 am

      This looks amazing! I found your blog via the #bibs shortlist - good luck!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        September 20, 2018 at 5:54 pm

        Thank you so much Tina! All fingers crossed for the #bibs2018 :)!

        Reply
    17. Nat says

      September 17, 2018 at 8:38 am

      Hello Petite, I tried this recipe with enthusiasm. Well it really didn't turn out right for me but I'm eager to find out why maybe you could help: I used coconut flour instead of almond flour, I used walnuts and pecan instead of hazelnut but I don't think that should have mattered. I also think I made too much topping and the apples were overcooked. The main issue though was that the topping did not stick together, it was so powdery that a few times it dried the back of the throat and we nearly choked lol. Could that be the coconut flour ??

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        September 20, 2018 at 7:11 pm

        Hi Nat, I'm so sorry to hear the apple crumble didn't turn out quite right, I've had a similar issue not long time ago. I used coconut flour instead of almond flour and it came out crumbly and sandy and not holding together, so I recommend you try it with almond flour next time (I also suggest to add 2 tbsp of rice flour for a more compact result). I love your walnuts and pecan topping by the way, I can't wait to give it a go myself!

        Reply
      • Wendy says

        October 07, 2018 at 10:50 am

        I struggle with coconut flour, i think its because it absorbs a huge amount of moisture it does seem to dry recipies out x

        Reply
    18. Bob says

      April 01, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      5 stars
      The topping was deliciously nutty and sweet and did not burn but mine did not become crunchy as a good crumble should. Perhaps some flour would help - gluten free if necessary.

      Reply
    19. Greg Child says

      December 19, 2016 at 6:00 am

      Perfect for the holidays! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    20. Phil says

      September 17, 2016 at 6:41 pm

      5 stars
      I got a great result from the recipe! Best crumble I have ever eaten actually. Not usually a fan. So sorry Judit, think this problem is down to you 🙂

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        September 17, 2016 at 9:19 pm

        Hi Phil, thank you SO much for your feedback 🙂 It really makes my day reading comments like yours!

        Reply
    21. Judit says

      June 21, 2015 at 12:14 pm

      Hi. I am sorry, but your recipe doesn't quite work as it should. I find that the ingredients for the topping weren't enough and it is way to much sugar in it, which results in burning the top after 20 minutes in the oven.

      Reply
      • The Petite Cook says

        June 21, 2015 at 5:22 pm

        Hi Judit, thank you for letting me know. I'm a bit puzzled as it did work perfectly for me as you can see from the picture, maybe you can reduce the sugar if you think is too much and cover the crumble with foil while it cooks. But ingredients proportions are very similar to BBC apple crumble recipe ( although their version is not vegan).

        Reply

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