The best vegan apple crumble recipe! Deliciously warm spiced apple filling meets crunchy nutty gluten-free topping for a perfect bake!
Winter calls for cozy and comforting foods, and this vegan apple crumble fits the bill perfectly.
The combination of warm, baked apples with a crispy nutty topping creates a balanced and comforting dessert for chilly winter evenings.
This recipe has been tested, and improved over the years, to bring you the BEST apple crisp you'll ever make.
This vegan apple crumble recipe features a nutritious crispy topping of toasted hazelnut and almond flour and a deliciously warm spiced apple and cranberry filling.
The apple filling features a combination of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, creating a warm and aromatic flavor profile.
It's incredibly versatile, and you can adjust the spices and sweetness levels to create a filling that's perfect for you.
The dairy-free crumble topping with almond flour and nuts creates a golden-brown, crispy texture on the surface, which pairs beautifully with the soft, juicy apple filling underneath.
Here are a few reasons why you' should will love this plant-based dessert:
- vegan
- gluten-free
- only 2 steps required
- ready in less than 40 minutes
- made with simple ingredients
Vegan apple crisp ingredients
This recipe for vegan apple crisp couldn't be any easier. You can make this comforting dessert with just a handful of ingredients.
Here's a list of the ingredients you will need:
- Apples: You can use your favorite apples, as long as they have a firm and crisp texture. Granny Smith and Honeycrisp (or Braeburn) apples are my go-to options.
- Cranberries: Cranberries add a delightful tartness and a burst of color to the dish. You can substitute them with dried apricots or dried cherries.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil not only helps bind the ingredients together but also contributes a subtle coconut flavor, adding depth to the overall taste.
- Sugar: I like to use demerara or muscovado sugar for its slightly nutty flavor, but coconut sugar or regular sugar will work well too.
- Almond flour: Replacing all-purpose flour with almond flour (or almond meal) not only makes this apple crumble gluten-free but adds a subtle sweet nutty flavor.
- Hazelnuts: Chopped hazelnuts add a rich, nutty flavor to the crumble topping, enhancing its taste. You can substitute them with walnuts, macadamia, or pecan nuts.
- Spices: I like to use a combination of nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon, but cloves and cardamom would work well too.
How to make vegan apple crumble
Below you can find a quick overview of the 2-steps to make the best vegan gluten-free apple crumble at home.
The best part is that all you need is one bowl and an ovenproof dish to make it!
Scroll down until the end of the post for the full printable recipe
STEP 1. Combine sliced apples with cranberries and spices, then distribute the mixture evenly into a baking dish.
STEP 2. Mix almond flour, hazelnuts, sugar, cinnamon and melted coconut oil flour then distribute over the apple mixture. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes.
Tip: For a super crunchy texture preheat the oven to 200°C/390°F, place the apple crumble in the oven, and reduce to 180°C/360°F.
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.
Remove it from the oven and serve it plain or with vanilla ice cream on top.
Storage tips
Apple crumble gradually softens as time passes, losing its crunchy texture.
To maintain optimal texture, it's recommended to store the unbaked crumble topping and the apple filling separately.
If there are leftovers, cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
The crumble is at its best when enjoyed on the day it's made, but it can still be enjoyable for up to two days.
Apple crumble freezes well both baked and unbaked. Store it in freezer-friendly containers for up to 1 month.
- Unbaked frozen apple crumble can be baked directly in a preheated oven at about 180°C/ 360°C for about 30 minutes or until cooked thoroughly.
- Baked frozen apple crumble can be thawed in the fridge overnight, then warmed in the oven for a few minutes.
More vegan desserts 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?
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Recipe
Best Vegan Apple Crumble
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 (if using), demerara sugar, cinnamon, salt and coconut butter. If the mixture looks too wet add in 1 tablespoon 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
- 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.
Nutrition
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.
E says
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
Jess says
Hi i love this recipe, just one question, do you have to add water to the apple ingredients or just cook without liquid
Andrea says
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!
Andrea says
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!
Esther Mahieu says
Sorry to disturb Andrea... but I don’t seem to find that old version of the recipe ? Could you please send on this thread?
Andrea says
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!
Esther Mahieu says
Thank you very much ?
Natalie says
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.
Donna says
Now this is the way to my heart, crumble truly is my love language - and this one is amazing!
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says
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.
Eileen xo says
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!
Jessica (Swanky Recipes) says
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.
Deb says
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!
Michele says
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!
Anne Murphy says
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...
Sri Mallya says
Thank you for Sharing vegan version. Recipe looks so flavorful. Can' t wait to try these.
Celebrating Sweets says
This looks so good - I bet I wouldn't even miss the butter. I love the combo of apples you chose. Yum!
Ruchi says
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!
Jenni says
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!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
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!
Tina @ girlsgospel.com says
This looks amazing! I found your blog via the #bibs shortlist - good luck!
Andrea says
Thank you so much Tina! All fingers crossed for the #bibs2018 :)!
Nat says
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 ??
Andrea says
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!
Wendy says
I struggle with coconut flour, i think its because it absorbs a huge amount of moisture it does seem to dry recipies out x
Bob says
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.
Greg Child says
Perfect for the holidays! Thanks for sharing.
Phil says
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 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Phil, thank you SO much for your feedback 🙂 It really makes my day reading comments like yours!
Judit says
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.
The Petite Cook says
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).