Vegan Apple Crumble
This infallible vegan apple crumble is a quick and easy dessert. It is packed with tender apples and a cinnamon streusel topping! This dairy-free vegan dessert can be gluten-free by using your preferred flour!
Get ready for the easiest dessert you will ever make! An apple crumble, akin to a pie minus the crust. It is filled with tart apples mixed with the warmth of brown sugar. On top is a classic sweet and crunchy streusel!
And if that weren’t heavenly enough, here’s the home run – this recipe is entirely vegan! Traditional butter is swapped for vegan butter, making it dairy-free. Moreover, use your preferred gluten-free flour to make this dessert vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
I like to serve this crumble (or any crumble, for that matter) with veganized no-bake pumpkin pie and vegan vanilla ice cream!
Vegan Apple Crumble
At a Glance
EASE: Very Easy
COURSE: Dessert
TIME: 1 Hour
DIET: Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free Optional
What’s a Crumble?
A crumble is a warm dessert made with fruit and topped with a buttery, crumbly mixture of oats, flour, and sugar. The dessert is baked until bubbly and golden on top. The best part? The crumble topping! It’s similar to a streusel, with flour, sugar, oats, and cold butter that gives it that perfect crumbly texture. And for this apple crumble, we’re piling on extra topping to make it even better.
What Apples Should I Use?
I find that Granny Smith apples work best with this recipe and baking in general. When baked, they hold their shape better than other apple varieties. Honeycrisp and Pink Lady are also great with this recipe.
Key Ingredient Notes
Flour
All-purpose flour is perfect with this recipe. If you are gluten-free, you can substitute a GF flour at a 1:1 ratio. I recommend oat or chickpea flour. For more gluten-free flour options, read my post on chickpea flour and the ten best alternatives.
Apples
You want to use an apple that will hold its shape when baking. In other words, look for a firm apple. Granny Smith is my recommended baking apple. Honey Crisp and Pink Lady are also good choices.
Butter
You want to use room-temperature butter for this recipe to be the best. The soft butter will allow you to mix the ingredients and create a perfect crumbly top. Use your favorite plant-based butter. Earth and Mykons are great choices.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg
Add the warm and comforting fall flavors. If you are a pumping lover, add pumpkin spice to this recipe.
See the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Expert Tips
- Only Use Crisp Apple Varieties: You must use crisp varieties that can stand the baking process. I recommend using Granny Smith apples; they bake better than other varieties.
- Room-Temperature Butter – allows for even mixing of all the streusel ingredients to create a consistent texture. If your butter is cold, place it in the microwave, reduce the power to 3, and heat in bursts of 10 – 15 seconds until the butter is smooth. However, do not melt the butter. That will create a texture similar to a soup that will melt into the apples instead of being a topping.
- Topping: Crumbles taste best when warmed up and topped. You can try many vegan ice creams; I recommend So Delicious vanilla ice cream with this recipe. Another option is homemade whipped cream. I like this version from the Blogger Chaos and Wine homemade maple whipped cream. The maple adds the perfect fall flavor touch!
Frequently Asked Questions
This apple crumble can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Yes, you can. Divide the ingredients by 6 or 8, depending on your preferred portion size. Bake it in individual portions using heat-resistant ramekins. Check on the vegan crisp after 30 minutes of baking to see if more baking time is required.
Vegan Apple Crumble
Equipment
- Baking dish
- 2 Medium Bowls
- 1 Sharp knife
Ingredients
Filling
- 6 – 7 cups peeled, cored, and diced apples
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup plant-based butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Streusel Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅓ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons plant-based butter, melted
Instructions
- Step One: Preheat and Prepare1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and take out a 9×13-inch baking dish.2. Begin by peeling, coring, and slicing approximately 6-7 cups of fresh apples
- Step Two: Prepare the Filling1. In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, plant-based butter, flour, and a pinch of salt. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until they form a smooth mixture.2. Add the sliced apples to the bowl and toss them well to ensure an even coating. Set this apple filling aside.
- Step Three: Create the Streusel Topping1. Whisk together flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a separate medium-sized bowl.2. Pour the melted butter into the dry mixture and stir it in using a wooden spoon to create the topping.
- Step Four: Assemble and Bake1. Evenly spread the apple filling in your prepared baking dish.2. Sprinkle the thick streusel crumble mixture over the top of the apples, ensuring an even distribution.3. Place the dish into the oven and bake for approximately 40 to 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Test the apples' tenderness with a fork – if it easily pierces through, they're ready.4. Once done, remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. For a delightful treat, serve the vegan apple crumble warm, accompanied by vegan vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
