Every warm scoop of Vegan Apple Crumble features sweet and tender cinnamon-coated apples and a brown sugar streusel on top. It’s an easy and casual dessert you can assemble in minutes! Serve with scoops of vegan vanilla ice cream, drizzles of salted caramel and celebrate the comforting flavors of fall.
The best vegan apple crumble recipe
This Vegan Apple Crumble recipe has it all: warmth, sweetness, and soft baked apples! Just think of it as the casual version of vegan apple pie. Cinnamon and brown sugar-coated apples are topped with a sweet streusel topping, then baked until bubbly and crisp.
Why do I love apple crumble so much?
- No fussy presentation. Just like vegan apple crisp, apple crumble is known for its rustic and casual presentation. It doesn’t need to look perfect! Quickly put it all together in the dish and you have a dessert that looks AND tastes good.
- Perfect for fall. Is there anything that screams “autumn” more than apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon? Wash this perfect fall dessert down with a vegan pumpkin spice latte and enjoy!
- So easy to make! There’s no parbaking, homemade dough, or special equipment involved here. The apple filling and crumble topping are mixed together in separate bowls, then layered on top of each other in a casserole dish. That’s it!
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
- Apples – There is no one perfect type of apple for apple crumble recipes. Use what you have at home or choose one of the many varieties that come into season during late summer and throughout fall. Whichever apples you choose, peel and core them before tossing with the rest of the filling ingredients.
- Brown sugar – Using brown sugar in both the apple filling and streusel topping imparts warm, sweet, and comforting flavors throughout the entire dessert. Coconut sugar should work too. Maple syrup may also be used but I haven’t tested it.
- Lemon juice – To brighten up the filling while toning down the apple’s natural tartness.
- All purpose flour – Or you can use the gluten free flour of your choice.
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Vegan butter – Miyoko’s plant butter is my favorite for this dessert but you can use the vegan butter of your choice or melted coconut oil.
How to make vegan apple crumble
Find the complete printable recipe with measurements below in the recipe card.
Lightly spray or grease a casserole dish and preheat the oven.
Stir the apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl to make the apple filling. Make sure each piece is well coated. Pour the apples into the prepared casserole dish.
Whisk the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture is crumbly (use a fork or your fingers to make sure it’s thoroughly mixed).
Sprinkle the streusel in an even layer over the apples in the dish. Keep some of the larger chunks intact; they’re like a burst of sweetness when the crumble is finished baking!
Bake the apple crumble until the top is golden brown, the apples are tender, and the filling is bubbly. Serve with scoops of vanilla ice cream and homemade caramel sauce or vegan salted caramel. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
- What’s the difference between apple crumble, apple crisp, and apple cobbler? Apple crumble and crisp are very similar; the only difference is that crisp recipes typically have rolled oats in the topping. Apple cobbler is still made with a baked apple filling but has biscuit or pie dough on top.
- Is this recipe gluten free? No, but it’s easy to make gluten free. All you have to do is swap the all purpose flour for a gluten free flour mix. If you want to go all out, make my Gluten Free Vegan Apple Crumble Pie instead.
- Can you make it ahead of time? I don’t recommend it. If you don’t make it fresh, the streusel will become soggy and the apples will begin to brown.
- How do you store the leftovers? Keep the leftover baked crumble in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months. It’s best reheated in a 350ºF oven until warmed through.
Want more vegan apple desserts?
Vegan Apple Crumble
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 the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the apples, brown sugar, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon and salt for the apple filling. Stir well until the apples are coated.
- Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared dish and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Add the melted butter and stir until well combined. The mixture will be crumbly, and you may need to use your fingers to get it all combined.
- Sprinkle the topping with your fingers over the apples. I like to leave some larger chunks and turn into delicious clusters when baked.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender. The sides will be bubbling.
- Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and vegan salted caramel, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- For gluten free, substitute an all purpose gluten free flour.
- Any apple will work, but my favorites are granny smith and honey crisp, or a mix of both.
- I used Miyoko’s butter, but you can use any vegan butter you like. Coconut oil will also work pretty well.
Made this for Christmas dessert this year. Followed the recipe and added an extra cup or two of apples. It was easy to make, delicious and enjoyed by all. Thank you for sharing this yummy recipe! All your vegan recipes that I have tried have been delicious.
I have made this several times and it turns out drool worthy every time! Seriously, this is so easy and delicious. My family loves it🙌🏼
Nora, you are very talented. Thank you for sharing your creative cooking gift with the world. My family has enjoyed so many of your wonderful meals, desserts, and appetizers. We appreciate you💕💕
Thank YOU, Elizabeth, for your inspiring words! I appreciate your support, and thank you for loving my recipes! Wishing you and your family lots of happy cooking and warm and wonderful meals together!
So delicious!! As always, your recipes are amazing. Thank you, Nora. When will your new cookbook be out?
Hi Tina. Thank you for taking time to share your terrific review! I’m glad that you enjoyed the recipe! My new cookbook should be out soon. The goal is before Christmas! Wishing you happy cooking!
this apple crumble made me transcend my physical form and float upwards directly into the kingdom of heaven
Hi Andy. I am thrilled that you loved the crumble! Thank you for sharing your beautiful review and feedback! Happy cooking!
Hi, Nora! Was wondering if it is possible to use pineapples for this recipe instead of apples to make a pineapple crumble? Thanks!
Hi Mo. I’ve never tried using pineapples, and it sounds delicious! That should work! Let me know how it goes for you if you try it! Happy baking!
I tried it with the pineapples, and it came out amazing! It was a bit too sweet, but it’s because I used canned pineapples that were in a sugary sauce. Other than that, it was very yummy and it was a hit with my non-vegan family!
Hi Mo. Thanks for sharing with us how the recipe turned out using pineapple! I’m so glad you loved it! Happy cooking!
Really loved the crumble but couldn’t find the brown sugar streusel recipe. Love your recipes!
Nora, you’ve done it again. This was amazing! This was so decadent and comforting on a cold evening, yet super easy to whip up.
Wow, this is incredible. So simple to make and yet so delicious. This may be my favorite fall dessert. Perfection!
I’m really young and as expected I normally burn things or they taste terrible. I used some apples that a lady with a lot of apple trees gave us. I thought it wouldn’t really turn out good but I tried it and it was crispy, golden and overall delicious, my sisters loved it too! Me, my mom and my sisters normally try your recipes and they’re always so tasty!!! Thank you for this recipe and me and my family will totally try it again. Happy cooking!
You are welcome, Georgia! I’m so happy for you that the crumble turned out beautiful and delicious! Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback!
Hi Nora! I love all your recipes! I’m curious, can I use coconut flour instead?
Sorry, I don’t think coconut flour would work well here because it doesn’t absorb moisture the same way all purpose flour or gluten free all purpose flour does.
This was really nice but it’s missing the oats that would normally be in the crumble topping. We enjoyed it but next time I will definitely add oats 🙂
I have a bunch of apples to use and I can’t decide between your Apple Crisp and Apple Crumble recipes. Which would you choose?
I vote for apple crumble! Enjoy!
Thanks! I’m going to try to combine this with your pie crust recipe
Enjoy!
Delicious! Just what I was looking for!
I’m so glad. you loved it! Thank you for sharing!
Made it the other day and it was divine! ?
Thanks for another amazing recipe!
You are welcome! I’m glad you loved the crumble! Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback!
The first time I used Granny Smith apples and for the 2nd time I had apples in the house that were a gift from a neighbor who went to an orchard.
This recipe is a great way to use apples that you simply are tired eating the traditional way! ?
Hi Aga. I’m glad you are loving the crumble! Thanks for sharing your positive feedback and review!
This was so great ! Thanks for sharing this!