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Brown Butter Apple Crumble

Name: Brown Butter Apple Crumble
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1½ cup gluten-free oats; ½ cup gluten-free flour; 1 tsp cinnamon; ½ cup walnuts (chopped); ½ cup butter (browned); ½ cup sugar of choice (I used brown); ½ tsp salt; 6 medium apples (cored and sliced (if organic don't bother peeling!)); 1 tsp cinnamon; 2 tbsp sugar of choice (I used brown); pinch of salt

Created by: Teri-Ann Carty

Enjoy making this Brown Butter Apple Crumble as much as you enjoy eating it! It's the perfect cozy and delicious fall dessert, featuring tender granny smith apples tossed in cinnamon and sugar, then topped with a crunchy, nutty crumble made from oats, gluten-free flour, and brown butter. The browned butter adds a deep, rich flavour, while the crumble bakes to a perfect golden brown. Serve it warm with ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt for an irresistible treat!

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The Best Apple Crumble

Calling all apple fans! Apple crisp has been a mainstay in my family for as long as I can remember. My mom has made her version of it for desserts more times than I can count. I love apple crisp but THIS BROWNED BUTTER APPLE CRUMBLE is on a whole other level (sorry mom). I have a thing for browned butter. I have several recipes using this liquid gold and can’t see myself stopping anytime soon. It has this magical ability to elevate any recipe, so if it’s MAGIC why wouldn’t we take the extra time to make it? I know that browning butter before using it is not everyone’s thing but I promise you it is so worth the additional few minutes.

Apple season is still in full swing and I am thrilled about it. Apples are still relatively inexpensive and are so versatile! If you haven’t checked out all my apple recipes I encourage you to, they are easy, tasty, gluten-free and delicious. So why is apple crumble so dang good? I think it is one of the easiest desserts to make, everyone loves apples and it is never too sweet, it’s always just right. When I first started baking apple crumble (or crisp) was easily one of my favorite things to make because it’s a bit foolproof – you chop some apples, you throw them in a container with some cinnamon and oats and ya bake! Desserts can be intimidating especially if there is pastry, cakes or frostings involved and an apple crisp has two steps, slice apples, and make the crumble. It’s that easy and perfect, it’s a no-fuss dessert that always turns out deliciously and gets eaten up real quick!

What You’ll Need

Hexclad Pots
8×8-inch baking dish

Brown Butter Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients

For this easy apple crumble recipe, you’ll need a few basic ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry!

Oats: The foundation of the crumble topping, creates an irresistible texture and a hearty base to the crisp. Oats toast beautifully in the oven, giving the crumble a golden-brown, slightly chewy texture that contrasts with the tender apples underneath. They also help absorb some of the apple juices as they bake, keeping the crumble from becoming soggy.
Gluten-Free Flour: Helps to bind the oats, walnuts, and other crumble ingredients together, creating a cohesive topping that crisps up nicely in the oven. If you don’t need this recipe to be gluten-free, feel free to use all-purpose flour or even almond flour for a nutty flavour and additional protein.
Cinnamon: The quintessential spice of autumn! Cinnamon gives the apple crumble its classic, cozy flavour. It enhances the natural sweetness of the apples while adding warmth to the dish. Try experimenting with other spices like nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom for a more complex flavour profile, but cinnamon is the key to achieving that traditional apple crumble taste.

Walnuts: Mixing your oats with crushed walnuts adds an amazing layer of complexity to your crumble topping. Walnuts also provide healthy fats, protein, and omega-3s, making the crumble a bit more nutritious. You can swap walnuts for pecans, which have a softer texture and a sweeter, buttery flavour. Prefer a nut-free version, omit the nuts altogether.
Butter: The browned butter is truly the star of this recipe. Browning the butter adds a deep, nutty, caramel-like flavour that elevates the entire dish. It transforms a simple apple crumble into something rich, indulgent, and packed with flavour. If you need a dairy-free option, use plant-based butter or coconut oil.
Sugar: Sweetens both the apple filling and the crumble topping, creating a perfect balance of flavours. I prefer using brown sugar because of its molasses content, which adds a deeper and warmer flavour. You can use coconut sugar for a more natural sweetener or if you like your crumble a bit more tart, feel free to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.
Apples: You can truly use any apples you’d like, however, I went with Granny Smith and have zero regrets. The apples are the heart of this crumble. Granny Smith apples are ideal because they hold their shape during baking and their tartness balances the sweetness of the crumble. The apples soften as they bake, but they don’t turn to mush, providing the perfect texture contrast to the crunchy topping. You can mix in other apple varieties like Honeycrisp or Pink Lady for a sweeter flavour, or even try pears for a different twist on the recipe. I didn’t peel my apples as I picked them myself and they are organic. I love leaving the skin on for extra fibre.
Salt: A pinch of salt might seem like a small addition, but it makes a huge difference in enhancing all the flavours. Salt balances the sweetness from the apples and sugar, and brings out the warm, nutty flavour of the browned butter.

How to Brown Butter

Browning butter might sound fancy, but it’s incredibly simple and so worth the extra step. Here’s how to do it:

Place butter in a small pot over medium heat. Let it melt, swirling the pot occasionally.
Once the butter is melted, keep the pot moving as the foam starts to rise to the top. You’ll notice the butter underneath beginning to change colour.
When the butter reaches a warm, caramel colour and smells nutty, remove it from the heat.
Let it cool slightly before using it.

How to Make This Apple Crumble

Preheat the Oven

Set your oven to 375°F and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking dish.

Prepare the Crumble

Combine oats, gluten-free flour, cinnamon, walnuts, and sugar in a bowl. Pour the cooled browned butter over the mixture and stir until fully combined.

Prepare the Apple Filling

Core and slice your granny smith apples and toss them with cinnamon, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt, then spread them evenly in the baking dish.

Bake & Serve

Sprinkle the crumble mixture evenly over the apples. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender. If the crumble is browning too quickly, tent it with foil to prevent burning. Let the crumble cool slightly before serving with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or yogurt.

What Are The Best Apples for Apple Crumble?

The best apples for apple crumble are firm and slightly tart varieties like Granny Smith. They hold their shape during baking and offer a great contrast to the sweetness of the crumble. If you prefer a sweeter crumble, you can mix Granny Smith with sweeter apples like Honeycrisp or Gala for a more balanced flavour.

Apple Crumble Recipe FAQs

Do I need to brown the butter? No, but I highly recommend it! Browning the butter takes this apple crumble to the next level by adding a rich, nutty flavour. If you’re short on time, you can use melted butter instead, but trust me, it’s worth the extra few minutes.

Should I peel the apples? I didn’t peel my apples but you can. Leaving the skin on adds extra fibre and nutrients. If you prefer a smoother texture, feel free to peel them.

Can I make this apple crumble vegan? Yes! Simply swap the butter for a plant-based alternative to make this recipe vegan.

Best Apple Crumble Recipe Tips

Use Firm Apples: Apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are best for baking because they hold their shape and don’t turn mushy.
Press the Crumble Topping: When spreading the crumble over the apples, press it down slightly to ensure it stays together while baking.
Let It Cool: Allow the crumble to cool for a few minutes before serving to give the flavours time to meld and the topping time to firm up.
Serving Suggestions: This crumble pairs perfectly with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a dollop of Greek yogurt.

You’ll Be Making This Apple Crumble Recipe on Repeat Because:

It’s easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.
The browned butter adds an incredible depth of flavour.
It’s naturally gluten-free and can easily be made vegan.
You don’t need to peel the apples (hello, extra fibre!).
It’s easy to customize, try adding protein powder to the crumble too – I’ve done it and it is delish!
It’s the perfect dessert for cozy fall evenings, especially served with ice cream or whipped cream!

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TERI ANN CARTY

Food Photographer and Recipe Developer based in Toronto, Canada.

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Brown Butter Apple Crumble

5 from 1 vote

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Servings:

Author: Teri-Ann Carty

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 50

Total Time: 1 5

Equipment

8x8 Casserole Dish
Medium Pot

Ingredients

1½ cup gluten-free oats
½ cup gluten-free flour
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup walnuts chopped
½ cup butter browned
½ cup sugar of choice I used brown
½ tsp salt
6 medium apples cored and sliced (if organic don't bother peeling!)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar of choice I used brown
pinch of salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease your casserole dish.
Prepare your crumble topping first.
Place butter in a small pot over medium high heat. Allow the butter to melt swirling the pot occasionally.
Once butter has fully melted keep the pot moving. Eventually foam will start to rise to the top and the butter will start to turn a darker colour underneath. Once the butter turns a warmer caramel colour remove pot from the heat. You can transfer butter to a jar or measuring cup to cool while you mix the remaining ingredients.
Add crumble ingredients to a bowl and pour cooled browned butter on top. Stir to combine until no dry ingredients remain.
Cut apples in quarter and thinly slice. Transfer to prepared dish and season the apples with cinnamon salt and sugar. Toss to combine.
Evenly spread crumble topping on top of apples.
Place in the oven to bake. Check on the crumble at 40 minutes. If the crumble starts to brown to quickly, tent it with tinfoil.
Continue to bake up to the 50 minute mark. Apples should be cooked.
Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or yogurt.

Notes

You don't need to brown the butter for this recipe but I highly recommend you do! It takes less than 10 minutes and the taste is incredible. Use whatever apples you love!!!

Nutrition

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

Kevan says:

October 28, 2025 at 6:23 pm

Made this today as I picked up some apples from a local farm here in Somerset, England. This Apple Crumble is delicious and just what I wanted on a dark and rainy evening. Thank you. I’m such a fan of Brown Butter – next level.

Reply
1. Teri-Ann Carty says:
  
  November 3, 2025 at 4:08 pm
  
  Hey Kevan! I love this so much for you! I’m sure the farm fresh apples were just perfect for this recipe 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing your experience!
  
  Reply

Brown Butter Apple Crumble

The Best Apple Crumble

What You’ll Need

Brown Butter Apple Crumble Recipe Ingredients

How to Brown Butter