Traditional British Apple Crumble Recipe

Recipe Card

A classic British apple crumble made with soft cinnamon-spiced apples and a buttery golden topping. This easy homemade dessert is perfect for family dinners, Sunday lunches or cosy baking days.

Ingredients for this apple crumble recipe

• 800g apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 2 tbsp caster sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon, optional
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 200g plain flour
• 100g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 100g light brown sugar
• Optional: 2 tbsp rolled oats for extra texture
• Custard, cream or ice cream, to serve

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Ovenproof baking dish
• Knife and chopping board
• Peeler
• Measuring spoons

Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare the apples. Preheat the oven to 190°C / 170°C fan / 375°F. Place the sliced apples in a baking dish with the caster sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon if using. Toss well and spread evenly.
2. Step 2: Make the crumble topping. Add the plain flour to a bowl, then rub in the cold butter with your fingertips until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
3. Step 3: Add the sugar. Stir in the light brown sugar and rolled oats if using. Mix gently so the topping stays crumbly.
4. Step 4: Assemble the crumble. Spoon the crumble topping evenly over the apples without pressing it down too much.
5. Step 5: Bake. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the apple filling is bubbling around the edges.
6. Serve: Let the crumble rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve warm with custard, cream or ice cream.

Nutrition (per serving)

~340 kcal • Carbs 49 g • Fat 14 g • Protein 3 g (estimates, without custard)

Serving & Variations

• Classic serving: Serve warm apple crumble with custard for the most traditional British version.
• Simple option: Serve with pouring cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Variation: Add blackberries to the apples for a traditional apple and blackberry crumble.
• Extra texture: Add rolled oats or chopped nuts to the topping if you want more crunch.
• Storage: Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat before serving.
• Helpful link: For more comforting homemade desserts, explore our recipes collection.