Half the Sugar Baker
If you’re looking for a sweet treat that is made with less sugar and wholesome ingredients, then this healthier apple crumble is for you! It’s made with lots of fresh apples, rolled oats, whole wheat flour, and nuts. This apple crumble is also made with less butter and sugar than traditional recipes! It’s perfect for breakfast or dessert, and it is super easy to make!
What is apple crumble?
Apple crumble is a baked dessert made of apples and a streusel topping. The streusel often contains oats. The apples are spiced with flavors like cinnamon and become tender while baking. The streusel topping is buttery and crisp.
Apple crumble vs apple crisp vs apple cobbler
These three common apple desserts may sound similar, but there are some subtle differences between them! Apple cobbler is made with a biscuit-like topping that covers the apples in large pieces. On the other hand, both apple crisp and apple cobbler are topped with a streusel, which is made of smaller pieces that get crisp in the oven. The streusel on apple crisp is usually made with just flour, butter, and sugar, while the apple crumble usually contains oats.
Why I love this healthier apple crumble
I love this healthier apple crumble because it is so easy to make, it’s delicious, and I can feel good about eating it! This apple crumble is made with a few basic ingredients and doesn’t require any special tools! The crumble topping comes together in less than 5 minutes and the rest is just chopped apples! This crumble is made with ingredients like whole wheat flour, rolled oats, lots of apples, and nuts for a wholesome treat. And, it’s made with less sugar and butter than traditional recipes! I think that the natural sweetness of the apples is already perfect. The apple filling is soft and warmly spiced, which is the perfect compliment to the crisp topping!
What apples to use for apple crumble?
I recommend using a variety of apples because there is a mixture of sweet and sour and also a variety of textures. Here are some apples that are especially good for baking:
- Honeycrisp
- Jazz
- Braeburn
- Jonagold
- Pink Lady
- Fuji
- Granny Smith
Although some apples are better than others for baking, they will all work in a pinch! No matter what type of apples you use, this healthier apple crumble will come out amazing.
Key ingredients and substitutions for healthier apple crumble
- Flour – I like to use a mix of whole wheat flour and all purpose flour in this apple crumble, but you can also use just whole wheat flour or just all purpose flour. You can also replace 1/2 cup of flour with almond flour, just make sure to keep an eye on it while baking because almond flour browns faster than wheat flour!
- Brown sugar – I prefer to let the sweetness of the apples shine through, so I only use 1/3 cup of brown sugar in this crumble. If you prefer a sweeter apple crumble, feel free to increase the sugar to 1/2 cup in the streusel topping, and add two tablespoons of brown sugar to the chopped apples.
- Whole rolled oats – rolled oats have the best texture for the streusel topping because they don’t break down while baking. Instead, they keep their shape and get nice and crispy!
- Nuts – I love adding some chopped nuts to this apple crumble. My favorites are walnuts and pecans, but you could also try almonds, hazelnuts, or even peanuts! They add so much extra flavor and texture! Feel free to leave these out completely if needed.
- Apples – This recipe calls for 3 pounds of apples, which is around 6 large apples or 8 medium/small apples. Look for your favorite baking apples, which are usually firm and have a slight tartness. For a list of recommended baking apples, see the section above!
Tips for making this healthier apple crumble
- When making the streusel mixture, you will probably find that the mixture is still too crumbly and dry when you mix the melted butter completely into the rest of the ingredients. Don’t worry, just add a tablespoon or two of water or milk and mix it in. You should find that the streusel reaches a consistency of wet sand with medium sized crumbs.
- When chopping the apples, there is no need to cut them into very small pieces. I like to cut them until each piece is around the size of a clementine slice.
- When adding the streusel on top of the apples, I like to use my fingers to slightly press the mixture into some larger and medium sized crumbs before adding them. This creates a better variety of sizes in the streusel topping, which results in different textures!
- If you have any leftover apple crumble, it can be stored in the fridge for up 6 days. To reheat, I recommend baking it in a 375ºF oven for 5-10 minutes. This will re-crisp the crumble topping! If you are in a rush, you can also reheat the apple crumble in the microwave, but the streusel won’t get as crisp.
Variations of this healthier apple crumble
This recipe would also work with other fruits! I recommend trying it with peaches or pears for a delicious alternative. Just make sure to keep an eye on the time, as the baking time could change depending on what fruit you are using.
Nuts: I think that apples pair perfectly with pecans and walnuts, but you could also try making this crumble with any other nut! I recommend almonds, hazelnuts, or maybe even peanuts! If you are allergic to nuts, feel free to leave them out completely.
Almond flour: If you like baking with almond flour, feel free to replace 1/2 cup of the all purpose flour with almond flour. Just make sure to keep an eye on the crumble while it’s baking because almond flour browns faster than all purpose flour!
Apple crumble is often topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, but it’s also great with a scoop of yogurt if you are looking for a healthier twist!
If you liked this healthier apple crumble, you might also like…
- German style apple pie
- Apple bread pudding
- Airfryer apple fritters
- Healthy apple muffins
- Healthy pumpkin streusel muffins
Healthier Apple Crumble
Ingredients
For the oat crumble topping:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup whole rolled oats
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1-2 tablespoons water or milk
For the apple filling:
- 3 pounds apples chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg optional
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9-by-13 inch baking dish.
Make the oat crumble topping:
- In a medium bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, brown sugar, rolled oats, nuts, and salt. Then add the butter and stir until evenly incorporated. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or milk and mix until everything is moistened. The mixture should have the consistency of wet sand with medium sized crumbs.
Mix the apple filling:
- In a large bowl, combine the apples, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and water. Pour the apples into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer. Press the crumble mixture into some larger crumbs and sprinkle on top in an even layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-60 minutes, or until the crumble is golden brown and crisp.
- Allow the apple crumble to cool slightly and serve warm. Optionally, enjoy with a scoop of ice cream or yogurt!
