The beauty of making crumble lies in the imperfections. Unlike a pie, crumbles aren’t quite as fussy to make and typically come together when just a few ingredients are tossed into a baking dish without too much precision. This vegan apple crumble recipe is no different than most crumble recipes, aside from the fact that it’s dairy-free.
The foundation of this vegan crumble recipe is tart apple slices tossed in coconut sugar with a dash each of lemon and cinnamon. A crown of craggy, buttery crumbs on top gives the crumble its name and its iconic crunchy texture. Vegan butter binds a mixture of coconut sugar, flour, cinnamon and a pinch of salt into bits and pieces that crisp in the oven. A heaping serving of this warm vegan apple crumble with a refreshing scoop of vegan ice cream—although optional—is a heavenly combination sure to impress vegan and non-vegan guests alike.
Ingredients for Vegan Apple Crumble
- Apples: To contrast the sweetness from the coconut sugar in this recipe, opt for tart apples—such as Granny Smith or Braeburn—that maintain their crisp texture even when baked. Check out our guide for the best apples for baking.
- Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar is made from cooking down the sap of the coconut palm tree in a process similar to that of making maple sugar. Strict vegans generally avoid granulated and brown sugars because animal products are often used in the sugar refinement process. Although coconut sugar adds a mild nutty flavor to this dessert, it can be replaced with brown sugar if desired.
- All-purpose flour: Flour plays two roles in this recipe. It binds the ingredients and crisps the top of the crumble mixture. Tossed with the apples, it thickens the juices released as the fruit bakes into a velvety sauce.
- Lemon juice:Â A splash of lemon juice helps round out the sweetness in this dish and highlights the tartness of the apples.
- Cinnamon: Adds an unmistakable warming aroma to both the fruit and the crumble topping.
- Salt:Â A pinch of salt helps balance and even enhance the flavors in a dessert; don’t skip it.
- Vegan butter: Non-dairy butters are now widely available in standard supermarkets. They are often made from a based of coconut, palm, or soy oil. It’s an essential ingredient to give this crumble richness and crunch.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the crumble
Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, combine the apples, coconut sugar, flour, lemon juice and cinnamon. Transfer it to a greased 11 by 7-inch baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the flour, coconut sugar, salt and cinnamon; cut in the vegan butter until it’s crumbly; sprinkle it over the apples.
Editor’s Tip: Ensure you’re using cold non-dairy butter is cold before adding it to the crumble, which is the key to a crispier, crunchier topping.
Step 2: Bake the crumble
Bake it until the apples are tender and the topping is golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Serve it warm.
Vegan Apple Crumble Variations
- Swap the apples for another fruit: Although tart apples are a great choice, you can use this recipe as a template to make a vegan crumble out of pears, rhubarb, pitted cherries, or strawberries. You can also use a combination of different seasonal fruits such as pear and cranberry, strawberry apple, and so on.
- Add additional spices: In addition to cinnamon, a pinch of ground nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, or any other baking spice you like can add even more dimension to this simple recipe.
- Add oats to the topping: Add a small handful of rolled oats to the crumble mixture to give the topping even more texture and complement the soft baked apples.
How to Store Vegan Apple Crumble
Store the vegan apple crumble in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to seven days.
Can you freeze vegan apple crumble?
Yes. Once baked and cooled to room temperature, wrap it tightly and freeze it completely. Defrost it by baking it at 300ºF covered in foil until it’s warmed through, then bake uncovered to re-crisp the crumble topping.
How do you reheat vegan apple crumble?
To reheat a crumble, simply bake it for about 20 minutes covered with foil at 350ºF or until it’s warmed through. You can also microwave individual servings, but you’ll lose the crisp texture of the topping.
Can you make vegan apple crumble ahead of time?
Absolutely. Leave it at room temperature if you’ll be serving later that same day. You can warm it back up in the oven just before serving, if you like. Otherwise, follow the above instructions for freezing it or storing it in the refrigerator and reheating it to serve.
Vegan Apple Crumble Tips
What is crumble topping made of?
Typically, a crumble topping includes just three ingredients: butter, sugar and flour. Think of it as a buttery streusel of crumbled pastry. You can also add oats or nuts, which is usually referred to as a crisp.
Why is my apple crumble topping not crunchy?
Issues with a crumble topping that isn’t crunchy are likely due to complications with the butter. Be aware that vegan butter often softens faster at room temperature than dairy butter does because of the different composition of fats. To avoid this, ensure the butter is cold when mixing it into the topping. To troubleshoot a soggy crumble, you can broil it (providing your baking dish is broiler-safe) on low heat for a minute or two to crisp it up.
How to cut apples for apple crumble?
To ensure they cook evenly, slice the apples as uniformly as possible; about a quarter-inch thickness is ideal. We call for peeled apples to give the fruit a softer consistency once cooked.
