This incredible vegan apple crumble combines crisp apple slices with brown sugar and lemon notes. The streusel topping stays ultra crispy and does not include oats, making it deliciously gluten-free.
This easy apple dessert uses only 8 simple ingredients and requires 10 minutes of hands-on time.
While apples are readily available year round, I find this vegan apple crumble feels most festive in the Fall and Winter months when apples are in season or were traditionally enjoyed as preserves.
It makes a fantastic dessert, brunch, and Fall picnic recipe, just like my Blueberry Crumble. For similar apple treats, check out my baked cinnamon apple slices, Gluten-Free Apple Pie, Gluten Free Apple Fritters, Gluten-Free Apple Coffee Cake, and Pie Iron Apple Pie (a camping or grill recipe).
For more Fall brunch and dessert recipes, check out my Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread, Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Donut Holes, Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Chia Pudding, and Pumpkin Spice Whipped Cream.
Jump to:
How to make it (with photos)
Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
You need 8 common ingredients to make this easy vegan apple crumble recipe.
Apples
I used honeycrisp and cosmic crisp apples when making this recipe. Both are sweet and crisp. Choose crisp apple varieties so the filling doesn't get mushy.
This article on the best apples for baking is a helpful resource when choosing apple varieties.
More Ingredient Notes
- brown sugar - You can use any granulated sugar, like white sugar or coconut sugar, to make this recipe.
- flour - Use all purpose flour or gluten-free all purpose flour. I use Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten-free flour. Cassava flour can be used as a grain-free substitute.
You also need ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and coconut oil to make this easy recipe.
See the recipe card for a full list of ingredients with quantities.
Helpful Equipment
This apple crumble recipe can be made with the most basic kitchen equipment - a baking dish, knife, spatula, and forks. However, the following tools can make apple peeling and coring faster and give a more professional-looking streusel crumble.
- Apple Corer - I was able to nearly halve my apple cutting time by using a simple apple corer rather than cutting it out with a knife.
- Fruit + Vegetable Peeler - You can use a paring knife for this, but I prefer this peeler.
- Pastry Cutter - None of my recipes require a pastry cutter, but it can give a professional-looking crumble by evenly cutting the coconut oil into the crumble mixture.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Learn how to make vegan apple crumble in 3 easy steps with these step-by-step photos.
- Apple Filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the apple slices and sprinkle them with ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Stir until the apple slices are evenly coated. Then pour the mixture into an ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking dish.
- Streusel Crumble: To a medium mixing bowl, add the ⅔ cup brown sugar, ⅔ cup flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together and break up large brown sugar clumps. Add the coconut oil and cut into the mixture using a pastry cutter, or use a fork in short downward strokes. Mix in until the crumble lumps are blueberry sized or smaller. Sprinkle evenly across the apple mixture.
- Bake: Bake the crumble on a middle oven rack at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F for an additional 25-35 minutes. The outside of the filling should be bubbling and the streusel crumble will be golden brown when finished. Allow to cool to set (usually 2 hours or more).
Hint: I use two temperatures in this recipe because it takes time for the filling to heat. Without bubbling, the flour in the filling will not thicken properly. However, cooking at a high temperature for too long will burn the crumble, so it's necessary to reduce heat. You'll see the same baking pattern in my Blueberry Crumble and Strawberry Crumble Pie recipes.
Expert Tips
Make a professional-style vegan apple crumble with these expert tips.
Use a pastry cutter.
While forks are just fine for overall flavor and texture, using a pastry cutter to cut the coconut oil into the dry streusel mixture will make larger and more even crumble pieces. This gives an overall more professional appearance.
Use crisp apples.
I tested this recipe with honeycrisp and cosmic crisp apples. Both are crisp for eating and baking. Apples with less crispness will give a mushier filling when baked.
The Food Network has an excellent post on the best apples for baking that covers a lot of apple varieties.
Recipe FAQ's
Here I answered some frequently asked questions about this Vegan Apple Crumble recipe. Don't see your question? Leave it in the comments at the end of this post and I'll answer within two business days.
You can leave leftover vegan apple crumble at room temperature for up to 1 day. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
While the fillings of apple crumble and apple crisp are often the same, the difference is that a crisp includes oats in the topping and a crumble does not.
You can use butter instead of coconut oil in this apple crumble recipe. I prefer coconut oil because it keeps the streusel crumble topping extra crisp for several days.
Related vegan apple recipes to consider...
Looking for related vegan apple recipes like this vegan apple crumble? Check these out:
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card or comment field below. Thank you!
Vegan Apple Crumble without oats (gluten-free)
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- 2 pounds apples , peeled, cored, and sliced into ¼ inch slices, see notes for my favorite types
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour or all purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 large lemon , zested and juiced
Streusel Crumble
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour or all purpose gluten-free flour
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup coconut oil , softened
Instructions
- Apple Filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the apple slices and sprinkle them with ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Stir until the apple slices are evenly coated. Then pour the mixture into an ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking dish.
- Streusel Crumble: To a medium mixing bowl, add the ⅔ cup brown sugar, ⅔ cup flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together and break up large brown sugar clumps. Add the coconut oil and cut into the mixture using a pastry cutter, or use a fork in short downward strokes. Mix in until the crumble lumps are blueberry sized or smaller. Sprinkle evenly across the apple mixture.
- Bake: Bake the crumble on a middle oven rack at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F for an additional 25-35 minutes. The outside of the filling should be bubbling and the streusel crumble will be golden brown when finished. Allow to cool to set (usually 2 hours or more).
Janice
This is a really great vegan apple crisp recipe. The topping was the crispiest I've made with the coconut oil and it tastes incredible with vanilla nice cream.
Dana
This is the perfect apple crumble recipe! The lemon is so nice with the apples and brown sugar and it's so simple. Love that it's vegan and gluten-free too.