Go Back
A close-up of a spoonful of apple crumble from an easy apple crumble recipe, served warm with a scoop of melting vanilla ice cream.

Healthy Breakfast Apple Crumble

A warm, comforting breakfast or brunch dish featuring tender spiced apples topped with a hearty, naturally sweetened oat crumble, perfect for a nourishing start to your day.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Apple Filling
  • 3 medium apples Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix, peeled, cored, and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup water or apple juice
  • 1/2 tbsp cornstarch optional, for thicker sauce
For the Crumble Topping
  • 1 cup rolled oats old-fashioned, not instant
  • 1/2 cup almond flour or whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter cold, cut into small cubes
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • pinch salt

Equipment

  • Oven
  • 8x8-inch Baking Dish
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Medium Mixing Bowl
  • Vegetable Peeler
  • Cutting Board
  • Sharp Knife
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

Prepare the Apple Filling
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the diced apples, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Toss to coat evenly.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the water (or apple juice) and cornstarch (if using) until smooth. Pour this mixture over the apples and toss again.
  4. Transfer the apple mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
Make the Crumble Topping
  1. In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, almond flour, chopped walnuts, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, and pinch of salt.
  2. Add the cold, cubed butter to the oat mixture. Using your fingertips, a pastry blender, or a fork, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining. Avoid overmixing.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the apple mixture in the baking dish.
  2. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the apples are tender and bubbling, and the crumble topping is golden brown.
  3. If the topping starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
Serve
  1. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
  2. Serve warm, optionally with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a drizzle of extra maple syrup, or a sprinkle of extra cinnamon.

Notes

Storage: Store leftover apple crumble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven. Variations: Feel free to add a handful of dried cranberries or raisins to the apple filling for extra chewiness and sweetness. You can also substitute apples with pears or a mix of both. Nut-Free Option: Omit the walnuts and replace almond flour with more rolled oats (blended into flour consistency if preferred) or whole wheat flour.