Warmly-spiced apple crumble makes the best fall treat! Granny Smith apples pair with simple ingredients for a balanced sweet-and-tart dessert, with a generous helping of crumb topping.
Prep: Heat oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking dish with unsalted butter. See notes for additional pan sizes.
Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and slice apples ¼-inch thick. Place them in a large mixing bowl and add the brown sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt. Stir/toss to combine to coat the apples evenly.
Prepare the crumble: Add brown sugar and cinnamon to a bowl and whisk to combine. Melt the butter and pour it in, stirring until the mixture is evenly moist. Add the flour and stir as it thickens and forms crumbs. You should be able to press the topping with your hand and have it hold its shape, but still be able to break it apart into crumbs.
Assemble: Pour out the apples into the prepared baking dish and arrange into an even layer. Evenly scatter the topping over the apples (big crumbs are okay).
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the juices are bubbling, the apples are fork-tender, and the crumble topping is crisp and golden to golden-brown.
Serve: Let the apple crumble cool off some for 15-20 minutes before scooping and serving. Vanilla ice cream makes a great pairing.
Notes
Apples: Other tart or tart/sweet varieties, such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp, can work so long as they're firm and won't mush when cooked. If using a considerably sweet variety (Fuji, Gala) you may wish to reduce the brown sugar in the fruit layer.Pan Size: An 8-inch square pan that has taller sides (such as a three-quart capacity dish) can also work, as can a 8-inch by 12-inch oval baking dish. As the apple crumble will bubble up some as it bakes, if you think your pan is full enough that it may bubble over, place it on a sheet pan for baking so the pan contains any spillover juices.Reheating: Place portions in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or until well heated. Remove the foil partway through if you'd like the crumble to crisp more.
Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. As it can vary due to many factors (brands used, quantities, etc.), we cannot guarantee its accuracy.