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This Gluten Free Apple Crumble is the perfect autumnal dessert, using seasonal apples and a 3-ingredient crumble topping. Nobody will ever know it’s gluten free! Make this gluten free apple crumble recipe with or without oats – it’s super easy.
You may have noticed gluten free flour always produces a more crumbly bake. Which is why it makes the absolute BEST gluten free crumble.
There are lots of ways you can customise this gluten free apple crumble recipe. And I have a failsafe gluten free crumble topping with oats or without oats.
You can even make this gluten free crumble recipe dairy free and vegan with one simple swap.
In the UK, Bramley apples – also known as cooking apples – are available year-round but are picked in August and September.
That means the turning of the seasons is the perfect time to make a gluten free apple crumble. Especially if you have a good crop in the garden!
Once you’ve tried this recipe, why not check out my other recipes, like my pear and rhubarb crumble, my apple and strawberry crumble or my pear and chocolate crumble.
Ingredients
So what do you need to make this gluten free apple crumble recipe?
There’s a printable recipe card below with the quantities and method, but for the shopping list you’ll need:
- Cooking Apples – I’d always recommend using cooking apples (Bramley apples) for the best crumble possible. If you can’t find these, Granny Smith apples work well. This is the most popular choice in the US too.
- Dark Brown Sugar – If you like your apple crumble really tart then omit this. But I think it adds a lovely, toffee-like flavour.
- Cinnamon – Again, this is optional but for me it’s always a must! You can try studding the apples with a 2-3 cloves instead if you like. Just remember to look out for them when you eat the crumble.
For the gluten free crumble topping:
- Gluten Free Self-Raising Flour – I always use the FREEE gluten free self-raising flour, the Asda self-raising flour or Juvela’s white mix. If you only have plain flour simply add 1.5 tsp baking powder and mix well to make your own self rising flour.
- Unsalted Butter – This makes the best crumble topping in my opinion! If you need your crumble to be dairy free / vegan, just swap this for a hard vegan butter substitute.
- Caster Sugar – This is all you need for the dream crumble. In the US you’ll need superfine or baker’s sugar. You could use light brown sugar if you prefer.
- Oats – If you’re making a gluten free crumble topping with oats, always ensure you use certified gluten free oats. You can omit the oats if you don’t want to use them at all.
How to make gluten free apple crumble
Making a gluten free apple crumble is simple and it’s probably one of the best starter bakes if you’re new to gluten free baking.
First you’ll need to peel and chop the apples and then pop them in the pie tin or ovenproof dish with some dark brown sugar and cinnamon.
If you’re making this ahead of time and don’t want the apples to go too brown, a good tip is to add a little bit of lemon juice too.
Stirring in a small amount shouldn’t affect the flavour but it will stop the apples browning if you’re making the filling earlier in the day or the night before.
Next, make the crumble topping by rubbing the butter, gluten free flour and sugar together with your fingertips.
You’re aiming for a breadcrumb-like consistency, but a few bigger lumps are fine.
Pour in the the gluten free oats (if using) and stir through so they are fully combined.
Once you’ve made your crumble mix, pour it on top of the apples and spread out so that there is no fruit showing.
Baking the crumble in a pre-heated oven (180’C / Fan 160C / Gas Mark 4) for 45-50 minutes until it is golden brown on top and the fruit filling is soft.
The bigger the chunks of apple, the longer the crumble will take to cook, unless you like your apple to still be quite firm!
Serve the apple crumble with custard or vanilla ice cream. For details on keeping any leftovers, check out the FAQs section below.
Variations
There are lots of different things you can do to jazz up a gluten free apple crumble – though I’d this is a classic British dessert at its best!
For some variations on this gluten free apple crumble recipe you can try:
- Crumble with Oats: I have added gluten free oats as an option for this crumble topping. They add a lovely texture – as does adding a handful of gluten free granola in your crumble topping too.
- Apple and Blackberry Crumble: Make the most of your foraging by making this classic combination. My Apple and Blackberry Crumble always goes down well!
- Nutty Topping: Adding some chopped nuts can add a nice texture to your gluten free crumble. Try some chopped hazelnuts, walnuts or pecans, or some flaked almonds.
- Spiced Crumble: Add some ground cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg or some even a dash of ground ginger to your crumble topping for a subtle, warm spice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs about this easy gluten free apple crumble recipe – if you can’t find the answer to your question here or in the post above, please comment and I’ll try answer!
Apple crumble is one of those desserts which usually would contain gluten in the crumble topping. However this recipe is completely gluten free and safe for people with coeliac disease.
I’ve made this recipe using the same gluten free crumble topping that my Mum used to make when I was a kid. You may have already tried it in my gluten free apple and blackberry crumble recipe or even my gluten free plum and amaretto crumble. It’s just one of my favourite desserts and it’s so versatile. Even the most rudimentary gluten free baker can whip this up!
I use butter in my crumble topping, but you can easily make this dairy free and vegan. Simply swap the butter for a hard, vegan margarine. Then you’ll have a gluten and dairy free apple crumble. And as there are no eggs in the recipe, it’ll be a gluten free vegan apple crumble recipe.
Got leftovers? You can keep any gluten free crumble leftovers in the fridge for a couple of days, and enjoy them cold or reheated. You can also freeze the crumble in portions – then defrost and reheat in the oven before eating.
You can buy some gluten free crumble mixes but it’s easier to just make your own using this recipe! I have seen a few gluten free crumble mixes for sale in the UK including this M&S Made Without Wheat Oaty Crumble Mix.
Making a decent gluten free crumble only needs butter, sugar and gluten free flour – and you can customise it however you like.
If you make this recipe and love it, please do let me know by tagging me on my Instagram or using #theglutenfreeblogger. You can also share your creations in my Facebook group! And please do leave a 5* review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to let others know you loved it too! It would mean the world to me and really helps support my website.
Gluten Free Apple Crumble
Equipment
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2-3 large cooking apples, (approx 750g, Bramley or Granny Smith)
- 1 tbsp dark brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the crumble:
- 150 g gluten free self-raising flour
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 75 g caster sugar
- 50 g gluten free oats, (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180'C / Fan 160C / Gas Mark 4.
- Peel and core the apples then cut into 1-2cm chunks. You want enough to cover the base of a 20cm pie dish in a thick layer with no gaps, so you may need 2 or 3 apples depending on their size.
- Place the apple chunks in the pie dish and then add the sugar and cinnamon and stir (you can do this in a bowl then pour into the dish if easier – it's a bit less messy!). Set aside.
- Make the crumble by adding the butter, sugar and flour into a large mixing bowl. Use your fingers to rub the mix together until it forms a breadcrumb consistency.
- If using oats, add to the crumble topping and stir them through to distribute evenly. Pour the crumble over the fruit, making sure the fruit is all covered.
- Place in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes until the crumble is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling underneath. You want the fruit to be soft but with a little bite. Remove from the oven and serve hot with custard or ice-cream.
Notes
- Step-by-Step Photos: Check out the blog post above for step-by-step photos to guide you through how this gluten free crumble recipe should look at each stage.
- Storing and Freezing: Check out the Frequently Asked Questions above this recipe card for more information on storing and freezing this crumble.
- No Self-Raising Flour? If you only have plain (all purpose) gluten free flour, simply add 1.5 tsp of gluten free baking powder (baking soda) to the flour and mix well before adding to the crumble.
- Like this Recipe? It would mean SO much to me if you could leave a 5* rating and tell all your gluten free friends about this Gluten Free Apple Crumble!
Nutrition
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Hi, I’ve just made an apple and damson gluten free crumble. It was divine. Always have my crumble with vanilla ice cream. Yum xx