Gluten Free Apple Crumble

Capture the taste of fall with this easy recipe for gluten free apple crumble. Apples tossed with sugar and cinnamon become soft and juicy as they bake. Combined with a gluten free streusel topping, this dessert is one you'll return to each season!

Jump to:

• Why This Recipe Works
• Crumble Or Crisp? What's The Difference?
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
• What Other Apple Recipes Can I Make?
• Expert Tips
• Gluten Free Apple Crumble

Does baking a dessert with apples count as adding more fruit to your healthy diet? Well...maybe not but it is definitely worth a try! Apple crumble is often looked at as a shortcut to baking apple pie, but I think it deserves more credit than that. Crumble is a dessert category of its own and more than worthy of its place on any dessert table. And this recipe for apple crumble is so easy to make!

Crumble Or Crisp? What's The Difference?

I think of a crumble as a baked fruit dessert that is covered with a streusel topping made most often with butter, flour, sugar, and sometimes nuts. A crisp is quite similar-- still a baked fruit dessert but with a crunchier topping that may include oats.

The crumble shared in this recipe is gluten free. The base of the topping is almond flour, brown rice flour, and granulated sugar...and of course, butter, plenty of butter. When you serve this to your family and friends no one will know that the crumble is gluten free because it tastes just like a traditionally baked recipe which makes this my favorite kind of gluten free recipe-- hooray! Another recipe I baked recently that wowed both gluten free and traditional dessert lovers is this upside down peach cake. May I have another slice please?

Ingredients You'll Need

Using different kinds of apple is key. While you can use any type of crisp apple, honeycrisp, granny smith,, and gala are my favorite for this recipe. Fresh lemon juice squeezed on top of the sliced apples helps keep them from browning and the tart of the citrus juice also helps ensure the apple crumble isn't too sweet. The apple crumble topping consists of brown rice flour, almond flour, sugar, and unsalted butter. While a lot of crumble toppings contain oats, this one doesn't.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Let's get down to it! You'll start by working on the crumble. Almond flour, brown rice flour, granulated sugar, unsalted butter plus a dash of salt all come together in a bowl. Work with a pastry blender or simply dive in with your hands which are always the best tool. Mix the ingredients together until large crumbs are consistent throughout.

Set the crumble aside in the freezer while you work on the apple filling. Yes, the freezer, don't skip this step! Expert Tip: The crumble bakes more consistently if the butter is brought back down to a cold temperature.

Moving on to the apple filling is your next step. Wash the apples and use a melon-baller to remove the core and seeds. The texture of the apple peel blends right in with the fruit during baking so it is not necessary to take the time or effort to peel it off. Slice the apples thinly. Next, toss the apples with brown sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and cinnamon.

Pour the apple mixture into a buttered baking dish. Expert Tip: I like a square 8 x 8 baking dish but individual portions in ramekins are a nice option too. You'll reduce the baking time slightly if baking individual servings.

Add the cold crumble topping to the apples and press it down with your fingers.

After an hour in the oven, this gluten free apple crumble will be lightly golden and the filling will be bubbling. Oh, another benefit of this dessert? Your house will smell so good! Apples and cinnamon are an aromatic combination.

Scoop servings into small dishes or bowls. Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream is always welcome on top!

What Other Apple Recipes Can I Make?

Do you have more apples than you know what to do with? Let me help you with two more apple recipes.

• It doesn't get any easier than this crock pot apple butter. Simple, straightforward and very little hands-on time in preparation.
• Another popular apple recipe on my blog is this traditional maple apple crisp. You could even get away with topping it with Greek yogurt and calling it breakfast!

Expert Tips

• After preparing the crumble, it's important to place it in the freezer while you work on the apple filling. The crumble bakes more consistently if the butter is brought back down to a cold temperature.
• You'll get the best results if you use crisp apples for this apple crumble. Stay away from soft apples, such as Macintosh and Red Delicious. Below are my favorite apples to use when baking.
  • Granny Smith - Tart, crisp and fail-proof for an apple pie recipe.
  • Jazz - Crisp texture, juicy, and sweet.
  • Honeycrisp - Extremely crispy and is great to use when baking.
  • Pink Lady - Both sweet and tart.
• Gluten free all purpose flour is a great substitute for almond flour.
• Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Update Notes: This post was originally published in April 2018, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in August 2021.