Easy Gluten-Free Apple Crumble
This easy apple crumble recipe is gluten-free, takes just 10–20 minutes of light prep, and is perfect for baking with children. It’s simple, comforting, and spoonie-friendly.
Vegan | GF | Soy-free | Nut-free | No rice
When I first launched my Request Form, I had no idea if my readers would take me up on my offer. Turns out they did—and one asked for an easy gluten-free apple crumble recipe along with tips for baking with children. As a parent and passionate crumble lover, how could I resist?
This reader indicated they can manage light prep (10-20 minutes), and noted that they are dyspraxic and would like to bake with their 3-year-old but rarely has the spoons. And when they do, they don’t have ideas or ingredients.
This recipe is designed for low-spoon days: just 10–20 minutes of light prep, a few simple ingredients, and no fancy equipment. It’s also family-friendly, with plenty of safe, fun steps for little ones to help with.
On the Menu
Why This Easy Gluten-Free Apple Crumble Works
Apple crumble is the prefect choice for this reader’s needs, and here’s why.
- Apple crumble needs just a few pantry staples: apples, flour, sugar, and butter or (vegan) margarine. Sure, you can go all fancy and add heaven-knows-how-many other ingredients, but in its basic form it doesn’t need more than just these four.
- As for the prep: it doesn’t get much easier than this. Just chop a few apples and rub butter into your flour/sugar mix.
- No special equipment needed. A pair of kitchen scales (or even just cups; apple crumble is very forgiving), a large bowl, a knife, and a baking dish. Easy peasy.
- And last but not least: cleanup is a breeze, too.
Ingredients for Apple Cumble (and Substitutions)
As I said, you need just a few basic ingredients for your apple crumble. Let’s have a closer look at them.
- Apples. Elstar, Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Jonagold… or any other cultivar (or mix of cultivars) will do. Just use whatever apple you have on hand. Some are sweet and soft, others a little more tangy and won’t cook down as easily, but they all work. It’s really a matter of taste.
- Flour. If you are gluten-intolerant, use a homemade gluten gluten-free flour blend of your favourite commercial mix. If you can digest gluten, plain wheat flour is fine (white, whole-grain, all-purpose—whichever you have on hand).
- Use dairy-free or regular butter, depending on your diet/preference.
- All kinds of sugar will work: brown, white, coconut, demerara… You can even use a liquid sweetener here, but you’d need to adjust the recipe so the crumble topping doesn’t become soggy.
Easy Apple Crumble Variations
Now, if you want to play around with the recipe and go all fancy… the possibilities are endless. Here are just a few, to jumpstart your imagination.
- Replace part of the flour with oats. (My recipe already does that.)
- Spoon a handful of chopped nuts into the crumble mixture.
- Use rhubarb instead of apples, or any other fruit you like.
- Add cinnamon, ginger, chocolate chips… like I said: go wild!
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with cream, ice-cream, or custard.
- Don’t have ice-ream or custard for serving? No problem. Just use squirty cream, crème fraîche, or even yoghurt instead.
- Got leftovers? Reheat in the microwave or eat cold. Great for breakfast, lunch, or any time, really.
Baking Apple Crumble with Children: Simple Ideas
From licking spoons to peeling garlic (really! That was my youngest’s favourite kitchen chore) children love helping in the kitchen. But sometimes it can feel like more of hassle than a help.
Here are some quick tips to keep the stress at bay and make baking together an enjoyable experience for both parent and child.
- Choose short, manageable projects. Elaborate five-course dinners are a recipe for disaster. (Besides, who has the spoons for that, anyway? Not Spoonie Chef Daan, that’s for sure.)
- Pre-measure ingredients to save time and reduce stress. (This also works when you don’t have children ‘helping’ you out: it saves so much mental energy!)
- Give your little ones safe, tactile jobs (stirring, patting topping, pressing buttons, and—of course—licking spoons clean).
- Keep sharp knives out of reach of little hands. You don’t need the stress of a rushed trip to A&E.
- Expect things to become messy. This is not the time to clean as you go. Just go with the flow and clean up later.
- Enjoy your special time with your child. They are only young for a short time, and every minute you spend with them is precious. Savour it.
Spoonie Notes
- Pre-chop apples when you have spoons, and toss them in the freezer..
- Make crumble topping in advance, freeze in a bag, sprinkle straight onto fruit later.
- Leave the skins on the apples. Less work.
- Want to sprinkle in some chopped nuts? Buy pre-chopped, or chop when you have the spoons and store in an airtight container for later use.
Storage
- .Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheat in oven if you want the topping to remain crisp, or in the microwave if you don’t mind the topping going soft.
Allergy Information
- Free from: dairy, gluten, eggs, nuts, soy, sesame
Step-by-Step Easy Apple Crumble Recipe
Easy Gluten-Free Apple Crumble
Ingredients
For the filling
- 3 or 4 medium sized apples peeled, cored and cubed
- 1 tbsp clear liquid water, booze, rose water
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon or cardamom
For the topping
- 200 g gluten free flour mix
- 100 g gluten free oats
- 150 butter or vegan margarine
- 75 g sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F
- Toss 3 or 4 medium sized apples with ¼ cup sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon or cardamom, and 1 tbsp clear liquid in a baking dish.
- Put 200 g gluten free flour mix, 100 g gluten free oats, and 75 g sugar in a bowl.
- Slice in 150 butter or vegan margarine and rub it with your fingertips into the mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Add more butter if needed.
- Cover apple filling with the dough and place in oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden on top.
Notes
- Pre-chop apples when you have spoons, and toss them in the freezer..
- Make crumble topping in advance, freeze in a bag, sprinkle straight onto fruit later.
- Leave the skins on the apples. Less work.
- Want to sprinkle in some chopped nuts? Buy pre-chopped, or chop when you have the spoons and store in an airtight container for later use.
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