The Ultimate Dairy-Free Apple Crumble: A Naturally Vegan Fall Dessert

This Dairy-Free (Vegan!) Apple Crumble delivers everything this quintessential fall dessert should—delightfully sweet aromas, a super crunchy topping, and luscious, jammy apples—all without the need for any butter. It’s a comforting classic reimagined for modern dietary needs.

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Several years ago, I embarked on a culinary journey that would eventually lead to my very first e-book, Sweet Spot. As I meticulously structured the book, one core challenge stood out: reimagining my beloved dairy-laden desserts to be truly enjoyable for someone with dairy sensitivities, like myself. My ultimate goal, both for the e-book and as a lifelong dessert enthusiast, was to discover innovative ways to substitute dairy products in my favorite sweet treats without ever compromising on flavor or texture. Far too often, dairy-free versions I encountered felt like pale imitations of the real thing – a bland echo of what a dessert should be. While some can simply eliminate dairy from their diets without a second thought, I am not one of them. I genuinely adore dairy and the unique richness, creaminess, and depth of flavor it imparts to various dishes. Regrettably, by that point, I had experienced discomfort on multiple occasions from overindulging in butter-rich pastries, cakes, and cookies, signaling that a significant change was necessary.

Though I dedicated considerable effort to testing countless recipes for Sweet Spot, which primarily focused on special-occasion desserts, not all of my newfound dairy-free favorites made it into the final publication. However, there’s one particular go-to, incredibly easy, and utterly delicious vegan recipe that I’ve been making several times a year ever since I perfected it: this phenomenal dairy-free apple crumble.

Growing up, my Mom’s homemade crumbles were a cherished autumn tradition, filling our home with irresistible aromas. To this day, when fall arrives, I find myself with a perpetual longing for those warm, comforting scents. The secret to transforming this classic into a magnificent dairy-free apple crumble lies in a remarkably simple substitution: oil instead of butter. Beyond just being a vegan-friendly choice, using a high-quality oil can offer genuine nutritional benefits, especially if you opt for one that’s low in saturated fat and boasts additional healthy nutrients. For a deeper dive into which oils work best for this recipe, be sure to check out our “Helpful Tips” section further down the page.

The delightful crunch in this dairy-free apple crumble isn’t solely derived from the traditional flour, sugar, and fat combination. We elevate the texture and flavor, while also enhancing the dessert’s nutritional profile, through the strategic addition of wholesome nuts. While I confess a deep love for indulgent desserts and rich pastries, I am a firm believer in making sensible, balanced choices when I’m baking at home. In my ideal world, every dessert would not only taste absolutely incredible but also satisfy the sweetest cravings without guilt! This vegan apple crumble truly ticks all those boxes, offering both pure indulgence and a touch of wholesome goodness.

I absolutely adore serving this dairy-free apple crumble warm, perhaps with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream or a dollop of vegan whipped cream. However, the wholesome combination of oats, crunchy nuts, and a generous amount of tender, baked apples makes it surprisingly versatile and perfectly suitable for breakfast! I frequently kick off crisp fall mornings with a comforting bowl of this delicious crumble, often topped with a spoonful of vanilla yogurt (dairy-free, of course!). It’s a wonderfully satisfying start to the day, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to try it too!

VIDEO: Master the Art of Dairy-Free Apple Crumble

Witness firsthand how incredibly simple it is to prepare my scrumptious dairy-free apple crumble by watching this engaging short video! You’ll be amazed at how easily you can create this vegan dessert marvel in your own kitchen.

Essential Ingredients for Your Dairy-Free Apple Crumble

If you’re a regular in the kitchen, especially if you enjoy baking, the good news is that you likely already have most of the ingredients required to create my Dairy-Free Apple Crumble right in your pantry. This recipe uses common, accessible staples, making it a convenient choice for any home baker.

• Old-fashioned rolled oats
• All-purpose flour
• Brown sugar
• Granulated sugar
• Salt
• Ground spices
• Smooth-tasting oil
• Your favorite nuts
• Fresh, crisp baking apples
• Maple syrup
• Cornstarch (optional, for a thicker filling)

Let’s delve into some additional helpful tips and insights about the key ingredients that make this vegan apple crumble truly shine:

• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are undeniably the heart of any good crumble topping, lending a wonderfully chewy texture and a subtle, earthy, nutty flavor. These oats, crafted from whole oat groats that have been expertly steamed and rolled flat, are perfect because they cook uniformly and absorb flavors beautifully. In this specific dairy-free apple crumble recipe, they are instrumental in creating that irresistible crunchy topping that provides a perfect textural contrast to the soft, tender baked apples beneath.

• Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar is a critical component, imparting a delightful warmth and a rich depth to the crumble topping. Its distinct molasses undertones beautifully enhance the overall flavor profile, creating a more complex and inviting sweetness. Furthermore, brown sugar contributes essential moisture to the topping, ensuring a perfectly tender bite while also fostering that desirable caramelized sweetness as it bakes. The combination of both brown and granulated sugars in this recipe is a deliberate choice, designed to create a perfectly balanced sweetness that truly elevates the natural flavors of the apple filling. Should you find yourself without brown sugar on hand, a straightforward substitution is possible: use an equal 1:1 ratio of granulated sugar.
• Granulated Sugar: Granulated sugar, with its fine crystalline texture, disperses evenly throughout the crumble topping, which is key to achieving a light, airy, and wonderfully crispy texture that browns beautifully in the oven. In essence, while brown sugar adds rich flavor and crucial moisture, granulated sugar is the secret to a perfectly crispy, crumbly texture. Together, these two sugars work in harmony, creating a topping that boasts both satisfying crunch and a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. For an intriguing twist and an added hint of caramel flavor, consider substituting cane sugar or turbinado sugar for the granulated sugar.
• Salt: A mere pinch of kosher or fine sea salt is an absolutely essential ingredient, acting as a powerful flavor enhancer that awakens and brightens all the other flavors in your crumble. Salt masterfully balances the sweetness, prevents the dessert from tasting flat, and highlights the natural deliciousness of both the apples and the aromatic spices. It’s a seemingly small addition that makes a monumental difference, transforming your dish from merely good to truly exceptional, ensuring every single bite is well-rounded and deeply satisfying. Please, don’t ever skip this crucial step—even a tiny amount creates a significant impact!
• Ground Spices: While many traditional crumble recipes typically feature ground cinnamon to infuse the dessert with aroma, depth, and flavor complexity, I personally enjoy exploring other captivating options. My absolute favorite spice to incorporate into this vegan apple crumble is cardamom. It bestows an intriguing, subtly exotic aroma that is truly unique and perfect for those who love to add an unexpected twist to their desserts. Ground cardamom is readily available in the spice aisle of most well-stocked grocery stores. Another fantastic choice is allspice, which delivers a delightful blend of flavors reminiscent of nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. Of course, you can never go wrong with classic cinnamon for that universally beloved, comforting flavor profile!

Green cardamom pods. You can also buy ground cardamom in the spice section of most well-stocked grocery stores.

• Oil: The beauty of this dairy-free crumble is its versatility when it comes to oil choices. Many smooth-tasting oils work wonderfully, including extra-virgin olive oil, which can add a lovely fruity note, and light canola oil for a neutral flavor. Other excellent, versatile candidates include grapeseed oil and sunflower oil. However, my personal favorite oil to use in this specific recipe is walnut oil. Not only does it magnificently accentuate the flavor of any walnuts used in the crumble topping, creating a harmonious taste, but it also infuses the dessert with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, making it a healthier choice. What’s not to love about that? For premium quality, my go-to brand for oils is La Tourangelle; their products consistently enhance the flavors of my dishes.
• Nuts: In this dairy-free apple crumble, I typically reach for walnuts because I find they contribute a delightful crunch and a robust nutty flavor that beautifully complements the sweet and tart apples. However, don’t hesitate to experiment with other varieties like pecans, which offer a buttery richness, or almonds, known for their subtle sweetness. Beyond their delicious taste, nuts are a fantastic addition because they are brimming with healthy fats, fiber, and essential nutrients, thereby making your dessert a little more wholesome and satisfying. There’s no need to pre-toast the nuts before adding them to the crumble mixture, as they will achieve a perfect golden toast during the baking process. If, however, you are using nuts that are already toasted, simply keep a closer eye on the crumble as it bakes to prevent them from becoming overly dark or burnt. If the topping turns golden brown before the apples are fully tender, a loose covering of aluminum foil will protect it from further browning while the apples finish cooking.
• Baking Apples: For the most dynamic and flavorful crumble, I always recommend mixing different apple varieties. Combining both sweet and tart apples creates a more complex and nuanced flavor profile, resulting in the absolute best texture in your finished dessert. You can confidently mix and match any of these popular apple varieties for guaranteed deliciousness: Braeburn, Cortland, Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Lobo, McIntosh, Melrose, Paulared, Pink Lady, and Spartan. Depending on your geographical location, there might be an even wider selection of perfect-for-crumble apple varieties available. Don’t hesitate to ask your local apple growers or farmers’ market vendors for their expert recommendations!

• Maple Syrup: Tossing the freshly diced apples with a generous drizzle of rich maple syrup not only introduces a natural sweetness but also infuses them with a delightful, subtle woodsy flavor that harmonizes perfectly with the fruit. This liquid gold significantly enhances the overall flavor of the dessert, creating a beautifully balanced interplay with the warming spices. Since I, like many Canadians, always have maple syrup readily available in my pantry, it’s a natural choice for this crumble. If maple syrup isn’t a staple in your kitchen, you can easily substitute it with any variety of granulated sugar.
• Cornstarch: Cornstarch is an optional, yet highly effective, ingredient that serves to thicken the natural juices that the apples release as they bake. If you prefer a lusciously thick, almost jammy consistency in your crumble filling, incorporating cornstarch will create a rich, cohesive filling that beautifully clings to every apple piece. It’s worth noting that different apple varieties release varying amounts of juice during baking, so you might wish to adjust the amount of cornstarch based on the specific fruits you are using. This allows for a customizable texture to suit your personal preference.

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RECIPE: Dairy-Free Apple Crumble

This Dairy-Free Apple Crumble delivers everything this quintessential fall dessert should–delightfully sweet aromas, super crunchy topping, jammy apples–without the need for any butter.

Prep Time:20 minutes mins

Cook Time:40 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr

Servings 8 servings

Author Marie Asselin

Ingredients

US Customary / Metric

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar (use cane sugar or turbinado sugar for a delightful, caramelized flavor)
• ½ tsp kosher salt, or fine sea salt
• ½ tsp ground allspice, or cinnamon, or cardamom
• ⅓ cup smooth-tasting oil of your choice (walnut oil, extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, or grapeseed oil)
• ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
• 5 lb baking apples (about 8)
• ¼ cup maple syrup, or 1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, see note)

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8- or 9-inch (20 to 23 cm) square baking pan. (Alternatively, a 10-inch/25-cm ceramic tart pan works beautifully as well.)
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, all-purpose flour, both sugars (brown and granulated), salt, and your chosen ground spice. Stir these dry ingredients thoroughly with a fork until well combined. Drizzle the oil evenly over the dry mixture, then use a gentle mashing motion with the fork to incorporate the oil, ensuring all the dry ingredients are thoroughly moistened and clumps form. Finally, fold in the chopped walnuts and set the crumble topping aside.
• Peel and core the apples, then dice them into uniform pieces and transfer them to a separate mixing bowl. Add the maple syrup and, if you’re using it for a thicker filling, the cornstarch. Stir everything together until the apples are well coated. Pour this apple mixture into your prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly. Generously top the apples with the reserved crumble mixture, distributing it uniformly over the entire surface.
• Bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the dairy-free apple crumble is bubbling vigorously, the apples are tender when pierced with a knife, and the topping has achieved a beautiful golden-brown crispness. Around the 30-minute mark, take a quick peek at the crumble to ensure the topping isn’t browning too quickly. If it looks perfectly golden brown at this point, loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil to prevent further darkening, and continue baking until the apples are fully tender.
• SERVING: This vegan apple crumble is best served warm or at room temperature. It pairs wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla bean gelato or your favorite dairy-free ice cream, or for a lighter option, creamy vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt (dairy-free, of course!).
• STORAGE: Allow the dairy-free apple crumble to cool completely to room temperature. Once cooled, cover the baking pan tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the crumble to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. For optimal enjoyment, gently reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven before serving, if desired.
• MAKE IT GLUTEN-FREE: To easily adapt this recipe for a gluten-free diet, simply substitute the regular all-purpose flour with an equal amount of a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour mix(ensure it contains xanthan gum for best results).

Video

Notes

• Cornstarch is optional. The amount of juice released by apples during baking varies significantly between different varieties. While I personally don’t mind a small amount of clear, flavorful juice collecting at the bottom of my crumbles, if you prefer a thicker, more luscious sauce, I recommend mixing 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of cornstarch directly with the diced apples before assembling the crumble. This will yield a wonderfully thickened filling.
• Substitution idea: For a delightful and aromatic variation, consider substituting half (or even all) of the apples with fresh, ripe pears. This creates a wonderfully different flavor profile that’s equally comforting and delicious.

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