An easy air fryer apple crumble recipe, which combines tart Bramley apples with a buttery oat crumble topping!
This classic British dessert is ideal for air fryer cooking and is a great way to use up leftover cooking apples you have on hand. You might also like my air fryer flapjacks too!
Thinly sliced tart Bramley apples are coated with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and air fried with a tablespoon of water to soften them. The flapjack-style crumble topping is then sprinkled on top and air fried until golden brown, resulting in a delicious apple dessert.
The best part about this recipe (other than it is made in an air fryer) is that the crumble topping is made by simply pouring melted butter onto a mixture of flour, oats, and sugar, eliminating the need for tedious rubbing-in. This means the dessert can be assembled in just a few minutes!
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👩🍳 Love air fryer desserts? Try my easy air fryer brownies next!
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✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
- An easy air fryer dessert recipe.
- The apples are softened in the air fryer, so there is no need to use a saucepan.
- The air fryer gives the crumble a lovely crispy texture on top.
- It takes just 35 minutes to cook.
- The crumble is easily customisable with different fruits and add-ins.
🛒 Ingredient notes
Bramley Apples - or another type of cooking apple. The apples are tart with a sourness that goes well with the sweet crumble topping.
Caster Sugar - adds a little sweetness to the apples. You can also use granulated sugar.
Cinnamon - ground cinnamon adds warmth and spice to the dish.
Water - 1-2 tablespoons of water help to soften the apples in the air fryer.
For the crumble topping;
Flour - plain flour helps to achieve a light and crispy crumble topping.
Oats - rolled oats or porridge oats are best. Jumbo oats don't absorb the melted butter very well so avoid using these.
Brown Sugar - adds a caramel-like flavour to the crumble topping. You could use caster sugar instead, or demerara sugar.
Butter - melted unsalted butter binds the crumble topping together and gives it a lovely buttery flavour.
🥄 Equipment
Which air fryer? I use the Ninja Foodi 5.8 litre Grill and Air Fryer with 4 customisable cooking functions including air fry, roast, bake, and dehydrate!
🔪 How to make apple crumble in air fryer
The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post
One: Preheat the air fryer to 160C and butter a 1.5 litre baking dish. The shape of the dish can vary depending on the size and shape of your particular air fryer. It's important to note that any dish that is safe to use in an oven can also be used in an air fryer.
Two: Place the flour, oats, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and stir in the melted butter until crumbles form. Set aside.
Three: Peel and thinly slice the apples and place them into the baking dish with the caster sugar, cinnamon, and water. Give it a mix and then air fry for 12-15 minutes until the apples have softened.
Four: Sprinkle over the crumble topping and air fry for a further 15-20 minutes until the top is golden and the fruit is bubbling underneath. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Pro Tip - Every air fryer is different, so it's important to adjust the cooking time as needed. Check the crumble regularly to ensure that it's cooking evenly and adjust the time or temperature accordingly.
💭 Expert tips
- Be sure to use an air fryer-safe baking dish that fits comfortably in your air fryer basket.
- For the best results, choose tart cooking apples such as Bramley apples. These apples provide a nice tart contrast to the sweetness of the crumble topping.
- Cut the apples into even-sized pieces. This will ensure that they cook evenly and prevent some pieces from being overcooked or undercooked.
- If your crumble topping starts to brown too quickly, cover it with a piece of foil to prevent burning.
- Letting the crumble cool for a few minutes before serving will allow the juices to settle and make it easier to serve. Additionally, the crumble topping will have a chance to crisp up further as it cools.
🍴 Serving suggestions
Here are some serving suggestions for your air fryer apple crumble:
- Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (honeycomb ice cream is good too).
- Drizzle with a warm caramel or butterscotch sauce for an extra touch of sweetness.
- Serve with a side of custard for cold winter days.
- Top with a sprinkle of chopped nuts or a dusting of icing sugar.
- For a breakfast twist, serve the apple crumble cold with a dollop of thick Greek yogurt.
📖 Variations
- Instead of using just apples, try mixing in other fruits such as pears, berries, or rhubarb for a delicious mixed fruit crumble.
- Add chopped nuts such as pecans, almonds, or walnuts to the crumble topping for a crunch and texture.
- Experiment with different spices in the crumble such as nutmeg, allspice, or ginger for a warming and aromatic twist.
- Use gluten-free oats and flour for the crumble topping to make it suitable for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
- Substitute the butter in the crumble topping with a vegan-friendly alternative such as coconut oil or margarine to make it suitable for vegans.
🥡 Storage
Store - leftover air fryer apple crumble can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat - in the microwave until hot.
Freeze - allow the crumble to cool then wrap the baking dish in foil or cling film and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge before reheating and serving.
❓ Frequently asked questions
This recipe has been specifically developed for cooking in an air fryer. Follow my recipe for cinnamon apple crumble if you would like to bake your crumble in the oven.
You can prepare the crumble mixture and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days before assembling and cooking.
Yes, you can use other types of apples for the crumble such as Granny Smith, but keep in mind that different types of apples may have different levels of sweetness and tartness, which can affect the overall taste of the crumble.
More air fryer dessert recipes
- Air Fryer Creme Egg Croissant
- Air Fryer Mini Egg Dessert Pots
- Air Fryer French Toast
- Air Fryer Baked Apples
- Air Fryer Scones
- Air Fryer Brownies
- Air Fryer Flapjacks
More crumble recipes
- Blackberry Crumble
- Mixed Berry Crumble
- Strawberry Crumble
- Cinnamon Apple Crumble
- Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble
- Apple and Blueberry Crumble
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Recipe
Air Fryer Apple Crumble
Ingredients
- 700 g Bramley Apples roughly 3 large Bramleys (unpeeled weight)
- 25 g Caster Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1½ tablespoon Water
For the crumble topping
- 100 g Plain Flour
- 100 g Oats
- 100 g Light Brown Sugar
- 100 g Butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 160°C and butter a 1.5 litre baking dish. The shape of the dish can vary depending on the size and shape of your particular air fryer. It's important to note that any dish that is safe to use in an oven can also be used in an air fryer.
- Place the flour, oats, and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and stir in the melted butter until crumbles form. Set aside.100 g Plain Flour, 100 g Oats, 100 g Light Brown Sugar, 100 g Butter
- Peel and thinly slice the apples and place them into the baking dish with the caster sugar, cinnamon, and water. Give it a mix and then air fry for 12-15 minutes until the apples have softened.700 g Bramley Apples, 25 g Caster Sugar, ½ teaspoon Cinnamon, 1½ tablespoon Water
- Sprinkle over the crumble topping and air fry for a further 15-20 minutes until the top is golden and the fruit is bubbling underneath. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use an air fryer-safe baking dish that fits comfortably in your air fryer basket.
- For the best results, choose tart cooking apples such as Bramley apples. These apples provide a nice tart contrast to the sweetness of the crumble topping.
- Cut the apples into even-sized pieces. This will ensure that they cook evenly and prevent some pieces from being overcooked or undercooked.
- If your crumble topping starts to brown too quickly, cover it with a piece of foil to prevent burning.
- Instead of using just apples, try mixing in other fruits such as pears, berries, or rhubarb for a delicious mixed fruit crumble.
- Add chopped nuts such as pecans, almonds, or walnuts to the crumble topping for a crunch and texture.
- Experiment with different spices in the crumble such as nutmeg, allspice, or ginger for a warming and aromatic twist.
- Use gluten-free oats and flour for the crumble topping to make it suitable for those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
veenaazmanov
Sounds like an healthier option of making this delicious dessert. A must try method.
Ned
This speaks to me! I love a good apple crumble and cooking it in the air fryer was so awesome!
Tara
Oh yum! This looks absolutely amazing! I love that crumble topping and how easily it comes together in the air fryer.
Wanda
Making a crumble in the air fryer is brilliant! Such a cool idea and another reason I need to buy an air fryer stat!
Kushigalu
WHat a healthy and delicious dessert recipe to try! Thanks for sharing.