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    Home » Recipes » Slow Cooker

    Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crumble Recipe

    Published: Jul 22, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 8 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Slow cooker apple crumble pin image.

    A delicious slow cooker apple crumble recipe made with tart Bramley apples and a sweet oat crumble topping.

    It's an easy one-pot slow cooker dessert recipe that can be prepped ahead of time and left to cook away! Best served with custard, clotted cream, or honeycomb ice cream!

    A bowl of slow cooker apple crumble with custard.

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    This crockpot apple crumble is the ultimate slow cooker comfort food, especially on chilly winter days!

    The tart Bramley apples are sliced thinly and topped with an easy flapjack-style crumble topping, made by pouring melted butter onto flour, oats, and sugar.

    There is no tedious rubbing in required, nor is there pre-cooking of the apples, which means it takes just minutes to assemble.

    The apples cook slowly in the slow cooker basin and become gloriously jammy and tender, with the oat crumble topping cooking at the same time on top.

    To crisp up the topping, all you need to do is take the lid off for the last 45 minutes of cooking! Easy!

    👩‍🍳 Love crumble? Try my air fryer apple crumble or sticky toffee apple crumble next!

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    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this slow cooker crumble!
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • 🔪 How to make apple crumble in slow cooker
    • Top Tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ Frequently asked questions
    • 😋 More fruit crumble recipes
    • More slow cooker recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this slow cooker crumble!

    1. Easy slow cooker dessert.
    2. Perfect for apple season.
    3. Delicious with cream, custard, caramel sauce, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
    4. Prep ahead and get on with other things while it cooks.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Ingredients for slow cooker apple crumble.

    Apples - use tart Bramley apples which contrast nicely with the sweet buttery crumble topping. If you can't get hold of cooking apples, use a tart eating apple like Granny Smith. There is no pre-cooking of the apples, so the apples should be peeled, cored, and sliced thinly.

    Cinnamon - ½ teaspoon of cinnamon gives the crumble a lovely warmth. You could also add a pinch of nutmeg or mixed spice.

    Caster Sugar - Cooking apples, like Bramleys, need a little bit of sweetening. I use a small amount of caster sugar to offset their tartness. You could also use granulated sugar.

    For the crumble topping:

    Flour - plain white flour is needed for the crumble topping.

    Oats - use rolled porridge oats but not jumbo oats as they don't absorb the melted butter very well.

    Light Brown Sugar - to give the crumble topping a wonderful caramel sweetness. Substitute with caster sugar or demerara sugar.

    Butter - unsalted butter is best for this recipe. The butter needs to be melted before being mixed into the dry crumble ingredients.

    🔪 How to make apple crumble in slow cooker

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    Crumble topping in a bowl.
    One: Place the flour, oats, and light brown sugar in a large bowl and pour over the melted butter. Mix until crumbles form.
    Sliced apples in a slow cooker.
    Two: Butter the slow cooker basin and place the thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, and caster sugar in it. Give it a good mix with a spoon.
    Apple crumble in slow cooker basin.
    Three: Top the apples with the crumble topping and lightly press it down with the back of a spoon or your hand.
    Tea towel under a slow cooker lid.
    Four: Put a tea towel under the lid then flip up the edges of the tea towel over the lid so they don't hang down over the slow cooker. Slow cook on a high setting for 2.5 hours then remove the lid (and tea towel) and cook for a further 45 minutes to crisp up the crumble topping.

    Top Tips

    • Because there is no pre-cooking of the apples in this recipe, slice the apples as thinly as you can, so they cook evenly and become soft and tender. 
    • Instead of buttering the slow cooker basin you could spray it with a light cooking oil to save calories.
    • Place a clean tea towel under the lid of the slow cooker. This absorbs excess moisture and prevents it from dripping back onto the crumble, ensuring a crispier topping.
    • Use slow cooker stewed apples for the base of the crumble to reduce the cooking time.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Serve the slow cooker crumble with whipped cream, ice cream, or vanilla custard for the ultimate baked apple dessert!

    Love slow cooker desserts? Try my slow cooker chocolate creme egg pudding next!

    Slow cooker apple crumble in a black slow cooker basin with a bowl of apple crumble and custard on the side.

    📖 Variations

    • Add 1 peeled and sliced pear to the recipe for slow cooker apple and pear crumble or fresh berries such as raspberries or blueberries.
    • Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping for added crunch and texture.
    • Add a handful of dried cranberries or raisins to the apple filling for an extra fruity taste.
    • Add half a teaspoon of ground ginger to the apple filling for warmth and spice.
    • Swap the crumble topping for a streusel topping.
    • Try making my apple and pear crumble in the slow cooker!

    🥡 Storage

    Store - Leftover slow cooker apple crumble can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Reheat - Reheat in the microwave until hot. Crumble can also be eaten at room temperature.

    Freeze - The slow cooker apple crumble can be frozen for up to 3 months.

    A bowl of apple crumble made in a slow cooker.

    ❓ Frequently asked questions

    Apple Crisp VS Apple Crumble

    There’s not a big difference between the two. The terms crisp and crumble are mostly interchangeable.

    Should I peel apples for apple crumble?

    I would advise peeling the apples, especially if you are using cooking apples like Bramleys. They tend to have thicker tougher skin than ordinary eating apples.

    Is plain or self-raising flour better for crumble?

    Usually plain is used for a crumble topping, but use self-raising flour if that's all you have got.

    What size slow cooker should I use?

    I use a 3.5l slow cooker for crumbles so the fruit layer is nice and deep. If you have a large slow cooker (6.5l) double the fruit filling.

    Can I use eating apples instead of cooking apples for apple crumble?

    Yes, you can! Use tart eating apples if possible such as Granny Smith. You may want to reduce the sugar in the recipe as eating apples are sweeter.

    😋 More fruit crumble recipes

    • Blackberry Crumble
    • Gooseberry Crumble
    • Mixed Berry Crumble
    • Strawberry Crumble
    • Cinnamon Apple Crumble
    • Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble
    • Apple and Blueberry Crumble
    • Biscoff Apple Crumble Bars

    More slow cooker recipes

    • Slow cooker rolled lamb breast cut into slices with roast potatoes and stuffing.
      Slow Cooker Lamb Breast Recipe
    • Slow cooker red cabbage in a serving dish.
      Easy Slow Cooker Red Cabbage Recipe
    • Sliced slow cooker roast beef.
      Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef Recipe
    • Slow cooker stewed apples in a black slow cooker basin.
      Slow Cooker Stewed Apples Recipe
    Crock pot apple crumble in a bowl with custard.

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    Recipe

    Slow cooker apple crumble with custard.
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    5 from 10 votes

    Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crumble

    A delicious slow cooker apple crumble recipe made with tart Bramley apples and a sweet oat crumble topping. A warming comfort food dessert for chilly days!
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine British
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 3 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 6
    Calories 526kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Kitchen Scales
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Mixing Bowl
    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1 tablespoon Butter for greasing
    • 6 Bramley Apples (roughly 1kg) peeled, cored and sliced
    • 50 g Caster Sugar
    • ½ teaspoon Cinnamon

    For the crumble

    • 125 g Plain Flour
    • 125 g Porridge Oats not jumbo or quick cook oats
    • 125 g Light Brown Sugar
    • 125 g Unsalted Butter melted

    Instructions

    • Place the flour, oats, and light brown sugar in a large bowl and pour over the melted butter. Mix until crumbles form.
      125 g Plain Flour, 125 g Porridge Oats, 125 g Light Brown Sugar, 125 g Unsalted Butter
    • Butter the slow cooker basin and place the thinly sliced apples, cinnamon, and caster sugar in it. Give it a good mix with a spoon.
      1 tablespoon Butter, 6 Bramley Apples, 50 g Caster Sugar, ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
    • Top the apples with the crumble topping and lightly press it down with the back of a spoon or your hand.
    • Put a tea towel under the lid then flip up the edges of the tea towel over the lid so they don't hang down over the slow cooker.
    • Slow cook on a high setting for 2.5 hours then remove the lid (and tea towel) and cook for a further 45 minutes to crisp up the crumble topping.

    Notes

    Tips:
    • As there is no pre-cooking of the apples in this recipe, be sure to slice the apples as thinly as you can, so they cook evenly and become soft and tender. 
    • Instead of buttering the slow cooker basin you could spray it with a light cooking oil to save calories.
     
    Variations:
    • Add 1 peeled and sliced pear to the recipe for an apple and pear crumble or fresh berries such as raspberries or blueberries.
    • Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans to the crumble topping for added crunch and texture.
    • Add a handful of dried cranberries or raisins to the apple filling for an extra fruity taste.
    • Add half a teaspoon of ground ginger to the apple filling for warmth and spice.
     
    Storage:
    Store - Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    Reheat - Reheat in the microwave until hot. Crumble can also be eaten at room temperature.
    Freeze - The slow cooker apple crumble can be frozen for up to 3 months.
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crumble
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    526
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    20
    g
    31
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    11
    g
    69
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    1
    g
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    45
    mg
    15
    %
    Sodium
     
    12
    mg
    1
    %
    Potassium
     
    328
    mg
    9
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    85
    g
    28
    %
    Fiber
     
    7
    g
    29
    %
    Sugar
     
    48
    g
    53
    %
    Protein
     
    6
    g
    12
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    621
    IU
    12
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    8
    mg
    10
    %
    Calcium
     
    52
    mg
    5
    %
    Iron
     
    2
    mg
    11
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter
    eBook front cover.

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      Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Curry Recipe
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      Slow Cooker Tortellini Soup Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ieva

      January 10, 2023 at 1:42 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! First time I made a crumble in a slow cooked and I will definitely make it this way from now on! Loved it with some extra spices in the crumble and vanilla custard on top! 10 out of 10!

      Reply
    2. Ned

      January 10, 2023 at 1:45 pm

      5 stars
      I loved this recipe served with whipped cream! Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Dannii

      January 10, 2023 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      My favourite way to make apple crumble. So easy and comforting.

      Reply
    4. Janessa

      January 10, 2023 at 1:55 pm

      5 stars
      This apple crumble was delicious! And I love that it was made in the slow cooker as it freed up oven space for me and made the house smell amazing.

      Reply
    5. Jen

      January 10, 2023 at 2:30 pm

      5 stars
      Such an amazing dessert!! It is totally irresistible!

      Reply
    6. Halie

      April 04, 2023 at 5:58 am

      Hi there, just wondered if you had made this as a larger serving (say 20 plus people) - would love to serve this at a winter dinner function

      Reply
      • Beth Sachs

        April 04, 2023 at 7:18 am

        Hi Halie. I don't think you would get a slow cooker large enough to serve 20. You could borrow a couple of extra slow cookers and make the recipe three times in three separate slow cookers. Beth

        Reply
    7. Lisa Maskery

      December 30, 2024 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      Really quick and easy to make and turns out well. Very tasty.

      Reply
    5 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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