Apple Crumble Baked Apples

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Two of the best apple desserts in one! Apple Crumble Baked Apples have a cinnamon brown sugar oatmeal topping baked inside. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Today we’re taking two of our favorite desserts…apple crumble and baked apples…and combining them into one easy dessert for fall. These make a special dessert that can easily be served individually for dinners and parties. They’re best served warm with ice cream and caramel sauce, of course.

skillet of baked apples with crumble on top

You may also love our apple turnovers with puff pastry!

About this Apple Crumble Baked Apples Recipe:

  • Flavor: Have you ever had apple crisp? Or an apple pie with a streusel baked on top? That’s what this tastes like. You’ll get the full flavor of the apple, but also the nutty & buttery cinnamon streusel topping.
  • Texture: With baked apples, I don’t love it if the skin is chewy. But with this recipe, the skin softened up nicely and the apple was tender. It paired well with the slightly crunchy oat topping.

Are baked apples good for you?

I love pie crust, but it is high in calories and fat. With baked apples, you can have the flavors of apple pie without the crust. This saves on calories. But I wouldn’t exactly call this health food since it is high in sugar.

What are the best apples for baked apples?

For this recipe, we used Honeycrisp apples. Jonagold, Winesap, Braeburn, Gala and Granny Smith are also great choices. Having an apple that is slightly tart will pair well with the sweet topping on the apples. Use large apples. If you use small apples, reduce the baking time.

halved and cored apples sitting on a cutting board

How do you make a baked apple?

  1. The first step in preparing baked apples is making the streusel. This streusel recipe starts with browned butter, which really deepens and intensifies the flavor. Brown the butter, then add the rest of the crumble ingredients to the melted butter.
  2. Wash and dry the apples. Cut the apples in half with a paring knife, then use a spoon to carve out the core. 
  3. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon and brown sugar, then stuff them with the apple crumble.
  4. Then bake.
apples with oat crumble on top in a cast iron skillet

How long does it take to bake an apple in the oven?

This recipe works best if you cover the apples with foil first and bake for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake the remainder of time. You want to bake the apples until they are soft.

The exact timing will depend on how large the apples are, but plan for an additional 25-30 minutes of baking. Check the apples after 20 minutes and see how they are coming along.

Serve the apples with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle them with caramel. Serve them individually in cute little ramekins like these for an easy, small dessert.

a skillet of baked apples with crumble on top and ice cream

Recipe Variations

  • If you don’t like the idea of using a whole apple, peel the apples, then core and slice. Place the apple slices in a baking pan continue with the recipe, sprinkling the top of the slices with the crumble. The baked apple slices are a great substitute for the baked apple halves.
  • Drizzle maple syrup over the top rather than caramel for a finishing touch. It’s delicious!
  • Want something more in your crumble topping? Try cranberries, pecans, walnuts, raisins or other spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
  • This recipe can be gluten free if you use all-purpose gluten free flour and gluten-free oats.

Storage Instructions

The apples are best served right away, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

overhead view of apple crumble baked apples with caramel drizzled on top
overhead view of apple crumble baked apples with caramel drizzled on top

Apple Crumble Baked Apples

4.42 from 34 votes
Two of the best apple desserts in one! Apple Crumble Baked Apples have a cinnamon brown sugar oatmeal topping baked inside. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Servings 8
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

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Ingredients
 

For the Crumble Filling:

For the Apples:

  • 4 large Honeycrisp apples
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ¾ cup hot water*
  • caramel sauce & ice cream (for topping, optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375ºF. Spray a 12" cast iron pan or a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.

Make the Crumble Filling:

  • In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium low heat until its bubbly and a dark brown color.
  • Pour the butter into a medium sized bowl and mix with the vanilla extract, ½ cup brown sugar, flour, oats, and allspice. Set aside.

Prepare the apples:

  • Slice each apple in half and remove the stems. Using a spoon, scoop out the core of each apple.
  • Pour the hot water into the bottom of your 9×13 pan and place the apples inside, with the cut side up.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar and cinnamon all across the apples. Then, stuff each apple half with the filling mixture.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 25-30 minutes or until the apples are soft.
  • Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

Notes

*Use apple cider for an extra punch of flavor.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 8 apple halves and one serving be half of a stuffed apple (no ice cream or caramel sauce). Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**

Nutrition

Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 151mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 405IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 260
Keyword apple crumble recipe, apple desserts, fall desserts, how to bake apples

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About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

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Anita Orsino
5 years ago

I will try the baked apples as soon as the first local Honeycrisps show up. My grandmother made baked apples for me and we used to pour heavy cream over them. They are my comfort food.I make them for my grandchildren now. This recipe seems to combine apple crisp, also a family favorite, with baked apples to get the perfect Fall dessert. I’ll let you know how they come out. Thanks for sharing.