Caramel Apple Crumble

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Caramel Apple Crumble recipe combines soft apples coated in homemade salted caramel sauce, topped with a buttery crumble that bakes to golden perfection. It’s warm, gooey, and delivers that comforting mix of sweet and tart apples with just the right amount of crunch. Plus, it’s pretty much guaranteed to make your kitchen smell like heaven. Serve with some Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

I remember being a little girl and watching my mom make her recipe for apple crumble which was heavy on the apples and very light on the crumble and I remember thinking what a travesty it was. I was probably 5.

So, as an adult armed with a decent amount of kitchen knowledge, I took matters into my own hands promising myself that I would create a recipe that even I, the cooked fruit hater, could love.

And I did it! I took it pretty easy on the apples, doubled the normal amount of crumble topping, and was quite heavy-handed with the warm salted caramel sauce for the ultimate fall dessert that everyone and their mom will love. So let’s make this baby!

What Kind of Apples are Best to Use?

For this recipe I used Granny Smith green apples. I love that they are crisp, sweet & tart and hold up really well when cooked. Other good apple options are Honeycrisp, Jonagold and Braeburn apples.

What Type of Pan Should I Use?

I like to use a cast iron skillet. I am able to cook the apples in it on the stove top, then add the caramel and crumble topping to the apples and bake in the oven, all without transferring anything to a different baking dish. A big bonus is less dishes to wash after! If you don’t have a cast iron skillet or other pan that can go in the oven, using a 9×13 casserole dish will work just fine. If you do use a different pan, you’ll need to adjust your baking time.

Ingredients Needed for Caramel Apple Crumble

These common ingredients come together quickly to make one of the best apple desserts! Here is everything you will need.

• Granny Smith apples – tart, fresh apples that hold their shape when baked
• Lemon juice – helps keep your apples from turning brown and adds a slight tang
• Butter – you’ll need it softened for the crumble and melted for cooking the apples
• Heavy cream – for that rich, silky caramel sauce
• White sugar and brown sugar – add sweetness and depth to both the apples and crumble
• All-purpose flour – gives structure to the crumble topping
• Vanilla extract – because everything’s better with a splash of vanilla
• Sea salt – a pinch of salt enhances the flavors and balances the sweetness
• Optional: Cinnamon – sprinkle over the apples for extra warmth

Variations

• Swap Granny Smith apples for Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp if you prefer a sweeter apple filling.
• Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose for a slightly healthier twist on the crumble.
• Add rolled oats to the crumble topping for a more rustic texture.
• Want an even easier option? Use store-bought jar of caramel sauce instead of making it from scratch.
• For a nutty twist, add chopped pecans to the crumble topping for some extra crunch.

How to Make Caramel Apple Crumble

This caramel apple crumble recipe has three main components. The sauce, crumble, and apple filling. Each section needs its own set of ingredients and so I’m going to break it down for you. See the printable recipe card below for full details on ingredients & measurements. Here is step by step what you can expect when making this recipe.

1. Make the Crumble Topping

This is a super easy process where you just measure, dump, and mix. Combine flour, brown sugar, white sugar, butter and salt into a bowl (or stand mixer bowl) and mix. The mixture will be crumbly but stay together when squeezed. Set aside.

2. Make Homemade Caramel Sauce

The hardest part of this recipe is probably making the homemade salted caramel. I’m going to walk you through the steps pretty well but if it still intimidates you in any way, there are plenty of salted caramel sauces on the market which are great options. Even warming up store bought caramel sauce and adding in a little sea salt will work too. Here we go. 🙂

1. Heat sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat to melt the sugar. Continue cooking and swirling sugar until it turns amber in color.
2. Whisk in sea salt and heavy cream. The mixture will briefly bubble up violently. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.
3. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Set aside.

3. Prep Apples + Cook

Prepare apple slices and toss in lemon juice. The best apples to use for this dish are granny smith apples. This is simply because of their taste, texture, and good baking qualities.

Cook apples in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat in butter. Sprinkle with salt to draw out all the moisture possible. Drain apples and place back into skillet. This process should take about 5-7 minutes of cooking.

4. Layer + Assemble Apple Crumble

Pour 3/4 of prepared caramel sauce into the apples and stir gently. Top with the crumble topping.

5. Bake + Serve

Bake at 350° F for 20 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown. Serve with remaining caramel sauce.

Apple Crumble Toppings

Besides the caramel sauce, you can also top this dessert with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Think of it as a deconstructed apple pie. So all that creaminess perfectly compliments this apple crumble recipe.

Storing Leftover Caramel Apple Crumble + Make Ahead Directions

I doubt you’ll have any leftovers because this dessert is SO divine! But if you do, don’t worry. Allow it to cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap (or transfer leftovers to an airtight container) and store your apple crumble in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can reheat it in the microwave for a few seconds at a time or pop it into the oven to warm it up.

To Freeze: Allow apple crumble to cool completely. Place in a freezer safe container with a good fitting lid and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven or the microwave. It’s also tasty eaten cold!

Make Ahead

If you want to do the prep work the day before, cover and store the apple filling, crumble topping and caramel separately in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.

More Apple Recipes to Try!

• Apple Turnovers
• Apple Fritters
• Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
• Buttery Apple Crisp
• Apple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Danish
• Apple Streusel Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
• Buttery Apple Pie Recipe
• Apple Oatmeal Cookies

This caramel apple crumble recipe is the perfect fall dessert that won’t take up too much of your time, but will definitely win over everyone who tries it. Be sure to save, print, bookmark or share this recipe so you have it and use it all Fall long. It’s a good one! The printable recipe card below. Have a great day, friends!

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.