Apple Crumble (Vegan & Gluten Free)

This cozy vegan apple crumble is also gluten-free and simply tastes amazing. Big enough for a crowd, this recipe will appeal to all eaters!

Cooking for a vegan and gluten-free crowd can seem difficult. But hey: Apple Crumble to the rescue! Fruit crumbles and chips are easy to make vegan and gluten-free: they don’t need gluten for texture and butter for flavor. Basically, they’re the perfect dessert to feed a variety of different diets! It’s really better Apple Crumble: Cinnamon and fresh ginger make the filling irresistible. And it makes a big, cozy 9 x 13 pan! Alex invented this recipe and it has since become a favorite.

How to make gluten free vegan apple crumble

This recipe is our family’s favorite apple crumble! Sometimes we make it with butter and all-purpose flour, sometimes we use this plant-based version of dessert! Either way, this makes a really delicious giant crumble pan. Our favorite part is the tart apple filling: the use of fresh ginger adds the absolute wow factor.

There are a few simple tips for preparing a gluten-free and vegan apple crumble:

• Use coconut oil. Coconut oil is a great vegan butter substitute because it’s a solid fat: it’s similar in texture to butter and works the same way in baked goods! Although the taste of butter is a bit tastier and richer, it’s just a small difference. You’ll find that with a vegan coconut oil apple crumble, the crumble filling is softer and less crunchy than butter. But it still tastes fantastic!
• use almond flour. Now that gluten-free flours are easy to find, almond flour is perfect for gluten-free fruit crumbles. Since a crumble doesn’t need the structure that gluten imparts, it’s easy to substitute alternative flours. We like to use almond flour to keep it a little crunchier, but you can use something like oatmeal too. (Fancy more with almond flour? We have 10 easy almond recipes to try.)

Best Apples for Apple Crumble or Crisp

Which apples are best for a vegan and gluten-free apple crumble or crisp? Baked apples are crunchy apples that hold their shape when cooked: Alex and I prefer apples that are on the tart side, so we recommend a sweet and crunchy tart apple. Here are some of the apple varieties that make the best apple crumble:

• Jonathon or Jonagold
• I dared
• Honey crispy
• deliciously golden
• Granny Smith

How to Top Vegan Apple Crumble

The classic topping for Apple Crumble is of course a dollop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream? But what about a vegan, plant-based, or dairy-free diet when it comes to toppings? Here are a few suggestions:

• Vegan/Dairy-Free Whipped Cream: Did you know you can make whipped cream with coconut milk? The fat from cold coconut milk will set: take this portion and whisk it with some sugar. It turns into a fluffy filling that’s so close to the texture of whipped cream!
• Vegan ice cream: There are many great brands of vegan ice cream these days. Our favorite vegan ice cream we’ve tried is made with oat milk, but there are also plenty of coconut and almond ice creams. Or you can make homemade vegan cinnamon ice cream.

Other gluten-free fruit crumbles and chips

Since we love to make vegan desserts and gluten-free desserts (see both links for more), we’ve experimented a lot with sprinkles and fruit chips. Here are our favorite gluten-free fruit crumbles and chips, all of which have vegan options as well.

Also try: our 25 best gluten free and dairy free recipes!

This apple crumble recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based and dairy-free.