I love making a delicious homemade fruit crumble, especially this Apple and Pear Crumble or this Apple Crisp Recipe. It is such an easy dessert and can be made with so many seasonal fruit options.
The apple and pear crumble is perfect for the fall or year-round and brings in all the warm, cozy flavors. The warm, sweet apples combined with a buttery, crumbly topping is a perfect dessert for any occasion, whether you’re enjoying it with a scoop of dairy-free ice cream or on its own. This version is completely vegan and can be made gluten-free!
Are you Team Apple or Team Pumpkin? I lean more towards Team Apple, but these vegan pumpkin pancakes are still something we make seasonally! When it comes to Team Apple, though, this vegan apple and pear crumble recipe is my ultimate go-to! I also love making any fruit crisp throughout the year!
Whether you’re celebrating the changing seasons or simply craving a comforting dessert, this vegan apple and pear crumble is going to hit the spot.
Why You’ll Love This Apple and Pear Crumble
- Easy to Make: With just a few basic ingredients and minimal prep, this dessert is one of the easiest to make.
- Buttery, Crumbly Topping: The vegan crumble topping is rich, buttery, and perfectly crumbly, with the use of vegan butter and flour.
- Vegan: No dairy, no eggs.
- Customizable: You can easily switch up the fruit based on what's in season or add your favorite spices. Spices that pair well with this crumble are cardamom, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Gluten-free swap: Swap the all-purpose flour for gluten-free flour. I like using Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour for a 1:1 swap.
What is the Difference Between A Crisp and a Crumble?
Crisp:
- The topping typically includes oats, which gives it a crunchy, textured finish.
- In addition to flour, sweetener, and a fat (in this case, we used coconut oil), crisps often have nuts and spices (like cinnamon).
Crumble:
- The topping is usually simpler, made with just flour, sweetener, and fat (butter or oil).
- It has a finer, more crumbly texture (hence the name) instead of a crispy one like a crisp!
Ingredients
For the apple filling:
- Fruit. Pears and Apples. I used Granny Smith apples for the tart flavor and Bartlett pears.
- Sugar. I kept this a sweeter, indulgent dessert! I used cane sugar (this one is my favorite for all desserts!) and organic dark brown sugar.
- Vanilla. You can use vanilla powder or extract here.
- Cornstarch. I used this to thicken any juices released from the fruits.
- Cinnamon. I used Ceylon cinnamon powder. However, any cinnamon works here.
- Orange juice. I recommend zesting the orange for the crumble topping first, then using the orange juice! You can also use lemon juice here if you like more of a tart flavor.
- Salt. A pinch of salt to balance all the flavors.
For the vegan crumble topping:
- All-purpose flour. This is the main part of the crumble topping. To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free flour.
- Dark brown sugar. I use organic dark brown sugar and most of these are vegan.
- Salt to balance the flavors.
- Cinnamon. More cinnamon because it just brings together so many cozy flavors! I used Ceylon cinnamon powder. However, any cinnamon works here.
- Orange zest. Zest the orange first before getting the juice for the filling!
- Vegan butter, cold and cubed. I use Violife vegan butter, unsalted. This has been my favorite vegan butter so far!
How to Make Vegan Apple and Pear Crumble
Preheat the Oven and Prep the Apples
Preheat your oven to 375°F (175°C). Start by peeling, coring, and slicing the apples and pears into thin slices or large cubes. You want them thin enough to cook through but not so thin that they turn to mush. Pears tend to mush faster than the apples so I like to leave the pears slightly thicker.
Place the fruit slices into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugars, vanilla, ground cinnamon, orange juice (zest the orange first for later use), cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Toss everything together until the fruit slices are evenly coated.
Prepare the Vegan Crumble Topping
In another mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, and a pinch of salt. Next, add the cold, cubed vegan butter. Using your hands or a pastry cutter, mix everything together until the mixture becomes crumbly. It should resemble coarse breadcrumbs or pea-sized clumps. If you're adding chopped nuts, fold them in at this step.
Assemble the Crumble
Transfer the coated apples to a greased 8x8-inch baking dish. Spread them out evenly, then sprinkle the crumble topping over the apples, making sure to cover the entire surface.
Bake
Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. I like to make this right before guests arrive to make your house smell so good!
Serve
Once the crumble is baked, let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set a bit. Serve warm with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream or a dollop of oat whipped cream for the best cozy dessert.
Tips for the Perfect Apple and Pear Crumble
- Choose the Right Apples: I like to use Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji. These are a good balance of sweet and tart.
- Types of Pears: I like to use what is in season. My favorites are Asian Pears or Bartlett Pears.
- Cold Butter is Important: To achieve a crumbly texture, make sure your vegan butter is cold when you add it to the flour mixture. This helps create the crumbly, streusel-like texture.
- Add Nuts for Extra Texture: If you enjoy a bit of crunch in your crumble, add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble topping.
- Don’t Skip the Acid: A little bit of acidity from the orange juice and orange zest balances the sweetness of the apples and pears.
- Customize with Spices: I love keeping mine simple with a bold flavor of cinnamon. If you're feeling adventurous, try various spices like cardamom, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Just make sure it’s one that’s suitable for baking.
Yes! You can prepare the crumble ahead of time and store it in the fridge unbaked for up to 24 hours before baking. I like this option because the flavors really get a chance to set into the apples and pears. Alternatively, you can bake it and store it in the fridge for 3–4 days. To reheat, simply pop it back in the oven at 350°F for about 10–15 minutes.
Store any leftover crumble in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm it in the oven or microwave until it’s heated through.
Yes! This crumble recipe is highly adaptable. You can swap the apples or pears for peaches or even mixed berries. Just keep in mind that different fruits may release more or less juice as they bake, so adjust the cornstarch accordingly if needed.
This vegan apple crumble is a simple yet satisfying dessert that’s perfect for fall—or any time of year when you’re craving something warm and comforting. With its tender apples and pears and a rich, buttery crumble topping, it’s sure to become a favorite in your household. Best of all, it’s easy to make, customizable, and totally plant-based!
More Fall Recipes
- Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
- Apple Cinnamon Pancakes
- Vegan Apple Crisp
- Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes
- Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
- Carrot and Ginger Soup
If you loved this Apple and Pear Crumble recipe, let me know in the comments below! I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my weekly emails so you never miss a new recipe!
📖 Recipe
Apple and Pear Crumble
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 2 medium pears,, cored and thinly sliced (Bartlett)
- 2 medium apples,, cored and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the crumble:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoons orange zest
- ½ cup vegan butter, cold and cubed
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (175°C). Great a 10-inch pie dish or an 8 x 8 baking dish.
- Zest one small orange and set aside for later use. You will need 1 tablespoon.
- Prep the filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples and pears into thin slices or large cubes. In a large mixing bowl, add the fruit slices, cane sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, ground cinnamon, orange juice from the zested orange, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Toss everything together until the fruit slices are evenly coated and spread evenly in the baking dish.
- Prepare the Vegan Crumble Topping: In the same mixing bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, and a pinch of salt. Next, add the cold, cubed vegan butter. Using your hands or a pastry cutter, mix everything together until the mixture becomes crumbly. It should resemble coarse breadcrumbs or pea-sized clumps. Sprinkle the crumble over the fruit slices to cover the entire top.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling.
- Serve: Once the crumble is baked, let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set. Serve warm with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream or a dollop of oat whipped cream for the best cozy dessert.
Notes
Nutrition Info
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