Creamy Apple Crumble in a Jar: The Ultimate Individual Fall & Winter Dessert

As the leaves begin to change and a crisp coolness fills the air, nothing quite captures the essence of autumn and winter like the comforting aroma of baking apples. This season-perfect recipe for a creamy, warm apple crumble, served charmingly in individual jars, is not just a dessert; it’s an experience. Whether you’re planning a cozy family dinner, hosting a holiday gathering, or looking for that special treat for your Thanksgiving dinner, these portable delights offer both convenience and unparalleled flavor.

The beauty of serving this decadent apple dessert in its own jar lies in its effortless elegance. Each guest gets a perfectly portioned, warm, and inviting treat, making serving a breeze and ensuring everyone enjoys every last spoonful. It’s a thoughtful touch that elevates a simple dessert into a memorable occasion, reducing fuss and maximizing enjoyment.

Why Apples Are the Star of Fall & Winter Flavors

Apples and the colder months are a match made in culinary heaven. Fall marks the peak of their harvest season, offering an abundance of crisp, flavorful varieties perfect for both fresh eating and baking. Unlike many fruits, apples store exceptionally well, with some varieties lasting throughout the entire winter, providing a refreshing and versatile alternative to citrus fruits when other fresh produce might be scarce. This makes them a staple in kitchens during these months, inspiring countless heartwarming recipes.

Beyond their impressive shelf life, apples are incredibly versatile. While delicious raw, their true magic often shines when transformed into warm or cold desserts. From pies and tarts to crisps and crumbles, apples lend themselves beautifully to a myriad of preparations. This particular recipe, a hot and creamy apple crumble, embodies all the best qualities of this beloved fruit, marrying tender, spiced apples with a delightful crunchy topping.

Choosing the Perfect Baking Apples

The success of any apple dessert largely hinges on selecting the right type of apple. Not all apples are created equal when it comes to baking. Some varieties are better suited for eating fresh, as they tend to break down too much or lose their flavor when cooked. For a truly great apple crumble, you need apples that will hold their shape, offer a good balance of sweetness and tartness, and become wonderfully tender without turning into a mushy paste.

Our top recommendation for this apple crumble in a jar is the Granny Smith apple. Its firm texture and bright, tart flavor stand up beautifully to baking, creating a vibrant contrast with the sweet crumble topping. Other excellent baking apple choices include:

• Goudreinet (often referred to as ‘Schone van Boskoop’ in Europe): A traditional Dutch baking apple known for its tartness and ability to soften perfectly without disintegrating.
• Honeycrisp: Offers a delightful balance of sweetness and tartness, with a crisp texture that remains pleasing after baking.
• Braeburn: Known for its sweet-tart flavor and firm flesh, which holds up well in the oven.
• Jonagold: A popular choice that provides a good mix of sweetness and acidity, yielding a juicy and flavorful filling.

Using a mix of two or three varieties can also add depth and complexity to your apple filling, offering different layers of flavor and texture in every spoonful. Just ensure they are all suitable for baking to achieve the best result.

The Magic of Individual Apple Crumbles in Jars

Serving apple crumble in individual jars is more than just a trend; it’s a practical and charming way to present this classic dessert. This method offers several compelling advantages:

• Effortless Serving: No need to worry about slicing and dishing out a large crumble. Each guest receives their own perfect portion, hot and ready to enjoy.
• Elegant Presentation: Mason jars or other small heat-proof ramekins look incredibly appealing, especially when layered with the golden apple filling and crumbly topping. They add a rustic yet sophisticated touch to your dessert table.
• Portion Control: Individual servings help manage portion sizes, which can be particularly useful during holiday feasts.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: As highlighted in the recipe, these individual crumbles can be prepared in advance and refrigerated. Simply pop them into the oven when you’re ready to serve, making entertaining stress-free.
• Portability: If you’re contributing to a potluck or picnic, these jarred desserts are incredibly easy to transport without fear of them losing their shape or getting messy.

Pro-Tips for Your Best Apple Crumble

• Prevent Browning with Lemon: Coating the sliced apples with a touch of lemon juice is a crucial step. Not only does it add a subtle brightness to the flavor, but the acidity actively prevents the apples from oxidizing and turning brown while they wait in the refrigerator. This ensures your dessert looks as appealing as it tastes.
• Prep Ahead for Stress-Free Entertaining: One of the best features of this recipe is its adaptability. You can assemble the apple filling and crumble topping a day in advance. Store the apple mixture (coated in lemon) in the jars and the crumble topping separately in the refrigerator. When it’s time for dessert, simply add the topping and bake. This strategy is a lifesaver for busy holiday schedules, like Thanksgiving dinner.
• Don’t Skimp on the Filling: When adding the apple mixture to the jars, fill them generously. Apples tend to cook down and lose some volume in the oven, so a full jar before baking will result in a perfectly satisfying portion after baking.
• Achieving the Perfect Crumble: Use cold butter for the topping and work it quickly into the dry ingredients with your fingertips. This technique creates those desirable, irregular clumps that become wonderfully crisp and golden brown in the oven. Avoid overmixing, as this can lead to a tougher, less crumbly texture.

Recipe: Creamy Apple Crumble in a Jar

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RECIPE CARD

Apple Crumble in a Jar

Andréa

This recipe for a creamy apple crunch is a great dessert in fall and winter. But of course also for Thanksgiving dinner. And because you put it in its own jar, it’s easy to serve.

5 of 12 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Other

Servings 4 persons

Calories 464 kcal

Equipment

• A conventional oven is used. When using a convection oven (with air fan) decrease the temperature with 30 °F / 20 °C
• 4 jars

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

Crumble topping

• ▢ 40 gram whole wheat flour
• ▢ 30 gram oats
• ▢ 60 gram dark brown sugar
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon gingerbread spices
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 75 grams butter , unsalted

apple filling

• ▢ 600 grams apples , baking apple like Goudreinet
• ▢ 30 grams butter , unsalted
• ▢ 30 grams flour
• ▢ 30 ml water
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 60 ml honey
• ▢ ½ teaspoon gingerbread spices

All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.

Instructions

Crumble

• ▢
  Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350°F).
• ▢
  In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients for the crumble topping: whole wheat flour, oats, dark brown sugar, baking powder, gingerbread spices, and salt.
• ▢
  Add the cold, unsalted butter (cut into small pieces) to the dry ingredients. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the dry mixture until it forms a coarse, crumbly texture with some larger pea-sized clumps.
• ▢
  Place the crumble mixture in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the apple filling. This helps keep the topping crisp.

Apple filling

• ▢
  In a small saucepan, melt the 30 grams of unsalted butter over low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and whisk in the flour, water, lemon juice, vanilla extract, honey, and gingerbread spices until well combined and smooth. This will form a flavorful sauce for the apples.
• ▢
  Peel the baking apples, carefully remove their cores, and then slice them into small, uniform cubes. Aim for pieces that are roughly ½ to ¾ inch (1.2-2 cm) in size for even cooking.
• ▢
  In a large bowl, gently combine the diced apples with the prepared butter mixture, ensuring all apple pieces are evenly coated.
• ▢
  Divide the apple filling evenly among 4 small, oven-safe jars or ramekins. Fill the jars quite full, as the apples will cook down and reduce in volume during baking.
• ▢
  Retrieve the crumble topping from the refrigerator and generously spread it over the apple filling in each jar. Place the jars on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apple filling is bubbly and tender when pierced with a fork.
• ▢
  Carefully remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. Serve warm for the best experience.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 268mgFiber: 6gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 737IUVitamin C: 8mgIron: 1mg

Keyword a sweet recipe with apples, an apple dessert recipe, apple crumble, individual desserts, fall recipes, Thanksgiving recipes

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Serving Suggestions & Delicious Variations

While this creamy apple crumble in a jar is utterly delightful on its own, there are many ways to elevate it further or tailor it to your personal taste:

• Classic Accompaniments: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream that slowly melts into the spiced apples, or a dollop of freshly whipped cream for an extra touch of decadence. A drizzle of warm caramel sauce would also be heavenly.
• Nutty Crunch: For an added layer of texture and flavor, incorporate chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds into your crumble topping. This not only enhances the crunch but also adds a subtle nutty warmth.
• Spice It Up: While gingerbread spices are wonderful, feel free to experiment with other warm spices. Cinnamon is a classic pairing with apples, but a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, or cardamom can also add delightful complexity.
• Fruity Twists: Don’t limit yourself to just apples! Consider adding other seasonal fruits to the filling. Pears, cranberries, or even a handful of dried cherries can complement the apples beautifully, adding new dimensions of flavor and color. Adjust sweetness as needed if adding tart fruits.
• Sweetener Alternatives: If you prefer, you can swap honey for maple syrup or even a touch more brown sugar in the apple filling.
• Creamy Custard Base: For an even richer dessert, consider adding a thin layer of vanilla custard or crème anglaise at the bottom of the jar before adding the apple filling.

Conclusion: Your New Favorite Fall & Winter Dessert

This creamy apple crumble in a jar is more than just a recipe; it’s a testament to the simple joys of seasonal baking. It’s easy to prepare, offers delightful individual portions, and can be customized to suit any preference. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, this recipe provides a foolproof way to create a warm, comforting dessert that will impress your family and friends. Its combination of tender, spiced apples and a golden, crunchy topping makes it an irresistible treat that perfectly encapsulates the flavors of fall and winter. So, gather your ingredients, pick your favorite baking apples, and get ready to create a truly memorable dessert that will have everyone asking for more. Enjoy every warm, sweet, and comforting bite!