These baked apples with crumb topping have the perfect combination of gooey fruit and an oat topping that gives the best crunch. An apple dessert is always cosy for the colder months, but with all the healthy ingredients can be served as a fun breakfast too. These baked apples are vegetarian and gluten free using certified oats.

Anything crumble or crisp is on repeat in my home and one of my favourite recipes to make. My apple and blueberry crisp and cardamom apple crisp are both lovely ways to enjoy baked apples.
These crumble topped baked apples are a bit of a twist on traditional apple crisp and equally delicious. The gluten free crumble mixture fills the apples and has the perfect sweetness and crunch. And your kitchen will have the most wonderful aroma too!
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Why you'll love this recipe
- The best texture. The combination of gooey baked apple with the crumble topping and crunchy almonds is so good.
- Pantry staples. Most of the ingredients for the crumble topping are items we usually have to hand.
- Easy to make. A simple recipe that takes just a few steps to prepare.
Ingredients
Using mostly pantry staples makes these baked apples a treat you can enjoy whenever the fancy takes you! You will need:
- Apples - the main ingredient, they go warm and gooey when baked in the oven.
- Oats - using certified gluten free oats makes this a gluten free apple dessert. The Bob's Red Mill organic gluten free traditional rolled oats are good.
- Quinoa - using quinoa not only keeps the topping gluten free as we don't use flour, but also gives a nice texture. I would suggest using a white quinoa rather than a blend.
- Honey and butter - these provide the 'sticky' texture that turns the oats into the crumble topping.
- Desiccated coconut and almonds - both give flavour and crunch.
Variations to the recipe
If you prefer or have to be nut free, then swap out the almonds for pumpkin seeds or leave out altogether. And if apples aren't your favourite, then my crumble topped baked peaches are lovely in the summer months.
Make sure to check the recipe car below for the full list of ingredients and their quantities!
Step by step instructions
Baked apples are so simple to make, and the crumble topping makes them extra special. Just a few steps for this simple recipe:
STEP 1
Cook the quinoa according to packet instructions.
STEP 2
Using a melon baller or teaspoon scoop out the core and some of the flesh of the apples and discard. Place the apples on the baking tray cut-side up. Drizzle with ½ tablespoon of honey and evenly distribute about a third of the butter across the apples. Bake in the oven.
STEP 3
Melt the rest of the butter in a pan and combine in a bowl with the quinoa, oats, coconut, almonds and the remaining honey. Stir well to combine. Spoon the mixture into the apples and bake until the crumble has started to turn golden and crispy.
Recipe tips and notes
- When scooping out the middle of the apples try not to pierce through the skin or the filling will leak out during cooking. Slow and steady with a teaspoon or melon baller is best I find!
- Keep a watch on the apples when baking in the oven towards the end of cooking as the crumb topping can burn easily.
- If you have a sweet tooth then an extra drizzle of honey to serve is always good . . .
More crisp and crumble recipes to enjoy
Vegan blueberry and blackberry crisp
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📖 Recipe
Baked Apples with Crumb Topping
Ingredients
- 2 apples halved
- 1.5 tablespoon honey
- 15 g butter
- 25 g quinoa (uncooked weight)
- 25 g rolled oats (gluten-free if required)
- 15 g desiccated coconut
- 10 g flaked almonds
- coconut cream to serve, optional
Instructions
- To make the crumble topped baked apples begin by cooking the quinoa according to packet instructions.
- While the quinoa is cooking, pre-heat the oven to 180C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Using a melon baller or teaspoon scoop out the core and some of the flesh of the apples and discard.
- Place the apples on the baking tray cut-side up. Drizzle with ½ tablespoon of honey and evenly distribute 5g of the butter across the apples. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Melt the rest of the butter in a pan and combine in a bowl with the quinoa, oats, coconut, almonds and the remaining honey. Stir well to combine. Spoon the mixture into the apples and bake for 10 minutes or until the crumble has started to turn golden and crispy.
- Serve immediately with the coconut cream if using. And enjoy!
Notes
- Try to scoop out the apples quite carefully so that you don't pierce through the skin.
- Stir the oat-quinoa mixture well so it is all coated in the butter and honey.
- If you follow a low histamine diet and prefer to stick to foods that score 0 on SIGHI then you can swap out the almonds for pumpkin seeds. This would also be a good approach if you are nut-free.
- Please note that nutritional information is offered as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- almonds, which score 1.
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