Easy Apple Crumble with Graham Crackers and Marshmallows

This Easy Apple Crumble recipe comes together in no time, and delivers a warming, fragrant, apple-packed punch of deliciousness that might just beat apple pie! You’ll love the buttery, crunchy graham-cracker-crust plus the roasted marshmallows that makes this apple dessert so much better than the rest.

Easy Apple Crumble with Graham Crackers

When apple season is at its peak, you really want to take advantage of the delicious baking opportunities – but it’s also a busy time of year, right?

Enter apple crumble: the apple-filled-bubbly-goodness of a real homemade apple pie, but without the fussiness of rolling out crusts.

This beauty is topped with a “crust” made of crushed graham crackers and melted butter, gently pressed into an even layer over the fresh apple filling. THEN, the real good stuff is added – a blanket of toasted marshmallows that will melt right into the crust. It’s like s’mores, but like, way better. 😁

Choosing the Best Apples for Apple Crumble

I like to use crisp apples with a balance of sweetness and tartness for apple crumble. Pink Lady and Honeycrisp are good choices in that category. You can also make a great apple crumble with Granny Smith apples, which are more tart but very flavorful.

Braeburn apples are another popular choice for pies and other apple baked goods, but the flavor is considered unusual for apples – more like a pear flavor when cooked.

Does the Apple Peel Matter?

The apple peel only matters if you think it matters! There are certainly plenty of bakers out there who don’t peel apples for crumble, and that’s great! In this recipe, I like to peel the apples so that the texture of the finished dish is a little more even. If you do use unpeeled apples, make sure to use unwaxed apples (or remove the wax) and wash them well.

Recipe Ingredients

For the Apple Filling:

• Apples: You’ll need about 4 cups, cored, peeled, and diced.
• Brown Sugar: You can also substitute raw sugar.
• All-Purpose Flour: Just a couple of spoonfuls, to thicken the filling as it bakes.
• Salt

For the Topping:

• Graham Crackers: One sleeve (9 sheets), crushed into fine crumbs.
• All-Purpose Flour: To bind the mixture and create the crust.
• Brown Sugar: Or raw sugar.
• Salt
• Butter: About 6 tablespoons, melted.
• Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Jumbo Marshmallows: cut in half, crosswise.

How to Make Graham Cracker Apple Crumble

1. Combine the Filling Ingredients: Toss the apples, brown sugar, flour and salt in a 9-inch baking dish. Set aside.
2. Prepare the Topping: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, flour, brown sugar, and salt. Whisk together the melted butter and vanilla. Stir the butter mixture into the graham cracker mixture until the crumbs are moist.
3. Press Topping Over Filling: Spread the graham cracker topping over the apple filling mixture, pressing down with a spoon or your hands to create an even layer. 
4. Bake: Bake at 350˚F for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling up. Remove from the oven.
5. Turn ON the broiler.
6. Add marshmallows on top of the apple crumble; broil for 3 to 4 minutes, or until marshmallows are browned. Watch closely so that you don’t end up with burnt marshmallows.
7. Serve and Enjoy!

How to Perfect the Crumb Topping

• Finely crush the crackers: The topping for this crumble is meant to be more of a crust, not a streusel. So you really want to get the crumbs processed or crushed finely. That way they will form a nice, even layer instead of a chunky sprinkled-on topping.
• Mixing Is Key: Again, since you’re trying to create a crumbly crust, rather than a granola-like topping, mix the butter into the dry ingredients well to make a consistent crust mixture.
• Press Lightly: As you spread the topping over the fruit, give it pats with the back of a spoon or press with your hands to give the layer a crust-like togetherness. Lightly moisten your hands with water if the mixture sticks to them.

Tips for Serving Apple Crumble

• I love serving this with vanilla ice cream. A classic combo! BUT, because of the marshmallows on top, you won’t need the ice cream.
• How about a Mocha Iced Coffee to go with a warm serving of apple crumble? LOVE!

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 3 days.
  If you would like to freeze this Apple Crumble, place individual portions in plastic freezer bags, pushing out as much air as possible before sealing, and freeze for up to 6 months.
• Make sure the bags are sealed well! It’s worth it to vacuum-seal, if possible. If not, consider double-sealing with plastic wrap and freezer bags for maximum freshness.
• To reheat, first thaw the crumble in the refrigerator overnight (if frozen). Then place in an oven-safe dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350˚F. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Easy Apple Crumble with Graham Crackers

A super-easy, apple-packed dessert with a pie-like filling and buttery, crumbly graham cracker crust.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Resting Time7 minutes mins

Total Time55 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple crumble without oats, best crumble recipe, easy apple crumble recipe

Servings: 8

Calories: 407kcal

Author: Katerina | Easy Weeknight Recipes

Ingredients

For the Fruit:

• 4 to 5 cups cored, peeled, and diced apples, (about 4 large apples)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons flour
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

For the Topping:

• 1 sleeve (9 sheets) graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs (use a food processor, OR put in a resealable bag and use a rolling pin to crush the graham crackers)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 16 to 20 jumbo marshmallows, cut in half, crosswise

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350˚F.

For the Fruit:

• To an 8-inch or 9-inch baking dish, add the diced fruit, brown sugar, flour and salt. Toss everything together to coat; set aside.

For the Topping:

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, flour, brown sugar, and salt.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and vanilla.
• Using a spoon, mix and stir the melted butter into the graham cracker mixture until the crumbs are moist.
• Spread crumb topping over the fruit, pressing down with the back of a spoon or with your hands to create an even layer.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and mixture is bubbling up.
• Remove apple crumble from oven, then set oven to BROIL.
• In the meantime, top the apple crumble with marshmallows in one single layer.
• BROIL the apple crumble for 3 to 4 minutes, or until marshmallows are browned and toasted on top. Watch it closely so that the marshmallows don't burn.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 442mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 51g | Vitamin A: 312IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg