A nourishing breakfast that brings together sweet apples, warming ginger, and crunchy walnuts – perfect for 4 servings
Quick Tips:
- Ready in just 45 minutes from start to finish
- Make-ahead friendly – prep the night before
- Perfect balance of tart Granny Smith apples and sweet spices
- Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and brown sugar
Why You’ll Love This Breakfast Crumble
Start your morning with the comforting aroma of baked apples and warm spices. This breakfast crumble combines tart Granny Smith apples with fresh ginger for a wake-up call that’s both nourishing and satisfying. The walnut-oat topping adds protein and healthy fats to keep you energized all morning.
Nutrition Per Serving
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 385 |
| Protein | 8g |
| Fat | 18g |
| Carbs | 52g |
| Fiber | 7g |
Equipment & Ingredients
Kitchen Tools:
- 9×13 inch baking dish (glass or ceramic recommended)
- Large mixing bowl (for apple mixture)
- Medium mixing bowl (for crumble topping)
- Apple corer or sharp knife
- Vegetable peeler
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Grater for fresh ginger
- Spatula or wooden spoon
- Clean kitchen towel
- Cutting board
- Oven mitts
Ingredients for 4 Servings:
For the Apple Filling:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Granny Smith apples | 6 large |
| Fresh ginger, grated | 2 tablespoons |
| Lemon juice | 2 tablespoons |
| Maple syrup | ¼ cup |
| Cornstarch | 2 tablespoons |
| Cinnamon | 1 teaspoon |
For the Crumble Topping:
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rolled oats | 1½ cups |
| Whole wheat flour | 1 cup |
| Walnuts, chopped | 1 cup |
| Brown sugar | ¼ cup |
| Coconut oil, solid | ½ cup |
| Salt | ¼ teaspoon |
Substitutions:
- Use Golden Delicious apples for a sweeter taste
- Replace coconut oil with cold butter
- Swap walnuts with pecans
- Use honey instead of maple syrup
Detailed Step-by-Step Instructions for Beginners
Before You Start (5 minutes):
- Read through the entire recipe twice to familiarize yourself with all steps
- Gather all ingredients and place them on your counter
- Check that you have all required tools
- Clear and clean your workspace
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
Kitchen Setup (5 minutes):
- Position your oven rack in the middle position
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Allow at least 10 minutes for preheating
- Most ovens will beep or light up when ready
- Prepare your baking dish:
- Lightly coat with coconut oil or cooking spray
- Make sure to cover bottom and sides
- Set up your cutting board and gather your measuring tools
Apple Preparation (15 minutes):
- Wash the apples:
- Rinse under cool water
- Dry with clean kitchen towel
- Peel the apples:
- Hold apple in one hand, peeler in dominant hand
- Start at top, rotate apple while peeling downward
- Peel in continuous strips if possible
- Core the apples:
- If using apple corer:
- Place apple on cutting board
- Push corer through center from top to bottom
- If using knife:
- Cut apple in half from top to bottom
- Cut each half in half again
- Slice core away at an angle
- Cut apples into chunks:
- Slice each quarter into 3-4 slices
- Cut each slice into 3-4 pieces
- Aim for ½-inch chunks (about the size of a dice)
- They should be roughly the same size for even cooking
Prepare the Filling (10 minutes):
- Grate the fresh ginger:
- Peel ginger using edge of spoon
- Use small holes of grater
- Measure exactly 2 tablespoons
- Combine apple chunks and ginger in large mixing bowl
- Add lemon juice:
- Drizzle over apples
- Toss gently with spoon or clean hands
- Add maple syrup:
- Pour evenly over apple mixture
- Stir to coat all pieces
- Mix dry ingredients:
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and cinnamon
- Sprinkle over apple mixture
- Stir until evenly coated and no dry spots remain
Create the Crumble Topping (15 minutes):
- Mix dry ingredients:
- In medium bowl, combine oats, flour, and salt
- Stir with spoon until well mixed
- Prepare walnuts:
- Place walnuts in center of cutting board
- Chop into small pieces (about size of peas)
- Measure 1 cup of chopped nuts
- Add to dry ingredients
- Add brown sugar:
- Break up any lumps with your fingers
- Stir into dry mixture
- Add coconut oil:
- Make sure oil is cold and solid
- Cut into small pieces
- Add to dry mixture
- Create crumble texture:
- Use fingertips to pinch and rub oil into dry ingredients
- Continue until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs
- Should hold together when squeezed
- No large chunks of coconut oil should remain
Assembly and Baking (30-35 minutes):
- Transfer apple mixture to baking dish:
- Pour in stages, spreading evenly
- Use spatula to scrape bowl clean
- Add crumble topping:
- Sprinkle evenly over apples
- Don’t press down – keep it loose
- Make sure to cover all apple pieces
- Bake the crumble:
- Place in preheated oven
- Set timer for 25 minutes
- Check at 25 minutes – apples should be bubbling
- Topping should be golden brown
- If needed, bake 5 more minutes
- Test for doneness:
- Insert knife into center – apples should be soft
- Edges should be bubbling
- Topping should be evenly browned
- Cool before serving:
- Remove from oven using oven mitts
- Place on heat-safe surface
- Let stand 10-15 minutes
- This allows filling to set and prevents burns
Troubleshooting
- Filling too wet? Mix in an extra tablespoon of cornstarch
- Topping not crunchy? Broil for 2-3 minutes at the end
- Apples not tender? Cover with foil and bake 10 minutes longer
- Topping too dark? Cover with foil halfway through baking
Storage & Reheating
- Store covered in refrigerator up to 4 days
- Reheat individual portions in microwave for 1 minute
- For crispy topping, reheat in oven at 325°F for 10 minutes
- Freezes well up to 3 months in airtight container
Safety Notes & Tips
- Always use oven mitts when handling hot baking dish
- Let cool slightly before serving to prevent burns
- Check apple doneness with fork before removing from oven
- Keep children away from hot surfaces during preparation
- Use proper knife handling techniques when cutting apples
Seasonal Variations
Fall/Winter:
- Add cranberries for tartness
- Include nutmeg and allspice
- Top with vanilla ice cream
Spring/Summer:
- Mix in fresh berries
- Add lemon zest
- Serve with yogurt
Recipe developed for wholesome breakfast enjoyment, perfect for sharing with family or meal prep for the week ahead.
