Mini Apple Oat Crumble Cups Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Rest Time 10 mins
Total Time 55 mins
Cooking Method:
Cuisine: ,
Courses: ,
Difficulty: Beginner
Cooking Temp: 180  C
Servings: 12
Best Season: Fall
Description

These Mini Apple Oat Crumble Cups are warm, cozy, and perfectly portioned mini desserts that bring together tender cinnamon-spiced apples and a buttery oat crumble topping. Baked in muffin cups, they’re easy to serve, naturally comforting, and ideal for fall or anytime you want a quick homemade treat. These cups deliver the classic flavor of apple crumble in a fun, handheld form—perfect for gatherings, meal prep, or a light sweet snack.

Ingredients
    For the Apple Filling
  • 3 medium apples (peeled, cored, finely diced)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar (loosely packed)
  • 1 tbsp white sugar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg powder
  • 1 tsp cornstarch (helps thicken the juices)
  • 1 pinch salt
    • For the Oat Crumble Base & Topping
  • 1.5 cup rolled oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar
  • 0.25 cup white sugar
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon powder
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 120 g unsalted butter (cold, cut into small cubes)
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 2 tbsp honey (optional, adds shine and extra sweetness)
Instructions
    Prep the Apples
  1. 1
    Peel, core, and finely dice the apples into small cubes so they soften quickly during baking. Place them in a bowl. Add brown sugar, white sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt. Toss well to coat every piece. Let it sit for 5 minutes so the apples release their juices slightly.
    2. Prepare the Oat Crumble Mixture
  2. 2
    In a large mixing bowl, combine rolled oats, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes. Using fingertips, gently rub the butter into the dry mixture until it forms coarse crumbs—similar to wet sand with small buttery chunks. Mix in vanilla essence and honey if using. This mixture will be used both as the base and the topping.
    3. Line and Grease the Muffin Tin
  3. 3
    Lightly grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin with butter or a small amount of oil. You can also use paper liners, but greasing directly helps the cups hold their shape better.
    4. Form the Crumble Bases
  4. 4
    Scoop around 1.5–2 tablespoons of crumble mixture into each muffin cup. Using your fingers or the back of a spoon, press it firmly down to form a compact bottom crust. Ensure the edges go slightly up the sides to hold the filling.
    5. Add the Apple Filling
  5. 5
    Spoon 1–2 tablespoons of the apple mixture into each cup. Don’t add too much liquid—just the fruit pieces with minimal juice so the cups don’t get soggy.
    6. Add the Crumble Topping
  6. 6
    Take the remaining crumble mixture and sprinkle generously on top of each apple-filled cup. Press lightly so it sticks but keep the texture crumbly for a crisp finish.
    7. Bake
  7. 7
    Place the muffin tray into a preheated oven at 180°C. Bake for 25–28 minutes or until the tops turn golden brown and the apples bubble slightly around the edges. Keep an eye on the color to avoid overbrowning.
    8. Cool and Serve
  8. 8
    Let the cups cool in the tray for at least 10 minutes. This helps them set. Gently loosen the edges with a knife and lift them out. Serve warm as they are or with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Keywords: quick dessert, healthy-ish treat, fall baking, apple crumble, mini desserts
Read it online: https://petitepanini.com/recipe/mini-apple-oat-crumble-cups-recipe/