I love this healthy oat crumble topping. It works with all types of fruit and is the perfect make-ahead dessert. My crumble topping with oats can be frozen and sprinkled over your apples, plums, or any fruit at all just before baking. In my opinion, there is nothing better than an easy apple crumble with oats topping drizzled in custard or with a scoop of ice cream.
With the colder nights drawing in, I love warm desserts with custard and fruit crumble is one of these easy and delicious desserts that are perfect for when the winter wind is blowing and we are wishing for snow. Ensuring you have a healthy oat crumble topping recipe is a must have.
Why you’ll love this Crumble Topping with Oats recipe
It’s a simple recipe for the whole family to make and best of all it can be made in advance and frozen until you need it. Simply cook from frozen!
The added fibre from using oats in your easy crumble topping recipe makes this a healthy oat crumble topping. So you can add the cream, custard and ice cream on without guilt.
It’s really versatile, your crumble can be used for an easy apple crumble with oats, or for a Christmas Crumble. You can use your crumble topping with any of your favourite fruit.
This is the best crumble topping with oats because it’s so easy. You can even get the family involved in crumbling the ingredients together with your (clean) hands.
Ingredients
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Oats
Any rolled oats work for this healthy crumble topping with oats recipe. Personally, I love Quaker oats as they make a wonderful Quaker Oat crumble topping. But any of your supermarket-branded oats will still make a delicious crumble topping.
It is easy to make this crumble topping gluten-free but choosing gluten-free oats. Although they should be naturally GF some of them are prepared in factories which means they aren’t. Please do check the packaging.
Butter
Butter at room temperature is always best for baking. If your butter is too hard, cut it into cubes and give it a short burst in the microwave for 10 seconds.
Flour
Plain or wholemeal flour is best for your easy apple crumble with oats but you can use self-raising if it’s all you have.
For a gluten-free oat crumble topping you can easily swap out the regular flour for your favourite gluten-free one. I’ve used doves flour before and it makes a great crumble.
Sugar
One of the best ingredients for baking. Adding a little sugar to your oats crumble topping is the perfect way to sweeten up your easy crumble topping with oats.
How to make Crumble Topping with Oats – step by step
Combine your flour, sugar and oats in a mixing bowl.
Add your cubed cool-room temperature butter.
Crumble together all the ingredients until they form the classic crumbly texture.
Now your easy healthy crumble topping with oats is ready to top your favourite fruity crumbles with.
Crumble Topping with Oats Top Tips
Make sure your butter is cool to room temperature, this will make it easier to crumble the dry ingredients together. Get the butter out of the fridge about 20 minutes before you intend to make the healthy crumble topping with oats.
Freeze your crumble topping so you always have easy oats crumble topping when you have a craving. I love that this crumble topping freezes so well once prepared. It’s great when I want to whip up a quick crumble with any fruit we have knowing I can just add the topping and bake.
Get the family involved in making your healthy oats crumble topping. It’s a simple recipe and mixing the ingredients with your hands is so much fun. It is a great way to get kids into baking and understanding more about their food. Plus who doesn’t love a delicious dessert once you’ve finished?
Want your crumble topping even more crisp? You can pre-bake the mixture on a baking tray for 10-15 minutes before adding to the fruit and baking it again. It makes it extra crisp and reduces sogginess from the fruit.
Serving Suggestions
Vanilla Ice Cream
A cold scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of a hot fresh from the oven crumble is iconic, classic and delicious. There is something about the mix of hot and cold that works so well.
Custard
Custard is a favourite for me with a lot of different crumbles. It keeps the crumble hot and custard is just so yummy. It is a comforting way to serve crumble that reminds me of cold winter nights and big family dinners.
Yoghurt or cream
This is a more interesting idea if you want to make your crumble a little healthier. Yoghurt, especially Greek yoghurt or creme fraiche cools the dessert down and is a little sharper than the sweet ice cream. A lovely way to make crumble more spring and summer-like. Especially if you make a strawberry crumble.
Christmas Crumble
Turn thehealthy oat crumble topping UK into a warm and festive dessert, the Christmas crumble uses cooked, spiced apples and dried cranberries. Perfect with a big glass of mulled wine.
Apple and Blackberry Crumble
Once again, the classic cooked apples make an appearance but this time, with the wonderfully autumnal blackberry.
Equipment
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Substitutions and variations
As this crumble topping with oats is just one element of a crumble recipe the best way to serve your healthy crumble topping with oats is with your favourite cooked fruit. I’ve listed my favourite crumble recipes below.
You can swap any of these fruits out for your favourites. I have tried plums, summer berry crumble and even peach crumble. The world is your oyster with this oat crumble recipe.
Gluten-Free Crumble Topping Recipe
Making this crumble gluten-free is so easy. Simply swap the plain flour for gluten-free flour and double-check that your oats were made in a gluten-free factory. It is really that simple!
Coconut Oat Crumble
Add a tropical flavour to your crumble by using shredded/desiccated coconut. This works brilliantly well for crumbles with pineapple, mango, or berries.
Almond Oat Crumble
Adding almonds to your oat crumble is so easy! Simply stir in a handful of sliced, chopped or ground almonds. Almonds pair really well with peaches, plums and cherries.
Chocolate Oat Crumble
Yes chocolate crumble is a thing and it’s absolutely delicious. Simply mix chocolate chips or roughly chop a chocolate bar and that to the crumble topping. Dark chocolate is one of my favourites to add to crumble. Especially if I have some frozen cherries in the crumble. A delicious take on a black forest flavour.
Pumpkin Spice Oat Crumble
Pumpkin spice is the best flavour for autumn/fall desserts. The easiest way to add pumpkin spice flavours to your crumble is to mix a pumpkin spice blend into the oats crumble. Pumpkin spice is made up of a mix of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger and ground cloves. All are available at most supermarkets.
Ginger Oat Crumble
A way to add a real spice and kick to this oatmeal crumble topping recipe is by adding ginger to your crumble. You can either use ground ginger or finely chopped crystallized ginger mixed into the crumble. Ginger adds a lovely warm flavour to the crumble.
Storing easy crumble topping with oats / Making ahead-of-time options
The best thing about this easy crumble topping with oats is that it can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or bag and used when you are ready for a wonderful and healthy crumble.
Once it’s defrosted, you can bake the crumble with your fruit and you’re ready.
Storing Leftovers
Leftover oat crumble topping that isn’t used on a crumble can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days. Or you can add the mixture to a freezer safe bag and freeze for another day when you really want a crumble.
If you have leftovers of a cooked fruit crumble, place them in a bowl, wrap them, and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezing
Crumble toppings with oats freeze perfectly! Plus what makes it even better is you can use it from frozen as it shouldn’t clump together as it freezes. Simply add the mixture to a freezer safe bag or container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
For a cooked fruit crumble you can also add leftovers to a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 6 months.
Reheating
Luckily the frozen oat curmbles topping doesn’t need to be reheated before use. Simply add it to your next crumble from the freezer and bake.
Allow the cooked fruit crumble to defrost in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. This will help keep the crumble slightly more crisp. You can then reheat it in the microwave, in an air fryer or oven until pipping hot.
Top Questions
Do you put oats in apple crumble?
Can I use porridge oats instead of quick oats?
Are Rolled Oats Healthier Than Quick Oats?
What spices can you add to an oat crumble topping?
How do you make oat crumble topping from scratch?
Why is my oat crumble topping not crispy?
Can I make oat crumble topping without flour?
What is the best ratio of oats to butter for crumble topping?
FAQS
Do you put oats in apple crumble?
Yes you can put oats in an apple crumble! Oats in apple crumble make your crumble topping even more tasty and even healthier too.
Can I use porridge oats instead of quick oats?
You can swap out porridge oats instead of quick oats, they can often be used in a 1:1 ratio for your crumble recipe. However, they may result in a slightly thicker crumble. It is definitely recommended to use normal oats.
Are Rolled Oats Healthier Than Quick Oats?
Rolled oats are as healthy as quick oats. They offer the same nutritional value as each other. So you can use whichever oats you have on hand for your baking.
What spices can you add to an oat crumble topping?
The best spices to add to your oatmeal crumble topping have to be cinnamon and ground cloves. You can use any of your favourite spices in an oat crumble topping. It will largely depend on your fruit and of course your favourite flavours.
How do you make oat crumble topping from scratch?
Making oat crumble from scratch is so easy and gives you the best results. You can either add all the dry ingredients together along with the butter and rub them together to make crumbs. Or you can add them to a food processor and blend them together to make the crumbs that way.
Why is my oat crumble topping not crispy?
The top reason why your oat crumble topping is not crispy is due to the oven temperature not being high enough. Or the thickness of the crumble being too thick so the lower part of the crumble doesn’t crisp up in the oven.
Can I make oat crumble topping without flour?
Yes you can make oat crumble topping without flour! If you want a gluten-free or flourless version, simply substitute the flour with gluten free flour, more oats or ground almonds.
What is the best ratio of oats to butter for crumble topping?
The best ratio for oats and dry ingredients to butter for an oatmeal crumble topping is roughly 2:1.
Other Crumble Recipes you might like
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Recipe
Oat Crumble Topping
Ingredients
- 200 g (1 ⅕ cups) plain flour / all purpose flour
- 150 g (5 2/7 oz) unsalted butter (cut into cubes)
- 75 g (2 ⅔ oz) golden caster sugar (or normal caster sugar)
- 100 g (1 ¼ cups) rolled oats
Optional
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
How to make Oat Crumble Topping
- Measure the dried ingredients. Add the flour, caster sugar and rolled oats to a mix bowl. Mix them together, along with any spices. I recommend a sprinkle of cinnamon.200 g (1 ⅕ cups) plain flour / all purpose flour, 75 g (2 ⅔ oz) golden caster sugar, 100 g (1 ¼ cups) rolled oats
- Add the unsalted butter to the mixing bowl.150 g (5 2/7 oz) unsalted butter
- Rub the ingredients together with your fingers and thumbs to create a crumble texture.
- Set aside until you're ready to cook it. It can be kept in the fridge or even frozen for a later date.
How to bake a crumble
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC fan/ 356ºF/ Gas mark 4.
- Pour the crumble topping over your fruit and put it in the oven for 30-40 minutes until golden brown.
Using the frozen oat crumble topping
- The best thing about freezing the oat crumble topping is you can use it straight from the freezer. Break up any large crumbs and scatter the mixture over your crumble filling and cook as usual.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
Originally posted in October 2022. Updated in October 2024.
I really love this super simple crumble topping. It’s perfect for pies, tarts or cakes.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Just went apple picking. So glad I found your recipe! Looking forward to apple crisp later!
Happy crumble day!
Loving this crumbl topping. It’s perfect for apple season!
I agree. Apple season is one of the best times of year. Crumbles everywhere!
Love this crumble topping! Oats bring such a nice crunch and such a nice heartiness to a crumble topping.
I’m so glad you love it. Thank you for telling me. Oats really do make this crumble extra special.
This was such an easy crumble topping to make! I used it on top of some baked apples today and it was delicious!
Baked apples with crumble topping sounds delicious.
Perfect topping for those easy one pan desserts.
I couldn’t agree more.
Followed the ingredients but it turned out like a sticky ball, too much margarine maybe.
The consistency of margarine will definitely change the texture of the oat crumble topping. I would recommend using butter.
I used margarine and it was just fine. Maybe the quantities weren’t quite right?
Made this for guests and got lots of compliments! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
I’ve been looking for a basic/universal crumble topping for cobbler and baked oatmeal/muffin recipes…..I will try making a larger batch and freezing it so I can just grab and use it……this is perfect!