This easy quince crumble with apples is cozy, warmly spiced, and just sweet enough. Think melty fragrant fruit with a crunchy hazelnuts-oats topping.
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A crumble isn't a traditional German or Romanian dessert, so it wasn't something I grew up with. But on the rare occasions I did have one (truly, I can count them on one hand), I loved every single spoonful. What's not to love? Perfect as a cozy, healthy-ish treat on a chilly day, and leftovers make a dreamy breakfast the next morning. Also, this apple and quince crumble feels special enough for guests, yet simple enough to make on a quiet weeknight, just for yourself.
Why You'll Love This Quince Crumble
I've been making this crumble for years whenever quinces are in season. It's one of those recipes that feels special without any fuss.
A few more reasons to love this quince crumble with apples:
- A soft, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth fruit layer with warm winter spices
- Crunchy oat and toasted hazelnut crumble on top
- Naturally sweetened (no refined sugar needed)
- Vegan and gluten-free
- Lovely as dessert, just as good the next day for breakfast
- Delicious warm or cold
Notes on Ingredients
For the fruit layer, we're pairing fragrant quinces with apples, infused with star anise and cardamom, sweetened with orange juice and rice syrup. The crunchy topping is a mix of hazelnuts and oats that turns wonderfully cinnamony and toasty in the oven..
I have a real soft spot for quinces. They're a little old-fashioned and not around for long (at least here in Germany). If you can't find them, you can simply use apples. Or you can swap the quinces for other fruits like pears, stone fruits, or even berries.
Raw quinces are quite firm and tart, but once cooked they turn soft, floral, and gently sweet. That's why they're briefly pre-cooked here, so they bake up perfectly tender alongside the apples.
🍽 Recipe
Easy Apple and Quince Crumble (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
Equipment
- You'll need a small baking dish (about 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 inches).
Ingredients
Fruit layer
- 2-3 quinces (about 500-750 g)
- 300 ml orange juice
- 1 star anise (or 2 for a more intense anise flavor)
- 5 green cardamom seeds
- 4 tablespoons rice syrup or 3 tablespoons agave syrup
- 3 large apples (about 750 g)
Crumble
- 100 g rolled oats (certified gluten-free if needed)
- 100 g hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 50 g coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- 4 tablespoons rapeseed oil (or any other neutral oil)
Instructions
- Peel the quinces, cut them into eighths, remove the cores, and dice them into bite-sized cubes.
- Add the diced quinces, the orange juice, star anise, cardamom seeds, and rice syrup to a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and let simmer gently for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F), fan on.
- Peel and core the apples, then cut them into cubes. Add them to the pot and simmer for another 5 minutes, until all the fruit is soft but still holds its shape.Tip: Don't toss the apple peels; you can turn them into crispy apple peel chips.
- For the crumble topping, mix the oats, chopped hazelnuts, cinnamon, sugar, and oil until crumbly.
- Transfer the fruit mixture to your baking dish and sprinkle the crumble evenly on top.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, until the hazelnuts are golden.
Tips & Variations
- No quinces? Pears or other fruit work beautifully as a substitute, or just use more apples. If you're using pears, berries, peaches, or other soft fruit, you don't need to peel them or pre-cook them.
- Nut-free version: Replace hazelnuts with more oats or sunflower seeds.
- More spices: Add a pinch of ground ginger or vanilla.
- Serving idea: Absolutely delicious with vegan vanilla yogurt, vegan whipped cream, or a scoop of dairy-free ice cream (vanilla works fine, but this watermelon raspberry ice cream is great).
FAQs
Quince has a floral, slightly tart flavor that becomes gently sweet and aromatic once cooked. In a crumble, it pairs especially well with apples and warm spices.
Yes, don't skip this step. Quinces are very firm when raw. Simmering them briefly ensures they become soft and tender by the time the crumble is baked.
Absolutely. You can prepare and bake it in advance, then reheat in the oven for best texture. It also tastes great cold or at room temperature.
Yes, as long as you use certified gluten-free oats.
More Fruity Cake & Muffin Recipes
If fruity desserts are up your alley, you might also enjoy these recipes:
- Spice Rhubarb Cake With Polenta
- Raspberry Muffins With Hazelnuts
- Romanian Pear & Walnut Cake
- Ginger Muffins With Pears & Chocolate
- Mandarin Orange Cake with Streusel
Enjoy,
Ramona
PS: If you try it, tell me in the comments how it turned out. I'm always curious.
♥
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