Bring your A-game to your next cookout with this Smoked Bourbon Apple Crumble. This isn’t your ordinary apple crumble! We’ve infused this traditional dessert with a hit of smoky flavor and a splash of bourbon.
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Whether you’ve been a lifelong fan of classic apple crumble or are hoping to wow your guests with something new, this smoked bourbon apple crumble is a must-try!
Ingredients
- 5-6 medium size apples (Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apples), peeled, cored, and sliced
- Fresh lemon juice
- Granulated sugar
- Bourbon (see below for substitutions)
- All-purpose flour
- Old-fashioned rolled oats
- Brown sugar
- Cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Extras: Vanilla ice cream and caramel ice cream topping
- Mild wood pellets (see recommendations below)
How to make apple crumble
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- Preheat your pellet grill to 350 degrees F. To complement the apples, use a mild wood pellet, such as apple or cherry. If using a smoker or charcoal unit, set up for indirect grilling.
- Next, prepare the apple crumble filling by combining the sliced apples, flour, bourbon, granulated sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Stir to coat the apples evenly. Let the mixture sit for about 5-10 minutes.
- Prepare the crumble, by mixing the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl. Add the cold cubed butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to combine butter with the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse pea-sized crumbles.
- Next, assemble the apple crumble by spreading the apple mixture evenly in a medium-sized cast-iron skillet. Top the apples with the crumble mixture, making sure to cover them completely.
- Place the cast iron skillet on the preheated grill. Close the lid and cook for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly.
Serving the apple crumble
- Remove the crumble from the grill and let it cool slightly before serving.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and warm caramel sauce on top.
- Store leftover smoked bourbon apple crumble in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Rewarm in the microwave for 30-40 seconds and top with ice cream.
Recipe variations
- Nutty Twist: Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble topping for delicious crunchy texture.
- Spice: Infuse a little extra flavor to the apple mixture by adding a pinch of allspice or cloves.
- Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the flour with a gluten-free flour blend like Cup 4 Cup, and use certified GF rolled oats.
- Kid-Friendly Option: Apple cider is a good alternative to bourbon in this smoked apple crumble recipe. It complements the apples well and adds a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor similar to what bourbon would provide without the alcohol content.
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Oven Method
- If you don’t have a pellet grill, you can easily make this crumble in an oven!
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Prepare the apples, make the topping, and assemble the crumble as described above.
- Bake the dessert for 40-45 minutes until the crumble topping is golden brown and the apples are tender.
Recommended Wood Pellets for Smoked Apple Crumble
- Apple Wood Pellets: Provide a subtle, sweet flavor that enhances the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Cherry Wood Pellets: Add a slightly sweet and fruity smoke that pairs well with the bourbon and cinnamon.
- Peach Wood Pellets: Offer a mild, sweet, and fruity flavor that perfectly complements the apple crumble.
More dessert recipes!
Print
Smoked Bourbon Apple Crumble
Bring your A-game to your next cookout with this Smoked Bourbon Apple Crumble. This isn’t your ordinary apple crumble! We’ve infused this traditional dessert with a hit of smoky flavor and a splash of bourbon.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, American BBQ
Keyword apple crisp, bourbon apple crumble, Smoked apple crumble
Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 360kcal
- 5-6 medium size apples Granny Smith or Honeycrisp, peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons bourbon sub with apple cider
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- For the Topping:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes
- Extras:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Caramel ice cream topping
Preheat your pellet grill to 350°F. Use a mild wood pellet, such as apple or cherry.
Combine the sliced apples, sugar, bourbon, flour, cinnamon, lemon juice, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl. Stir to coat the apples evenly. Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes.
Mix the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl.
Add the cold butter to the dry ingredients. Use a pastry cutter or your hands to combine butter with the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Spread the apple mixture evenly in a cast-iron skillet or a grill-safe baking dish.
Top the apples with the crumble mixture, making sure to cover them completely.
Place the skillet on the preheated pellet grill. If you’re not using a pellet grill, place the skillet over indirect heat source.
Close the lid and cook for 40-45 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly.
Serve:
Remove the crumble from the grill and let it cool slightly before serving.
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and warm caramel topping.
Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 107mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 88IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg
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