A Table Full Of Joy

  • Halloween Recipes
  • Entree Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Halloween Recipes
  • Entree Recipes
  • Side Dish Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Halloween Recipes
    • Entree Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Pie

    Apple Pie Filling Recipe

    Published: Apr 9, 2024 by Lisa Killian ยท This post may contain affiliate links. Please read myย  disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Apple Pie Filling Recipe is easy, delicious, and works for pies, cakes, ice cream and more! This filling turns out thick and delicious without any added flour or cornstarch!

    slice of apple pie with ice cream scoop on top
    Get ready for the best apple pie filling!

    Over the years Iโ€™ve tried my hand at a few apple pies but they would always turn out soggy, were a lot of work, and overall, I was unsatisfied. So, I was determined to figure out an easy apple pie filling recipe that was delicious and that could be made ahead of time.

    I am finally happy with my apple pie filling recipe and I can wait to share it with you!

    Homemade apple pie filling is so much more flavorful than store-bought and is actually quite easy to make!

    You can even make it and freeze it for later!

    Best Apples for apple pie?

    Flavor: Granny Smith and Fuji are my top picks for apples. They provide a nice tart and sweet combo that cook beautifully and add dimension to the pie. I also recommend using Golden Delicious if you donโ€™t have Fuji.

    cooked apple fin showing topping
    This filling makes the best apple pie!

    Texture: If using other apple varieties keep in mind that some donโ€™t hold their shape well when baked or will have a mushy texture once cooked. Granny Smith, Fuji , and Golden Delicious, not only pair well flavor wise but have a great texture once baked.  

    What you need for Apple Pie Filling Recipe?

    • Granny Smith & Fuji Apples
    • Granulated Sugar
    • Light Brown Sugar
    • Lemon Juice and Lemon Zest
    • Salt
    • Ground Cinnamon
    • Ground Nutmeg
    apple pie filling ingredients

    Extra ingredients for Apple Pie:

    • Premade store bought or homemade pie crust
    • Topping:  Flour, Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar, Quick Oats, Cinnamon, Butter
    apple pie toppping ingredients

    How to make Apple Pie Filling?

    • Peel, core and slice apples.
    • Stir sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon zest, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a Dutch oven or large pot.
    apple pie filling in dutch oven before cooking
    apple pie filling in dutch oven after cooking
    • Cover and cook apples over medium heat until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Stir occasionally, ~15-20 minutes.
    • Once tender, transfer apples and the liquid from the pot to a rimmed baking sheet and allow to cool to room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
    apples cooling on baking sheet

    Do you need to add a thickener to the apple pie filling?

    Many recipes add flour or cornstarch to thicken the filling but that can dull the flavor of the apple pie filling and we definitely donโ€™t want that.

    Apples contain a natural form of pectin which is a thickener. By removing a lot of the excess liquid from precooking them over low heat on the stove, you will get a robustly flavored and thick apple pie filling.

    taking a fork to a slice of pie

    How much filling does this make?

    This recipe makes enough for one deep dish apple pie, about the equivalent to a 20 oz store bought can.

    How to make apple pie using filling?

    • While apples are cooling, combine all the topping ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. You can either use a pastry cutter, a fork, or your hands to do this.

    Save this for later!

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    Don't worry, I promise not to spam you!

    cutting in butter to crumb topping
    Cut in the butter for a crumbly topping!
    crumb topping mixed together
    I love it with clumps of butter!
    • Preheat oven to 425ยฐF. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and place a baking sheet in the oven while it preheats.
    • Drain cooled apples in a colander, reserving ยผ cup of the juice. Mix reserved juice with lemon juice.
    strianing the pie filling
    Strain.
    reserved liquid from cooking apples
    Reserves some of the liquid!
    • Place pie dough in pie dish. If using a premade pie dough, roll it a little larger to fit a deep dish  pie dish.
    unbaked pie crust in pie dish
    No shame in store bought pie crust!
    apple pie filling in pie crust
    The filling is so beautiful!
    • Place apple pie filling in pie crust then drizzle with lemon juice mixture.
    • Top apples with crumb topping, gently pressing into place.
    • Place the pie on the preheated baking sheet. Then bake for 25 minutes. Then reduce the oven temperature to 375ยฐF, and continue baking for an additional 25-30 minutes.
    added topping to pie dish
    I love a streusel topping!
    cooked apple pie
    Look at that golden topping!
    • Once done baking remove pie form oven an allow to cool on a wire cooling rack for 2 hours, to allow the filling to set.
    close up of slice of apple pie with ice cream scoop on top
    Precooking the filling makes such a great pie!

    When baking- why use a preheated baking sheet?

    Preheating the baking sheet helps to cook the pie crust so it doesnโ€™t become soggy.

    How to freeze apple pie filling?

    Allow pie filling to cool, then place in an airtight freezer safe container, like a freezer safe gallon Ziploc bag.

    apple pie with a slice of pie next to it
    This filling is so easy to use!

    How long does apple pie filling last?

    Apple pie filling lasts in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Apple pie Filling will last in the freezer at least 6 months.

    What to use apple pie filling on?

    This filling is great on its own and of course used for pies, but it also works great for so many other tasty recipes like these:

    • Use in these mini apple pies.
    • Add to muffins or coffee cake.
    • Top premade cakes to make apple cobbler cake
    • Use as a topping for ice cream, oatmeal, or apple bacon pancakes.

    If you like this recipe, make sure to check out all my tasty pie recipes like this lemon meringue pie, french silk pie, and this caramel pecan pie.

    • churro cheesecake bar topped with caramel sauce and chocolate sauce and strawberries featured image
      Churro Cheesecake
    • slice of pecan pie on plate with whipped cream featured image
      Old Fashioned Pecan Pie Recipe
    • toll house pie featured image
      Toll House Pie
    • Lucky charms cookie with marshmallows pressed on top.
      Lucky Charms Cookies
    Don't forget to pin this recipe!
    HTMLFont size
    apple pie filling featured image

    Apple Pie Filling Recipe

    This Apple Pie Filling Recipe is easy, delicious, and works for pies, cakes, ice cream and more! This filling turns out thick and delicious without any added flour or cornstarch!
    4.58 from 28 votes
    Print Pin
    Author: Lisa Killian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cooling Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 10 slices

    Equipment

    • 9 inch Deep Dish Pie Dish

    Ingredients

    Filling

    • 2 ยฝ lbs Granny Smith Apples peeled, cored and ยผ inch thick (8 apples)
    • 2 ยฝ lbs Fuji or Golden Delicious apples peeled, cored and ยผ inch thick (8 apples)
    • ยฝ cup granulated sugar
    • ยผ cup light brown sugar
    • 1 tbs lemon juice
    • ยฝ teaspoon lemon zest
    • ยผ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • โ…› teaspoon ground nutmeg

    To Make an Apple Pie

    • 1 premade store bought or homemade pie crust

    Topping

    • ยพ c flour
    • ยพ c brown sugar
    • ยฝ c white sugar
    • ยผ c quick oats
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • ยพ c butter

    Instructions

    • Peel, core and slice apples.
      2 ยฝ lbs Granny Smith Apples, 2 ยฝ lbs Fuji or Golden Delicious apples
    • Gently stir sliced apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon zest, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a Dutch oven or large pot.
      ยฝ cup granulated sugar, ยผ cup light brown sugar, ยฝ teaspoon lemon zest, ยผ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, โ…› teaspoon ground nutmeg
      apple pie filling in dutch oven before cooking
    • Cover and cook apples over medium heat until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Stir occasionally, ~15-20 minutes.
      apple pie filling in dutch oven after cooking
    • Once tender, transfer apples and the liquid from the pot to a rimmed baking sheet and allow to cool to room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
      apples cooling on baking sheet
    • Once cooled, use right away for a pie or refrigerate or freeze for later use.

    To make an apple pie:

    • While apples are cooling, combine all the topping ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. You can either use a pastry cutter, a fork, or your hands to do this.
      ยพ c flour, ยพ c brown sugar, ยฝ c white sugar, ยผ c quick oats, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ยพ c butter
      crumb topping mixed together
    • Preheat oven to 425ยฐF. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and place a baking sheet in the oven while it preheats.
    • Drained cooled apples in a colander, reserving ยผ cup of the juice. Mix reserved juice with lemon juice.
      1 tbs lemon juice
      reserved liquid from cooking apples
    • Place pie dough in pie dish. If using a premade pie dough, roll it a little larger to fit the pie dish.
      1 premade store bought or homemade pie crust
      unbaked pie crust in pie dish
    • Place apple pie filling in pie crust then drizzle with lemon juice mixture.
      apple pie filling in pie crust
    • Top apples with crumb topping, gently pressing into place.
      added topping to pie dish
    • Carefully place the pie on the preheated baking sheet. * Then place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. At this point the crust will be lightly golden brown.
    • After 25 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 375ยฐF, and continue baking for an additional 25-30 minutes. The pie is done when the juices are bubbling and the crust is a nice deep golden brown.
      cooked apple pie
    • Once done baking remove pie form oven an allow to cool on a wire cooling rack for 2 hours, to allow the filling to set. Serve warm or at room temperature.
      close up of slice of apple pie with ice cream scoop on top

    Notes

    Tips and Tricks
    • Storing Apple Pie Filling: This filling can be used right away, refrigerated for 3 days, or frozen for later use.
    • Freezing: If freezing, allow to cool completely, then store filling with any liquid it forms in a freezer safe container. Once ready to use, allow to defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then use as you would from fresh.
    • *Preheated Baking Sheet: The preheated baking sheet serves two functions. To catch any filling that might bubble over and to help brown the crust on the bottom of the pie to keep it from getting soggy.
    • Recipe adapted from Cookโ€™s The Science of Good Cooking Cookbook - highly recommend! (amazon affiliate link).
    • Nutrition data is based off of just the filling, not the topping or pie crust.ย 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 62IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.2mg

    Post updated on 12/20/21 and 4/9/2024, recipe updated on 4/9/2024

    More Easy Pie Recipes

    • maple bacon breakfast pie featured image
      Maple Bacon Breakfast Pie
    • caramel pecan pie featured image
      Caramel Pecan Pie
    • pumpkin pie with sweetened condensed milk featured image
      Pumpkin Pie with Sweetened Condensed Milk
    • chocolate pudding pie featured image
      Chocolate Pudding Pie

    Comments

      4.58 from 28 votes (19 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Lisa says

      April 09, 2024 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a tasty recipe! I love it for pies!

      Reply
    2. Aj says

      November 26, 2023 at 12:22 am

      5 stars
      The filling is really good, hiwever, if I make again I will cut the sugar in half for the streusel.to reduce the sweetness. I used five granny snith apples and a frozen deep dish frozen pie shell. I would suggest finding a true deep dish frozen pie crust to hold the apples and streusel.

      Reply
    3. Michelle says

      November 02, 2022 at 10:41 am

      This recipe looks great and I am wanting to make it for Thanksgiving, but I am wondering if this is a standard pie crust or deep dish? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        November 04, 2022 at 3:22 pm

        Wonderful! I would use a deep dish since the apples pile pretty high.

        Reply
    4. Doris says

      August 30, 2018 at 12:43 pm

      Hi can I used the topping mixer instead of the dough paste.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        August 31, 2018 at 10:07 am

        Hey Doris! Not sure what you mean by dough paste? If you mean a homemade pie crust then absolutely! I have a great one here for my mini apple pies: https://atablefullofjoy.com/mini-apple-pies/. If your questions is can you use the topping mix as a pie crust then I'm not sure how that would hold up but you can give it a try! Let me know if I answered your question, thanks!

        Reply
    5. Constance J says

      March 23, 2018 at 7:55 am

      5 stars
      Apple crisp is one of my all time favorite desserts. I love the twist that you have on it here!

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        March 25, 2018 at 3:20 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
    6. Nicole says

      March 22, 2018 at 7:39 am

      5 stars
      That crumble is perfect!! My mom used to make something similar growing up and it always takes me right back to childhood. Such an american classic!

      Reply
    7. Jacqueline says

      March 22, 2018 at 4:43 am

      5 stars
      Apple pies are my favourite dessert! This one sounds and looks yummilicious!

      Reply
    8. Julie says

      March 20, 2018 at 7:58 pm

      4 stars
      Happy Pi day! This is such a classic pie - I can taste! I'll take a big slice, please!

      Reply
    9. Fred Nonterah says

      March 19, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      I'm in love with apple pies and this version sounds and looks amazing! I've cut down on a lot of my desserts but doing this once a month wouldn't hurt, especially with some ice cream on top.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        March 20, 2018 at 8:16 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    10. Allison Hanson says

      March 19, 2018 at 11:29 am

      5 stars
      Nice looking pie! The crumble on top looks so yummy!

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        March 20, 2018 at 8:15 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    11. Stine Mari says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:38 am

      5 stars
      Pi Day or not, this looks delicious! I love a good warm pie served with ice cream. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        March 20, 2018 at 8:16 pm

        Thank you!

        Reply
    headshot of lisa

    Hey, I'm Lisa!

    Here you will find easy and delicious recipes that will bring joy and lots of flavor to your home!

    About Me

    Halloween Recipes

    • Halloween Drink featured image
      Cauldron Cocktail Halloween Drink
    • witches fingers featured image
      Witches Fingers
    • halloween graveyard cake featured image
      Halloween Graveyard Cake
    • Witches brew cocktail featured image
      Witches Brew Recipe
    • featloaf featured image
      Feetloaf
    • halloween popcorn balls featured image
      Halloween Popcorn Balls

    Most Popular Recipes

    • shake and bake chicken featured image
      Shake and Bake Chicken
    • How to tell if a sweet potato is bad featured image
      How to Tell If a Sweet Potato Is Bad?
    • baked scallops featured image
      Baked Scallops
    • golden graham s'mores bars close up featured image
      Golden Grahams S'mores Bars
    • cinnamon toast crunch bars with mini marshmallows sprinkled around them and milk in a cup, featured image.
      Cinnamon Toast Crunch Bars
    • steak pasta in bowl featured image
      Steak Pasta With Creamy Garlic Sauce

    Featured On

    AS seen on Parade, Hearthstone, Yummly, Sam's Club, Congra, Red Tricycle, Chefling App. Foodgawker, Karo

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates!

    Contact

    • About Me
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, ThermoWorks Affiliate, Good Ranchers Affiliate, De Buyer Affiliate, Camp Chef Affiliate, Walmart + Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright ยฉ 2025 A Table Full of Joyโ„ข

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.