At the moment we’re making a variation of basic apple pie, however as a substitute of a prime crust, we’re piling on a thick, buttery brown sugar crumble. This apple crumble pie is the definition of fall consolation, and also you don’t must fuss with an ornamental pie crust on prime.
I initially revealed this recipe in 2015 and have since added new photographs and some extra success suggestions.
At the moment we’re giving basic apple pie a twist—identical cozy flavors, however as a substitute of a prime crust, we’re piling on a thick, buttery brown-sugar crumble. This apple crumble pie is pure fall consolation, and bonus: no must fuss with an ornamental prime crust.
Selfmade pie is my all-time favourite dessert, and if you happen to’ve made my basic apple pie earlier than, this one will really feel very acquainted: heat spices, a mountain of apples, and a buttery crust… just a bit simpler, due to that crumble topping.
This model captures every part you’re keen on a few conventional double-crust apple pie, however with a crunchy-tender walnut crumble topping that makes it particularly excellent to your Thanksgiving unfold.
At the moment’s Apple Crumble Pie:
- Has a buttery, flaky crust
- Has a wealthy apple filling that’s juicy, compact, candy, and cinnamon-spiced
- Is topped with a brown-sugary, buttery, toasty walnut crumble
- Is the proper spot for vanilla ice cream
…and most of all, it’s one of the best model I do know!
Right here’s every part it’s essential to get began:
Begin by Making the Pie Dough
Begin with the all-butter pie dough. The recipe under makes 1 single crust, so it’s excellent for at present’s pie, after we are doing a crumble on prime as a substitute of latticing a second crust on prime like we do with this salted caramel apple pie.
It’s buttery, flaky, and durable sufficient to carry all these juicy apples. You can even use 1 of the crusts from my flaky pie crust recipe as a substitute (that recipe yields 2 crusts). I just like the model under as a result of it yields *barely* extra dough for a single-crust pie. Plenty of dough to work with to flute that fairly edge. It’s really what I take advantage of after I make an apple galette.
Make the dough, then chill it earlier than rolling it out and including the filling.
Crumble Topping
Whereas the dough is chilling, make the crumble topping. You need the crumble topping to additionally chill within the fridge a bit to agency up, so the crumbs maintain their form within the oven.
The crumble might look humble, however it’s really the star right here. Brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, melted butter, and walnuts… easy pantry components that bake into one thing extraordinary!
The walnuts toast within the oven because the pie bakes, including a heat, nutty crunch that contrasts superbly with the delicate apple filling. When you choose to skip nuts, use the crumble topping from my apple cranberry crumble pie as a substitute.
Stir the dry components collectively after which pour melted butter on prime. Combine till it appears to be like thick and crumbly—not moist, not sandy. Identical to this:
As soon as your pie dough has chilled for not less than 2 hours, roll out the crust and tuck it right into a 9-inch pie dish. Flute or crimp the pie dough edges. See my full learn how to flute pie crust tutorial for all the main points.
Brush the perimeters of the crust with egg wash (simply an egg overwhelmed along with just a little milk), which is vital for the crust to develop that lovely golden sheen when it bakes. Refrigerate the formed crust whilst you make the filling.
Apple Pie Filling
That is the simplest half. It’s such a easy, basic combine: apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour, spices, and a little bit of vanilla for additional taste.
I at all times use a wide range of apples for one of the best taste. A tart apple like Granny Smith combined with a sweeter one like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Pink Woman. That steadiness of tart and candy delivers excellent apple pie taste in each chunk. Here’s a full record of one of the best apples for baking.
My #1 tip: Ensure your apple slices are across the identical thickness. You don’t need some tremendous thick apples (that gained’t actually prepare dinner) and a few tremendous skinny apples (that may grow to be mushy). Purpose for round 1/4-inch thickness.
Even slices imply tender apples with simply the correct quantity of chunk.
Stir every part collectively, then spoon it into the crust, making an attempt to ensure there are not any large gaps between all of the apple slices:
Add the chilly crumble topping. It’ll seem to be an absolute mountain of topping, however it bakes down completely:
One thing you’ll discover concerning the baking directions for this apple crumble pie: start baking at the next oven temperature. Placing a pie into a really, extremely popular oven helps the crust brown. After 20 minutes or so, cut back the temperature. This permits the pie’s filling to prepare dinner completely earlier than the crust burns.
How Do I Know When Apple Crumble Pie Is Performed?
A visible cue is useful when figuring out the pie’s doneness. If the crust is golden, and the filling is effervescent up across the edges, the apple crumble pie is completed. If you wish to be exact, the inner temperature of the filling taken with an instant-read thermometer needs to be round 200°F (93°C) when performed.
Earlier than digging in, you’ll should let the pie settle down. The longer you let apple pie cool, the extra the filling will set. I like to recommend cooling for not less than 3 full hours earlier than slicing and serving. I do know, it’s practically unimaginable to attend!
Searching for an apple pie-like deal with in a fraction of the time? Strive my apple crisp, apple cobbler, or apple galette as a substitute.
Description
It is a variation of basic apple pie, however as a substitute of a prime crust, we’re piling on a thick, buttery brown sugar crumble. This apple crumble pie is the definition of fall consolation, and also you don’t must fuss with an ornamental pie crust on prime. Ensure to sit back every part as directed. Chilly pie dough and a chilly crumble topping maintain their form significantly better throughout baking.
Crust
- 1 and 1/2 cups (188g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled), plus extra for work floor
- 1 Tablespoon (12g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) chilly unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup (60g/ml) ice-cold water, plus extra as wanted
- egg wash: 1 massive egg overwhelmed with 1 Tablespoon (15g/ml) milk
Crumble Topping
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed mild or darkish brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon floor cinnamon
- 3/4 cup (94g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 3/4 cup (95g) chopped walnuts
- 5 Tablespoons (71g) unsalted butter, melted and barely cooled
Filling
- 10 cups (1.25kg) 1/4-inch-thick apple slices (about 8 massive peeled and cored apples)*
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (31g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1 Tablespoon (15g/ml) contemporary lemon juice
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons floor cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon floor cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon floor nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Make the pie dough for the crust: In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the flour, sugar, and salt. Utilizing a pastry cutter or 2 forks, minimize within the butter till the combination resembles coarse pea-sized crumbs. Add the water and stir till the flour is moistened. Add 1–2 extra Tablespoons of water if the dough appears dry. Flip the dough out onto a frivolously floured work floor and, utilizing your arms, work the dough right into a ball. Flatten it right into a thick disc. Wrap the dough disc in plastic wrap or parchment paper and refrigerate it for not less than 2 hours, and as much as 3 days.
- Make the crumble topping: In a medium bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and walnuts. Utilizing a silicone spatula, stir within the melted butter. The topping can be thick and crumbly. Place it within the fridge whilst you proceed.
- Roll out the chilled pie dough: On a floured work floor, roll out the disc of chilled dough. Flip the dough a few quarter flip after each few rolls till you could have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Rigorously place the dough right into a 9-inch pie dish. Tuck it in together with your fingers, ensuring it’s easy. Use a small paring knife to trim extra dough off the perimeters. Flute the pie crust edges and brush them with egg wash. Place the pie crust within the fridge.
- Make the filling: In a big bowl utilizing a silicone spatula or picket spoon, mix the apples, sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla extract, stirring till the apples are all coated.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Place a baking sheet on the underside oven rack to catch any juices that will bubble over.
- Spoon the apple filling into the crust, ensuring there are not any massive gaps between the slices. It’s a number of filling! Sprinkle the chilly crumb topping evenly excessive of the apples.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Add a pie crust defend to stop the perimeters from browning too shortly, and cut back the oven temperature to 375°F (191°C). Bake for a further 35 to 45 minutes or till the crust is golden brown and juices are effervescent across the edges. If wanted towards the tip of bake time, take away the pie crust defend and tent a big piece of aluminum foil over your entire pie if the crumb topping is getting too brown.
- Enable the pie to chill for not less than 3 full hours at room temperature earlier than serving. This time permits the filling to thicken up. Serve with vanilla ice cream and salted caramel sauce, if desired. Cowl leftover pie and retailer within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: This an important pie to make 1 day prematurely—after it cools, cowl tightly and preserve at room temperature. The pie crust dough can be ready forward of time and saved within the fridge for as much as 5 days or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Baked and cooled pie freezes properly for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and permit to come back to room temperature earlier than serving. Ready filling may be frozen for as much as 3 months; thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than utilizing.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Glass Mixing Bowls | Silicone Spatula or Wood Spoon | Pastry Cutter | Rolling Pin | 9-inch Pie Dish | Pastry Brush | Apple Peeler | Pie Crust Protect | Cooling Rack
- Apples: You want about 8 massive apples. Peel then slice apples in a uniform thickness, about 1/4 inch thick. You don’t need some stable apples and a few skinny, mushy apples. For greatest taste, use a wide range of apples corresponding to Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Fuji, and/or Pink Woman. When you’re , take a look at this put up: Right here Are the Greatest Apples for Baking.
- Aluminum Foil Pie Crust Protect: You should buy a pie crust defend or make one from aluminum foil. Minimize a 14-inch sq. of aluminum foil. Fold in half. Minimize out a 5-inch semi-circle on the folded edge. Unfold. Rigorously match the aluminum foil over the pie crust edges, securing down on the perimeters as greatest you may (cautious, the pie is sizzling!), leaving the middle of the pie uncovered.
- Replace in 2025: After a decade of baking this pie, we’ve made a couple of small enhancements. The unique model used half of a double-crust pie dough, fewer apples (8–10 cups), and a pair of Tbsp lemon juice. The up to date recipe now makes use of a single all-butter pie crust, barely extra apples, and fewer lemon juice. When you choose the unique methodology, make this pie crust recipe (saving the second half for an additional pie), cut back apples to eight–10 cups, and enhance the lemon juice to 2 Tbsp.
