Nothing says fall like apple crumb pie. The crisp air and falling leaves are the perfect backdrop for a cozy baking day.
Few recipes transform an ingredient quite like apple crumb pie does to the modest apple. With some simple spices, the oven turns the crisp fruit into a melty, silky filling. And that sweet crumb crust is the stuff of dreams. Every single bite of this pie has the perfect marriage of texture and warm autumn flavor.
Add some vanilla ice cream to this delicious apple pie with crumb topping, and you have a one-way ticket to dessert heaven.
Ingredients for Apple Crumb Pie
- Apples: The name of the game here is apples! Choose tart apples for this recipe. Skip the Cosmic and Honeycrisp apples, and instead lean into Granny Smith, Rome, Braeburn or Golden Delicious.
- Cinnamon: This noble spice brings soft but big flavor to whatever it touches. Grate cinnamon directly from cinnamon sticks for the freshest flavor.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds color as well as depth of flavor to this recipe.
- Butter: The secret weapon of apple crumb pie, butter gives the topping its crumbly-crispy bite.
Directions
Step 1: Make the dough
In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Cut in the shortening using a fork or pastry cutter, and continue doing so until the dough is rough and crumbly. Gradually add cold water a tablespoon or two at a time, tossing with a fork, until the dough is soft enough to come together into a ball. Shape it into a disk, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour or up to overnight.
Step 2: Prepare the crust
Set your oven to 450°F. Lightly flour a work surface, then roll the dough out to an 1/8-inch-thick circle (about 12 inches round). Carefully transfer the crust to a 9-inch pie plate, making sure not to stretch it. Drape the edges over the pie plate, and trim the crust to 1/2 inch beyond the rim of the plate. Flute or crimp the crust edges as you like.
Editor’s Tip: Learn to make the perfect fluted edges, roped edges and other decorative pie crusts.
Step 3: Prepare the filling
Take your thinly sliced apples, and lay them in the pie crust. Now, whisk together the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a bowl, and sprinkle this mixture evenly over the apples.
Editor’s Tip: You don’t have to be too careful with arranging your apples perfectly inside the crust, but the more deliberate you are, the tighter the apples will be in the pie, which is ideal. For a simple arrangement, you can lay the apples flat in concentric circles, overlapping from the edge to the center, in layers, until you run out.
Step 4: Make the topping
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, white sugar and brown sugar. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the apple filling.
Step 5: Bake and cool
Bake the pie for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven setting to 350°, and continue baking until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, 50 to 60 minutes. Let the pie cool on a wire rack, and serve.
Apple Crumb Pie Recipe Variations
- Try it with pears: Make this recipe with pears instead of apples for a fun new spin. You can also add different holiday spices like ground ginger, cardamom or cloves for that classic warmth that’s iconic to winter and fall desserts.
- Add a different topping: Our crumb topping is delicious, but a streusel topping or a classic woven lattice will impress your guests, too.
- Make it sweet-tart: Add another sweet-tart fruit, such as cranberries, to the filling for a juicy punch. Our recipe for cranberry apple pie is a hit among readers.
How to Store Apple Crumb Pie
Let your pie cool to room temperature, then wrap it in storage wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for three to four days in the refrigerator.
Apple Crumb Pie Tips
What kind of apples can you use to make apple crumble pie?
We recommend Golden Delicious or Granny Smith apples for our apple crumb pie. The flesh of these apples stays intact even after they’re baked, and you want an apple that will not turn mushy or break down too much while it cooks.
How do I keep peeled apples from turning brown?
As you peel and slice the apples, place them in a bowl of water with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. The acid will keep the apple flesh bright, without flavoring the apples.
