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Home » Dessert » Apple Pie Filling

September 20, 2018 By Sara 169 Comments

Apple Pie Filling

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This homemade apple pie filling is made with sliced Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, spices and butter, all simmered together until thickened. The best pie filling that also works great for a variety of other desserts and pastries.

Apple pie filling from scratch tastes SO much better than the canned version and can be used in everything from classic pies to danishes.

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An unbaked pie crust filled with homemade apple pie filling.

Fall is here and there is an abundance of apples at the stores, which means it’s time to make apple pie! Or in this case, homemade apple pie filling. I’m not so good with pie crusts, so typically I purchase the crust and load it full of my own apple pie filling for an amazing fall treat.

How do you make apple pie filling?

This recipe is a mix of sliced apples, brown sugar, butter and spices that is cooked with some cornstarch on the stove to thicken everything up. It takes just minutes to put together and can be stored in the fridge or freezer for later use.

Apples in a pan with brown sugar sauce.

What kind of apples are best for apple pie?

For apple pie, you want apples that will hold their shape and have a nice well rounded flavor. I use Granny Smith apples for this apple pie filling because they stay firm after being cooked and they have a tart flavor that works well with the sweetness of the brown sugar. You can use other apple varieties for this recipe, such as Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious and Braeburn apples.

A pan of homemade apple pie filling.

Tips for apple pie filling

  • You can cut your apples into any size or shape that you like, just be sure to cut them uniformly so that they all cook at the same rate.
  • Freshly grated nutmeg has so much more flavor than the pre-ground variety. Whole nutmegs keep for years when stored in a cool dry location, so buy a bottle and shave off a little nutmeg as needed for your dishes.
  • I use butter in this pie filling because it makes the finished product taste a little richer. You can omit it if you prefer.
  • Homemade apple pie filling can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months

A mason jar filled with homemade apple pie filling.

Now that I’ve had homemade apple pie filling, I’ll never be able to go back to the store bought kind. The flavor of this version is SO much better, so even if you have to cheat and use a pre-made pie crust like I do, you’ll still end up with an amazing pie.

A slice of dutch apple pie made with homemade apple pie filling.

More delicious apple recipes

  • Apple Fries
  • Slow Cooker Apple Cider
  • Caramel Apple Dip
  • Apple Pork Chops
  • Apple Nachos

Apple Pie Filling Video

An unbaked pie crust filled with homemade apple pie filling.
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4.95 from 36 votes

Apple Pie Filling

This homemade apple pie filling is made with sliced Granny Smith apples, brown sugar, spices and butter, all simmered together until thickened. The best pie filling that also works great for a variety of other desserts and pastries.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apple pie filling
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 166kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 4 cups apples peeled and thinly sliced, I used Granny Smith
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 3 cups water
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg freshly ground if possible
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

  • Drizzle the lemon juice over the apple slices.
  • Place the water, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large pan. 
  • Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for 1 minute or until just thickened.
  • Add the apples to the pan and stir to coat with the sauce. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the apples have softened, about 10 minutes.
  • Add the butter to the pan and stir until it has melted.
  • Cool the apple filling for 10 minutes, then transfer it to containers and refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to use it.

Nutrition

Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Filed Under: Dessert Tagged With: Apples, Pie

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Comments

  1. MJ says

    January 9, 2021 at 8:01 pm

    Can i use honey instead of granulated sugar? I have brown sugar but not granulated white.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 9, 2021 at 8:12 pm

      I’d use brown sugar, I don’t think honey would work!

      Reply
  2. Carmen P says

    November 25, 2020 at 6:37 pm

    How many pies would this fill? And how long do you cook a regular pie for?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 25, 2020 at 10:53 pm

      This is for one pie, here is my favorite pie recipe: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/dutch-apple-pie/

      Reply
  3. Leeann says

    November 25, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    5 stars
    This came out great! Perfect consistency. To take it to another level, use half apple cider and half water and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.

    Reply
  4. Isis Gayadin says

    November 24, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    5 stars
    I really enjoyed the flavor of the filling and I am ready to make some Thanksgiving pies. However, since I’m baking mini pies (muffin tin) how long should I bake the crust and filling for?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 25, 2020 at 8:27 am

      I would try baking at 425 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown!

      Reply
  5. Emily Marie Weston says

    November 24, 2020 at 12:41 pm

    What topping do you use?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 24, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      I use this recipe: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/dutch-apple-pie/

      Reply
  6. Katie says

    November 21, 2020 at 11:23 am

    5 stars
    This is the BEST applie pie filling! I’m going to make it again, but this time do mini apple pies? Do you know how long I should bake them?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      November 25, 2020 at 9:28 am

      425 degrees F for about 20 minutes should be okay 🙂

      Reply
  7. Jeanne says

    November 20, 2020 at 11:55 am

    Love this recipe for apple pie filling. I doubled it, how long will it keep it in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 20, 2020 at 7:25 pm

      Up to 5 days!

      Reply
  8. Carolyn says

    October 30, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    How did your make the crust?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 31, 2020 at 10:00 pm

      I typically use a store bought frozen crust!

      Reply
      • Mel says

        December 19, 2020 at 3:59 pm

        My favourite simple pie receipt is 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 Tbs sugar, 1 cup melted unsalted butter, and 1/2 cup cold water. Makes a large pie and rolls out great!

        Reply
  9. david waltrip says

    October 28, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    5 stars
    I added a couple plums to mine and a little caramel. Never once had a complaint but in a line up it stands out from the rest.

    Reply
  10. Joe says

    October 27, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Hi! This looks delicious – I want to make it this weekend 🙂 Quick question from a beginner baker, when using this filling for a shortcrust pastry pie, do you think I need to blind bake the pastry first? (i.e. would the filling make the pie base soggy if I baked the filling at the same time as the pastry?)

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 27, 2020 at 4:29 pm

      I don’t blind bake for fruit pies, you can follow my apple pie recipe here: https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/dutch-apple-pie/

      Reply
    • Nancy says

      November 22, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      I always blind bake my crust. Especially for fruit pies. It ensures a crispy bottom crust

      Reply
  11. Aileen says

    October 26, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    5 stars
    Seriously delicious! Easily the best apple pie filling I’ve ever made!

    Reply
  12. Patricia says

    October 25, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    5 stars
    Those layers & layers of apples. I don’t think it gets any better than this!

    Reply
  13. Kevin says

    October 23, 2020 at 2:31 pm

    5 stars
    This apple pie filling is calling my name! I could eat it by the spoonful!

    Reply
  14. Vikki says

    October 21, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious filling, one of the best pies I’ve ever made!

    Reply
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With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More
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