Dutch Apple Pie is just like a classic apple pie but served with a brown sugar crumb topping! Topped with vanilla ice cream or enjoyed solo, it’s a comforting dessert everyone loves.
Try our delicious Apple Slab Pie for a delicious dessert for a crowd (freezer friendly too). Or give this Pecan Pie a try next!
All American Pie
There’s nothing like the smell of a homemade apple pie baking in your kitchen!
Dutch Apple Pie (sometimes referred to as French Apple Pie or Streusel Apple Pie) is different from a traditional apple pie in just one way: instead of covering the spiced apple filling with a layer of crust, you sprinkle it with a tantalizing brown sugar crumb.
Dutch Apple Pie is even easier than my classic apple pie recipe! With buttery cinnamon apples, a flaky pastry crust and the irresistible crumb topping, this pie received an enthusiastic two thumbs up from everyone who sampled it.
If you’ve never made apple pie from scratch before, this recipe is a great one to start with! It’s easy enough for even the most green of bakers–and who would turn down a freshly baked apple pie?
My holiday tables are never complete without at least one apple pie, but you don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to give this recipe a try. You’re going to love homemade Dutch Apple Pie from scratch!
HOLIDAY PIES: Pumpkin Pie | French Silk Pie | Lemon Meringue Pie
How to Make Apple Pie
I always say that a great pie starts with a good crust. For years, I’ve been making my apple pie with a store bought pie crust and swear by it!
Recently, I fell in love with this easy flaky pie crust recipe.
So, I decided to put it to good use and make a Dutch Apple Pie this weekend. Use a homemade crust or a refrigerated one, whichever you prefer.
Then, you need a delicious apple pie filling. Here’s what I use in mine:
- Apples
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Lemon juice
How to make apple pie filling:
Peel and slice the apples into even pieces, about 1/4 inch thick. Toss them in a large mixing bowl with the sugars, spices, flour and lemon juice.
Now it’s time to make the topping!
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Dutch Apple Pie Topping
Here’s what goes into the crumb topping:
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Flour
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
How to Make Apple Crumble Pie
To assemble the Dutch Apple Pie:
STEP 1. Place the pie crust into a deep dish pie plate.
STEP 2. Spoon the filling over the pie crust, distributing evenly.
STEP 3. Sprinkle the crumble topping across the filling.
STEP 4. Cover the edges of the crust with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
Let cool and enjoy!
What kind of apples to use in apple pie
You can use just about any variety of apples to make this Dutch Apple Pie recipe, but I do have a few favorites.
Granny smith and golden delicious have a tartness that holds up wonderfully to the sweet brown sugar and cinnamon. I like to use a combination of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples in my apple pies!
Braeburn, Honeycrisp and Fuji apples are other great choices for pie baking.
Serving Suggestions
Honestly, I’m happy with a big slice of french apple pie on a plate all by itself. This apple pie from scratch is especially satisfying with the nutmeg and cinnamon sugar flavors shining through.
You can’t go wrong when you serve apple pie alongside a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream, either. My kids often ask for their apple pie to be topped with a dollop of Homemade Whipped Cream.
Adding a big scoop of homemade peach ice cream isn’t a bad choice either. You’ll love the apple-peach combo!
If you LOVE apple pie, give this raspberry pie recipe a try too. With a beautiful lattice crust!
Storage Tips
I keep my apple pie in the refrigerator. Cover it with foil or plastic wrap and enjoy within 2 days.
After a holiday dinner of turkey, green bean casserole, and funeral potatoes, you may find yourself unable to eat this whole pie.
Wrap completely in foil and freeze (up to 3 months). Thaw overnight in refrigerator.
Recipe FAQs
To solve this problem, try blind baking your crust: bake pie crust in 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes before adding the filling and proceeding with the rest of the recipe. Pie weights placed on top of the crust will prevent it from puffing as it baked, though you can still blind bake the crust if you don’t have weights!
Most dutch apple pies have a crumb topping, while a French apple pie is usually topped with a pastry dough.
I keep my fruit pies in the refrigerator. Cover it with foil or plastic wrap and enjoy within 2 days.
Tips and Tricks
- Place the pie plate as close to the heating element as you can get when putting it in the oven. Usually, this means the bottom rack! The closer to the heat source, the more evenly the pie cooks and the crispier the crust!
- Use a pie shield to protect your crust from over browning. Foil works too!
- Bars: make a batch of our apple pie bars next. Similar to today’s recipe, they have a shortbread crust with streusel topping!
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Dutch Apple Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pie crust homemade or refrigerated
For the apple filling:
- 6 cups apples
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
For the topping:
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter cold
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F.
- Peel and slice apples into a large mixing bowl. Add sugars, flour, spices and lemon juice. Stir to combine and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the crumble topping with a pastry blender.
- Place pie crust or refrigerated crust (as directed) into a deep dish pie plate.
- Add apple filling to pie crust.
- Sprinkle crumble topping on top of apple filling.
- Using foil, cover the edges of the pie crust.
- Bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 25 minutes or until crust and crumb topping are browned and filling is bubbly.
- Cool and enjoy!
Notes
- I like to use a combination of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples in apple pie!
- You can partially blind bake the pie crust before filling so it doesn’t get soggy from the juices of the filing while baking. To do this, bake pie crust in 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes (you can use a pie shield and pie weights if desired).
- Place the pie plate on the bottom rack of the oven closest to the heating element to ensure even cooking and a crisp bottom pie crust!
Nutrition
Dutch Apple Pie is easy enough to serve your family for a weeknight dinner and, without a doubt, worthy of a spot on your holiday menu!
Made this for Thanksgiving. Used 3 kinds of apples (granny smith, honeycrisp and braeburn) and added 1/2 cup of oats to crumble topping. So very good! Thank you for the recipe!
I made 3 pies, immediately baked one, froze the second pie and baked the day after Thanksgiving and froze the filling in a container to be added to a pie crust on some future day.
Can you make this ahead of time & bake before serving?
Thanks for the tip about blind baking the crust. It worked like a charm. Loved every bite of this pie!
This pie is so delicious! The filling baked up perfectly and the crumble topping is totally to die for!