I know many folks out there hate to see summer go and many are happy to see the arrival of fall. What better way to celebrate both than a recipe that perfectly bridges summer and autumn… meet your new favorite dessert: apple crumble pie. This crumble apple pie is easy and always a hit; with a few fun twists, this recipe will quickly become an annual go-to.
What sets this crumble apple pie apart from a standard apple pie is crisp apple cider. Much like apple cider donuts, this pie evokes all of those warm fall flavors with a fresh, crisp apple bite! The other thing done differently with this pie is the use of Honey Crisp apples. Honey Crisps are my favorite apple variety and they really take this pie to the next level! September is the best time of the year for apples, so let’s take advantage of the seasonal goodness.
A New Way to Make a Delicious Crumble Apple Pie
Blind Baking
This crumble apple pie recipe is a little bit of a departure from a standard pie recipe. Every component is cooked separately. I know it feels strange, but the result is totally worth it. One way to ensure success and avoid a soggy bottomed pie is to blind bake the crust. By baking the crust separately, you ensure its sturdiness. This isn’t always required, but it saves time in the long run and will work best with this recipe. It’s a great trick of other seasonal pies, like pumpkin pie, so keep it in your back pocket!
To pre-cook the apples or not pre-cook?
Some apple pie recipes require pre-cooking the apples and some don’t. I wanted to retain some bite from the apple when creating this recipe. By precooking the apples, you help to keep their volume and it ensures your filling isn’t too runny.
Homemade pie crust pro-tips
A few things are going to help you when making any pie crust. Here are a few of my favorite tips & tricks when making a homemade crust:
- Let the dough rest – giving the dough a chance to absorb the water and relax the gluten is paramount for a light flakey crust.
- Make the dough the night before – Then let it come to temperature on the counter. It seems like a lot, but it will help you roll out the dough smoothly.
Tips for the perfect crumble topping
I prefer a decorative crust, but the easy and rustic crumble topping is something anyone can whip up. And it’s always nice to try something new, too. Plus, leftover crumble is really tasty on Greek yogurt! Who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast?!
Getting that perfect crumble texture isn’t always so easy. After incorporating the butter, spread the crumble out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze it for 15 minutes. Then, while baking the crumble, make sure to turn the crumble about halfway for an even crispy texture. This step is a must for any crumble apple pie.
Also, the crumb can be made a day ahead. Extra will keep for a week in an airtight container.
Crumble Apple Pie with a Spiced Cider Filling
Ingredients
Spiced Cider Pie Filling
- 4 cups Spiced apple cider
- 8 Apples peeled and cubed, preferably Honey Crisp or Granny Smith
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter cut into cubes
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Sugar Crumble
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter cubed
Cinnamon Pie Crust
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter chilled and cubed
- 1/4-1/2 cup ice water
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 cups beans uncooked
Instructions
Spiced Cider Pie Filling
- Peel and cube 8 apples.
- In a medium pot, bring 4 cups spiced cider to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the liquid has reduced by half and has thicked.
- Once the cider has been reduced by half add the apple, butter, and salt to a large pot. Cook until the apple just begins to soften and the butter is melted.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar and flour until incorporated. Pour into the apple mixture and stir to coat.
- Cook the apples on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes or until the mixture has thickened.
- Allow to completely cool.
Cinnamon Sugar Crumble Topping
- Preheat oven to 375 Degrees.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- Toss in butter cubes, and flatten with fingers until pea-sized clumps of butter form.
- Pour in oats and combine with your hands, clumping the oats into the butter.
- Pour the mixture out onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Bake for 20 minutes, tossing the mixture once halfway.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Cinnamon Pie Crust
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and place a clean baking sheet on the middle rack.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.
- Toss chilled butter cubes into the flour to coat and flatten with fingers.
- One tablespoon at a time, add the ice water until the dough has just come together.
- Flatten dough into a disk and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Allow to rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or overnight.
- Allow the dough to warm up on the counter for about 15 minutes before rolling out.
- Roll out dough and place it in a 9in pie dish. Fold the edges under the rim and crimp the crust. Place the crust in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
- Once the crust is chilled, take a fork and poke all along the bottom and sides of the pie crust.
- Crumple a piece of parchment paper, uncrumple and line the pie shell. Fill the pie shell with uncooked beans up to the very rim.
- Bake the crust at 375 for 20 minutes
- After 20 minutes, Carefully lift the parchment and beans out of the pie and place them in a bowl to cool.
- Bake the pie crust for an additional 15 minutes, until the inside is golden brown. Poke any pieces that start to puff down with a fork. Allow the shell to cool until it is safe to handle, but still warm.
Pie Construction
- Once the pie crust has cooled, fill with apple pie filling and top with crumble. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
So what do you think of this apple crumble recipe? I hope you love it and highly recommend making this the next time you need an autumnal sweet treat!
You might also enjoy:
The Best Peach Pie Recipe (With Thyme & Honey)
Summer is here and the stone fruits are soon to follow! *celebration emoji* This month, I am sharing a recipe that has a special place in my kitchen: PIE! The best peach pie recipe, to be specific. This homemade peach pie combines the classic flavors of peach pie with a fun, herbaceous twist that’s just tooooo good.
Tahini Frangipane Apple Galette with Salted Honey Rose Cream
One of my favorite things to do is create a new or modern take on a classic. This is my new take on the classic apple frangipane tart. Instead of the typical sweet almond cream the apples nestle into, I swapped in tahini for a nuttier, slightly more savory flavor. The earthiness of the sesame paste pairs beautifully with the sweet apples and the honey rose cream takes it over the top.
