Apple Pie Filling
Tender, perfectly spiced apples make this Apple Pie Filling the perfect starting point for homemade pie, but why stop there? You can use this recipe on everything from your morning oatmeal to ice cream!
Have you ever bought canned apple pie filling? I made that mistake once and woof, never again. It’s mushy, the syrupy sauce has a weird consistency, and the flavor is cloyingly sweet. Homemade apple pie filling is where it’s at.
This apple pie filling is spiced just right, sweetened just so, and tastes just incredible. Plus, when you’re making it at home, you can adjust everything to your liking, whether it’s more tart apples, a little extra sugar, or thinner apple slices for a meltingly tender texture.
Can you dump this recipe into a pie crust and make a fabulous homemade apple pie? Absolutely! But I probably use this apple pie filling for other purposes even more than I use it for pies. You can swap it in for the filling on any apple pastry, use it as an all-purpose topping for desserts and sweet breakfasts, or just eat it with a spoon.
Ingredients for Apple Pie Filling
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Baking Apples – Peel and core the apples, then slice them thin.
- Lemon – You’ll need the juice and the zest. This perks up the flavor.
- Light Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness and a light caramel note.
- Apple Pie Spice – I like to use my homemade apple pie spice.
- Kosher Salt – Just a bit balances and enhances the flavor.
- Cornstarch – For thickening.
- Fresh Apple Cider – Using apple cider instead of water is my little secret for adding even more apple flavor. It’s so good!
- Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla extract, not imitation.
- Butter – Let this come to room temperature.
What Are the Best Apples for Apple Pie Filling?
Choosing the right apples for your pie filling is important! You want apples that can hold up well to baking without turning mushy. Granny Smith is a great option if you want a little more tartness in your apple pie filling. Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, and Braeburn are good options if you want more of a sweet-tart balance. You can also mix a few different varieties to add some more complexity.
How to Make Apple Pie Filling
This is just a quick overview of the steps involved in making apple pie filling. The full instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- Combine. Stir together the apples, lemon juice, zest, sugar, apple pie spice and salt in a large pot and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Cook. Stir in 1/2 cup of cider, then cook the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat, or until the apples soften.
- Make a slurry. Whisk together 1/4 cup of apple cider with the cornstarch.
- Add the slurry. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the apples and cook until the liquid thickens.
- Finish. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and butter. Cool, then store or use the apple pie filling.
Tips for Making Apple Pie Filling
Homemade apple pie filling is easy, but these tips will help you make sure it turns out perfect.
- Choose the best apples. You absolutely cannot turn bland, mealy, past-their-prime apples into a delicious apple pie filling. If an apple doesn’t taste good raw, it won’t taste good in apple pie filling either. Use the best you can get!
- Cut the apples to uniform thickness. This ensures that the apples are all tender at the same time.
- Adjust the spices. I like apple pie spice in this recipe, but you can use all cinnamon or your own favorite combination of spices to put your own spin on it.
- Keep in mind that it will thicken. While you can adjust the consistency of your apple pie filling by adding a splash more apple cider to make it thinner (or a little more slurry to make it thicker), remember that as the filling cools, the sauce will thicken and get more syrupy.
How to Store Apple Pie Filling
Transfer the apple pie filling to an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to a week, or freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use the filling, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Ways to Use Apple Pie Filling
Swap this apple filling for the filling in your favorite apple desserts, or use it as a topping for waffles, cake, and more!
- The Best Apple Pie
- Apple Galette
- Apple Turnover
- The Best Buttermilk Pancakes
- Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Recipe
- The Best Waffle Recipe
- Easy Gingerbread Baked Oatmeal Recipe
- The Best New York Cheesecake
More Apple Recipes
- Easy Apple Strudel
- Cinnamon Apple Bread
- Caramel Apple Bread Pudding
- CrockPot Applesauce
- Caramel Apple Nachos
- Apple Pie Bars
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Get the Recipe: Apple Pie Filling
Ingredients
- 3 pounds baking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (approximately 7-8 apples)
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¾ cup fresh apple cider, plus more if needed
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ tablespoons butter, room temperature
Instructions
- In a large heavy bottom pot, add the apples, lemon juice, zest, sugar, apple pie spice and salt stirring to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Add 1/2 cup apple cider to the pot and stir to combine.
- Turn the heat to medium and cook the apples, stirring occasional, until softened, approximately 10-15 minutes. (If the liquid begins to cook down add 1/4 cup apple cider to the pot.)
- While the apples are cooking, create a slurry by combining 1/4 cup apple cider with the cornstarch, whisking until smooth.
- Add the cornstarch mixture to the apples and stir until well combined. Continue to cook the apples until the mixture begins to thicken, approximately 2-3 minutes longer.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the vanilla and butter.
- Allow the apple mixture to cool complete and then transfer to a storage container or use in your favorite recipe calling for apple pie filling.