Apple Pie Filling

Apple pie filling is super easy to make at home, and perfect to have on hand or stored away in the freezer for whenever you need it. This apple pie filling recipe has a few hidden tricks to get the best apple flavor! This recipe is perfect for pies, desserts, or any other sweet treat that calls for apple pie filling.

Apple Pie Filling Recipe

Let’s just say it like it is: there is never an excuse to buy a canned apple pie filling when it’s so easy to make and keep on hand at home! This homemade apple pie filling, made with apple cider, brown sugar, and warm spices is rich and delicious; obviously, a winner for any dessert needing apple pie filling.

In case you didn’t know, using pre-cooked apple pie filling decreases the amount of time needed to bake an apple pie. It also prevents the crust from separating from the filling because the apples have already been cooked!

Apple pie filling is perfect for all kinds of baked goods, such as apple crisp, apple pastries, apple handles, an apple galette or, even as a cake filling. It’s also delicious all by itself, or with a scoop of ice cream.

It freezes well too, so this recipe is one of the best ways to use up any large quantities of apples you might have from apple picking.

So let’s get to make it, shall we?

What kind of apples should you use for apple pie filling?

For just about any apple dessert, you want to have an apple that can hold it’s shape, has a nuanced flavor and a slight tartness to break up the sweetness of the sugar. Using a combination of apples is helpful because it introduces a few different types of flavors and textures to the pie. Gala and Granny Smith apples are both good choices for apple crisp because they don’t get mushy after a long bake in the oven, and because they have a sweet and tart flavor to them.

Other Good Baking Apples

• Cortland
• Yellow Delicious
• Braeburn
• Pink Lady
• Ginger Gold
• Jonagold

The Best Tool for Peeling and Slicing Apples

While some may not be bothered by peeling and slicing apples, I certainly am. I do not enjoy the task at all! So, years ago I purchased an inexpensive (affiliate link) apple peeler to make the job go by quickly. It has served me well for many years. Though it does take up space in your kitchen, I find it so worth it come the fall months when I’m often making apple recipes!

The only downside is that you can’t control the size that the apples are sliced to. So if you needed your apples to be sliced a different width, you’d just use the peeling function, and slice them by hand.

How to Make Apple Pie Filling From Scratch

This isn’t a very complicated task. Essentially, apples are peeled and sliced, then mixed together with a few ingredients on the stove. They’re cooked until softened, and then a cornstarch slurry is added to thicken them up! Overall you’ll find this recipe very simple, but there are a few tricks you should follow to ensure you get the best flavor in your filling.

The first is that the recipe calls to macerate the apples for about 15 minutes. This helps bring out some of the natural juices in the apples, so the apples are a bit more firm.

Secondly, there is apple cider added into the mixture. This not only adds a boost of apple flavor to the filling, but it also adds in extra sauce around the apples. I just love that apple sauce that surrounds the apple slices, and this ensures it’s plentiful.

And finally, the cornstarch is added later in the cooking process. I prefer to cook the apples to the correct consistency first, and then add the cornstarch to thicken it up. If the cornstarch is added in at the beginning, it can become a little thick or gloopy and possibly even burn, so I like to add it in right at the end, once the apples have fully cooked.

At the very end of the cooking process, some butter and vanilla are folded into the hot mixture. The butter adds a delicious richness, and the vanilla adds a depth of flavor that complements the apples very nicely.

If you wanted to keep your filling more about the pure apple flavor, you can omit the vanilla and tone down the spices entirely.

How to Use Apple Pie Filling

Okay, now you’ve got apple pie filling. What should you use it for?

• pies (duh!)
• apple crisp (use this crisp recipe or this crumble recipe for topping it)
• filling for a cake
• in a pastry
• in a galette (use this dough)
• in pop tarts (use this dough)
• hand pies (use this dough)
• over waffles or pancakes
• with oatmeal
• plain served with ice cream

How to Store It

Because it has a high sugar content, it will keep for quite a while in the fridge. I’ve never kept it for more than 7 days, as I’ve always used it up, but it likely could last a little bit longer than even that.

It will last for a minimum of 3 months in the freezer. After three months it will start to lose some of it’s potent flavor, but it’s still safe to eat for up 12 months, though it’s not ideal.

I don’t recommend canning this. Canning is so specific and I have not tested this to make sure it passes the amount of sugar and acidity needed to make it safe for canning. I’d recommend freezing it instead, for long term storage.

More Apple Recipes:

• Maple Pecan Apple Crisp
• Apple Butter Pie
• Apple Crumble Pie
• Mile-High Apple Pie

Make sure to comment below and tag @everydaypie on Instagram if you make this recipe or if you have any questions

Print