This apple pie recipe from scratch with crumble top is so yummy and such an easy recipe to make! It has the perfect soft caramelized apples with a crunchy streusel topping.
This type of pie is most often called a dutch apple pie, apple crumble pie, or even an apple crisp pie. But whatever you call it, I’m sure you will agree, homemade dutch apple pie is soooo delicious!
While you can easily use store-bought pie crust to make this quick and easy, but I highly recommend using my perfect flakey pie crust recipe. It’s so beautiful and tasty, I know you won’t regret making your own homemade pie crust!
You may also want to check out this Smooth & Creamy Snickerdoodle Cream Cheese Apple Pie Recipe. It has the classic apple filling, but has a smooth and creamy layer of cream cheese and a snickerdoodle cookie and crumble topping. It’s so, so good!
Alright, let’s get baking this easy dutch apple pie recipe!
Watch the Video to make this Apple Pie Crumble
Here’s what you need to make this Dutch Apple Pie
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- Measuring cups, spoons or scale
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Large, medium and small bowl
- Pie pan – I really love this one! It’s not as large so my crusts are easier to work with.
- Pastry brush
- Sauce pan
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DUTCH APPLE PIE AND REGULAR APPLE PIE?
Dutch apple pie has a single pie crust on the bottom, a crumbled texture, most often made of flour, sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans, on top of the pie.
A regular apple pie has a double crust where the top one fully covers and has slits on top to vent out heat, or has strips of pie dough placed to create a lattice design (or other patterns for modern designed pies) on top.
However, a third type of pie that has no crust on top at all is is more accurately called a tart.
IS DUTCH APPLE PIE REALLY DUTCH?
Dutch apple pie as we know it – with the crumble on top- has absolutely nothing to do with the Netherlands.
Their traditional apple pie would have a lattice top or be more of a cake-like texture.
Like most foods in America, we have morphed different culture’s traditions and foods and made it our own over time.
While it’s origin is unknown, the Dutch apple pie is most likely to have evolved from French colonies in Pennsylvania.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of Dutch apple pie, you should read this article as it’s really intriguing!
WHAT ARE THE BEST APPLES TO MAKE A DUTCH APPLE CRUMB PIE?
There are many apple varieties that are great for making homemade apple pie filling. Changing up the apple type will change the flavor profile of the pie.
Whether you a sweet apple or tart apples, both will go well in apple pie. But, you will want to avoid the juicy apples and soft apples as they will break down and create a mushy bottom crust.
The most popular type of apple used in apple desserts is granny smith apples. They are a firm, tart apple that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the fruit pie.
Honey crisp and pink lady apples are both crisp, mildly sweet apples that do really well in apple pies.
Golden delicious apples have a very mild sweet flavor but tends to break down when baked so it is best to pair it with another firmer type of apple to avoid soggy pies.
But, really, don’t worry too much about which apple variety you use. You will still have a delicious dutch apple pie!
DOES APPLE PIE NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?
Fruit pies can be stored at room temperature for up to two days. You can either cover it with tinfoil or keep it in an air-tight pie container like this one.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NICE PIE CARRIER THAT YOU CAN BRING WITH YOU TO HOLIDAY EVENTS?
While I do not have it, this pie carrier looks really promising!
I like that it isn’t bulky, and has two compartments for bringing other dishes to your gathering.
If you have a long drive, you can even toss some ice packs inside to keep it cool!
And if that wasn’t enough, it gets bonus points for looks!
Mom, if you’re reading this, I wouldn’t mind this for Christmas! 😉
HOW TO MAKE THIS CLASSIC APPLE PIE FROM SCRATCH WITH CRUMBLE TOP
First, you will assemble your pie crust and form it into your pie dish. You can use this recipe for a perfect, flaky pie crust.
Chill the pie crust in the fridge we are ready to fill it with the apples. There is no need to prebake your crust.
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Place your oven racks to be in the lower and center position of your oven, and place a baking sheet or aluminum foil on a lower rack to catch any juices that may bubble over.
In a large bowl, sprinkle cinnamon on the apple slices and toss together until the apples are well covered. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add flour to the melted butter and stir continuously for one minute while it simmers.
Then, add in the water and sugar and allow it to come to a boil, stirring frequently.
After it comes to a boil, immediately reduce heat and allow it to simmer for 3 minutes.
Remove caramel mixture from the stove and immediately pour it onto the prepared apples.
Combine the caramel mixture with the apples as best as you can. The sauce will start to clump up pretty quickly, and that is okay because it will melt as it cooks. But do try to distribute it as best as you can.
You will want to toss the pan in the sink and fill it with soapy water right away, you’ll thank me later (you’re welcome!)
Spread apple mixture onto the prepared pie crust. Don’t be afraid to heap it up into a mound above the top of your pie pan. The apples will shrink down as the juices release. Set aside your pie plate.
Prepare the egg wash by whisking together an egg and tablespoon of water.
Use a pastry brush and brush the egg wash mixture onto any of the exposed crust to help your crust turn a golden brown when it bakes. Set aside.
Prepare the crumb topping in a medium bowl. Mix flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cubed unsalted butter together.
You can use a pastry cutter, but I found the easiest way is to use my hand to get in there and break down and incorporate the butter.
You want to break down the large chunks of butter until coarse crumbs form. The crumbles should be about pea-sized. If you break it down too far you won’t have the pretty crumble texture on top of your pie.
If you are adding chopped pecans, you can mix it into your crumb mixture now.
Evenly spread the flour mixture on top of the pie. Be sure to cover the entire surface so you can trap in the juices of the pie.
Bake pie uncovered for about 50-60 minutes. If the crumble starts browning too much, cover the pie with tinfoil. If you notice that your pie crust is browning too much, you can also use a pie shield.
Allow the baked pie to cool for an hour on a wire rack before serving to allow it to firm up to make it easier to serve.
I like to pop slices of apple pie into the microwave for 30 seconds and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream before serving… and, how delicious would it be to add caramel sauce on top?!… So yummy!
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MORE APPLE DESSERTS?
This quick and easy apple crisp recipe has the perfect combination of brown sugar and cinnamon that you tend to expect in an apple crisp. However, I added some fresh lemon juice to this recipe to give it a subtle tartness that creates the perfect combination of flavors. It’s sooo good!
I have gotten so many compliments on this apple crisp. It’s been the top recipe on my blog for the last two years and still going strong!
These apple cinnamon scones with maple frosting are a perfect combination of moist cinnamony apple chunks and irresistibly sweet maple frosting. If you love all things fall, you will love these scones! They are so quick and easy to make can be devoured in less than an hour!
I know I mentioned this one earlier, but it’s so good I had to mention it again. This Snickerdoodle Cream Cheese Apple Pie recipe takes apple pie to a whole new level! You have the classic cinnamon-apple flavor and texture, but adding a cream cheese filling layer gives this pie a smooth and creamy note. The snickerdoodle crust pushes this pie even farther with the crunchy cookie crust and cinnamon and sugar crumble on top. It’s an amazing pie, you’ll need to hide it before you eat the whole pie!
You’ll love these recipes too!
- Snickerdoodle Cream Cheese Apple Pie
- Easy Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Pecan Pie – The Best Holiday Pie to Make in a Rush
- Strawberry Lattice Pie (lattice optional!)
- Classic Lemon Meringue Pie
- Quick & Easy Apple Crisp
- Quick and Easy Strawberry Galette
- Cherry Pie Bars
- Pinneapple Upside Down Cake
- Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Dutch Apple Pie Recipe Easy – Apple Pie Crumble
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- Check this recipe for a perfect flakey crust from scratch or use store-bought
Filling
- 2 1/4 lbs (6 medium) apples cored, peeled and thinly sliced (this was actually too many apples for my pie. I recommend starting with four and see if it is enough for the pie- no need to change the other ingredient ratios)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (5 grams) cinnamon
- 8 tbs (113 grams) unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons (28 grams) flour
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 cup (190 grams) granulated sugar
- egg wash: 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water
Crumb Topping
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature and cubed
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Assemble your pie crust and form it into your pie pan. You can use this recipe for a perfect, flakey pie crust.
- Chill pie crust in the fridge until needed. There is no need to prebake your crust.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place your racks to be in the lower and center position of your oven, and place a cookie pan or tinfoil on a lower rack to catch any juices that may bubble over.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on the apple slices and toss together until the apples are well covered. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the flour and stir continuously for one minute while it simmers. Then, add in the water and sugar and allow it to come to a boil, stirring frequently. Then, immediately reduce heat and allow it to simmer for 3 minutes.
- Remove caramel mixture from the stove and immediately pour it onto the prepared apples. (Toss the pan in the sink and fill it with soapy water right away, you’ll thank me later – you’re welcome!) Combine the caramel mixture with the apples as best as you can. The sauce will start to clump up pretty quickly, and that is okay because it will melt as it cooks. But do try to distribute it as best as you can.
- Spread apples onto the prepared pie crust. Don’t be afraid to heap it up into a mound above the top of your pie pan as the apples will shrink down as the juices release.
- Prepare the egg wash by whisking together an egg and tablespoon of water. Use a pastry brush and brush the egg wash mixture onto any of the exposed crust to help your crust turn a golden brown when it bakes. Set aside.
- Prepare the crumb topping by combining the flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt and cubed butter. I find it easiest to use my hand to get in there and break down and incorporate the butter. You want to break down the large chunks of butter until they are about pea-sized. If you break it down too far you won’t have the pretty crumble texture on top of your pie.
- If you are adding chopped pecans, you can mix it in to your crumb mixture now.
- Evenly spread the crumb mixture on top of the pie. Be sure to cover the entire surface so you can trap in the juices of the pie.
- Bake uncovered for about 50-60 minutes. If the crumble starts browning too much, cover the pie with tinfoil.
- Allow the pie to cool for an hour on a cooling rack before serving to allow it to firm up to make it easier to serve.
- I like to pop slices of apple pie into the microwave for 30 seconds and top with ice cream before serving… so yummy!
Notes
Pie Crust: https://whiskingupyum.com/flaky-pie-crust-from-scratch/
1 hour prep time includes peeling, coring and slicing apples (I am slow at cutting) but does not include time for preparing the pie crust.
- Category: Pie
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: dutch apple pie, apple pie crisp, apple pie crumble, dutch apple pie recipe easy
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